Reggio Emilia Approach: Understanding This Child-Centered Preschool Philosophy

In the aftermath of World War II, in a small Italian town called Reggio Emilia, parents and educators created something revolutionary—a preschool philosophy that viewed children as powerful, capable, and full of potential. This approach, now known as the Reggio Emilia approach, has influenced early childhood education worldwide, emphasizing child-led exploration, artistic expression, and the environment as a "third teacher."

This guide explains what the Reggio Emilia approach really means, how it differs from other educational philosophies, and what to look for when seeking Reggio-inspired preschools.

What Is the Reggio Emilia Approach?

Origins and History

How it began:

• Post-WWII Italy (1945), Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Founded by educator Loris Malaguzzi and parents
• Community-built schools from war rubble
• Vision of education for social transformation
• Developed over decades through practice and reflection

Philosophy: "Children have a hundred languages"—many ways of thinking, learning, and expressing themselves beyond words.

Core Principles

The Reggio Emilia approach is built on:

1. Image of the Child

   • Children are strong, capable, and resilient
   • They are full of wonder and knowledge
   • They have rights, not just needs
   • They construct their own learning

2. Environment as Third Teacher

   • Beautiful, thoughtful spaces support learning
   • Environment communicates respect for children
   • Natural light, open spaces, and carefully chosen materials
   • Space invites exploration and discovery

3. The Role of Teachers

   • Teachers are co-learners and researchers
   • They observe, listen, and document
   • They provoke and extend learning
   • They partner with children and families

4. Documentation

   • Learning is made visible through documentation
   • Photos, transcripts, and displays capture process
   • Documentation informs future teaching
   • Honors children's thinking and work

5. The Hundred Languages of Children

   • Children express themselves in many ways
   • Art, movement, building, drama, music, words
   • All languages are valued equally
   • Expression is exploration and learning

6. Projects and Emergent Curriculum

   • Learning emerges from children's interests
   • Long-term project work (weeks or months)
   • Deep investigation of topics
   • No predetermined curriculum

7. Collaboration

   • Children, teachers, and families work together
   • Community involvement valued
   • Collective learning and problem-solving

What Reggio Looks Like in Practice

The Classroom Environment

Physical space characteristics:

| Element | Purpose | |---------|---------| | Natural light | Creates welcoming, home-like atmosphere | | Open spaces | Allows for various activities and movement | | Mirrors | Enables self-exploration and different perspectives | | Documentation displays | Makes learning visible, honors children's work | | Natural materials | Connects to nature, open-ended possibilities | | Ateliers (studios) | Dedicated spaces for artistic exploration | | Plants and nature | Living things bring life and responsibility | | Comfortable furniture | Respect for children's comfort |

Materials commonly found:

• Clay, paint, drawing materials
• Natural items (stones, shells, wood)
• Light tables and overhead projectors
• Loose parts (buttons, fabric, wire)
• Recycled and found materials
• High-quality art supplies
• Real tools (not just toys)

The Role of the Atelierista

What is an atelierista?

• Art specialist in Reggio schools
• Supports creative exploration
• Works alongside classroom teachers
• Manages the atelier (studio)
• Helps children express ideas through various media

Why it matters: Art isn't "art time"—it's a language for learning and expression throughout the day.

Project-Based Learning

How projects work:

Emergence:

• Teachers observe children's interests and questions
• A topic emerges from play, conversation, or observation
• Teachers and children decide to explore further

Investigation:

• Long-term exploration (weeks to months)
• Multiple perspectives and approaches
• Documentation along the way
• Questions lead to more questions

Expression:

• Children express understanding through various media
• Drawing, building, drama, writing, sculpting
• The "hundred languages" come into play

Example project: A child notices shadows on the playground → Class investigates what makes shadows → Experiments with light sources → Creates shadow puppets and shadow plays → Documents discoveries through drawing and photography → Project continues for weeks.

Documentation

What documentation looks like:

• Photos of children's work and process
• Transcripts of children's words and conversations
• Teacher reflections and interpretations
• Displays on classroom walls
• Portfolios of individual children
• Documentation panels telling project stories

Purpose of documentation:

• Makes learning visible
• Respects and honors children's thinking
• Informs teaching decisions
• Communicates with families
• Creates collective memory
• Supports children's reflection on their own learning

Reggio Compared to Other Approaches

Reggio vs. Montessori

| Aspect | Reggio Emilia | Montessori | |--------|---------------|------------| | Curriculum | Emergent, project-based | Structured, sequential | | Materials | Open-ended, art-focused | Specific, self-correcting | | Teacher role | Co-learner, facilitator | Guide, demonstrator | | Child interaction | Collaborative encouraged | Individual work emphasis | | Environment | Aesthetic, home-like | Ordered, specific materials | | Assessment | Documentation | Observation, mastery |

Reggio vs. Traditional Preschool

| Aspect | Reggio Emilia | Traditional | |--------|---------------|-------------| | Curriculum | Child-led, emergent | Teacher-planned, set curriculum | | Art | Central to learning | Separate subject or craft time | | Time | Flexible, project-driven | Scheduled, rotations | | Teacher role | Researcher, partner | Director, instructor | | Goals | Process, exploration | Skills, standards |

Reggio vs. Play-Based

| Aspect | Reggio Emilia | Play-Based | |--------|---------------|------------| | Teacher involvement | Active facilitation and extension | More hands-off observation | | Documentation | Central practice | Less formal | | Projects | Long-term, deep | May be shorter-term | | Environment | Highly intentional | Important but less central | | Theory base | Specific philosophy | Varied |

Finding Reggio-Inspired Schools

Important Distinction

"Reggio Emilia" is not franchised:

• No official certification exists
• Schools can claim "Reggio-inspired" without verification
• Quality and fidelity vary widely
• Must evaluate each program individually

What to look for:

• "Reggio-inspired" more accurate than "Reggio Emilia school"
• Evidence of philosophy in practice
• Teacher training in Reggio approach
• Visits to Reggio Emilia, Italy (gold standard for commitment)

Questions to Ask

About philosophy:

1. "How would you describe your educational approach?"
2. "What does 'Reggio-inspired' mean to you?"
3. "How do you view the image of the child?"
4. "What training have teachers had in Reggio approach?"

About practice: 5. "How do projects emerge and develop?" 6. "What role does documentation play?" 7. "How is the environment designed to support learning?" 8. "What does art look like in your program?" 9. "How do you involve families?"

About curriculum: 10. "Do you follow a set curriculum or standards?" 11. "How do you balance emergent learning with preparation for kindergarten?" 12. "What does a typical day look like?"

Evaluating Authenticity

Signs of genuine Reggio inspiration:

| Authentic | Questionable | |-----------|--------------| | Beautiful, intentional environment | Cluttered or typical classroom | | Documentation throughout space | No visible documentation | | Child work displayed thoughtfully | Worksheets and cookie-cutter crafts | | Teachers talk about children's theories | Focus on skills and standards | | Long-term project discussions | Thematic units without depth | | Art as expression and learning | Art as product or decoration | | Open-ended materials | All commercial toys/materials |

Finding Programs

Where to look:

• NAREA (North American Reggio Emilia Alliance) directory
• Google "Reggio-inspired preschool" + your city
• Reggio Emilia study tour alumni networks
• Progressive education directories
• Word of mouth in education communities

What Parents Should Know

What Your Child's Day Might Look Like

Not a rigid schedule, but flowing experiences:

Morning:

• Arrival and settling in
• Children choose from prepared environments
• Small group gatherings
• Project work begins or continues

Midday:

• Meals together (social, communal)
• Outdoor time
• Rest or quiet activities

Afternoon:

• Project work continues
• Atelier time
• Documentation and reflection
• Closing routines

Your Role as a Parent

Reggio values family partnership:

• Parents are informed and involved
• Documentation shared regularly
• Parent meetings and events
• Your observations and insights welcomed
• Home-school connection valued

What you can do:

• Engage with documentation
• Share what you notice at home
• Participate in school community
• Value process over product
• Support exploration at home

Academic Preparation

Common parent question: "Will they be ready for kindergarten?"

Reality:

• Reggio children develop strong foundations
• Focus is on learning HOW to learn
• Social-emotional skills well-developed
• Problem-solving and creativity emphasized
• Academic skills emerge through exploration

What research shows:

• Strong outcomes for Reggio approaches
• Emphasis on deeper learning
• Preparation for 21st-century skills
• Children develop love of learning

Benefits and Considerations

Benefits of Reggio Approach

For children:

• Respected as capable learners
• Creativity and expression valued
• Deep exploration of interests
• Strong social skills and collaboration
• Develops intrinsic motivation

For families:

• Genuine partnership
• Insight into child's thinking (documentation)
• Community connection
• Emphasis on relationships

Considerations

Potential challenges:

• Less structure than some children need
• May not align with structured kindergartens
• Quality varies widely
• Philosophy requires trained teachers
• May be pricier than traditional options

Questions to consider:

• Does my child thrive with less structure?
• Am I comfortable with emergent curriculum?
• Can I engage with the documentation and process?
• Is there continuity for later schooling?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Reggio Emilia a curriculum?

A: No—it's an educational philosophy and approach. There is no "Reggio curriculum" to follow. Each Reggio-inspired school develops its own emergent curriculum based on children's interests and the principles of the approach.

Q: Are there certified Reggio Emilia schools?

A: No official certification exists outside Reggio Emilia, Italy. Any school claiming to be "certified Reggio" is misrepresenting. Look for "Reggio-inspired" and evaluate their fidelity to the philosophy.

Q: Do Reggio schools teach academics?

A: Reggio schools don't use traditional direct instruction, but children develop academic foundations through exploration, project work, and expression. Literacy, math, and science concepts emerge organically.

Q: Is Reggio only for preschool?

A: The approach originated in preschools (infant-toddler centers and preprimary schools), but principles can extend to elementary and beyond. It's most commonly found in early childhood settings.

Q: What if my child needs more structure?

A: Reggio classrooms do have structure—it's just less visible. There are routines, expectations, and careful organization. However, children who need high structure or explicit direction may find the approach challenging initially.

Q: How is Reggio different from just play-based preschool?

A: Reggio includes play but goes further with intentional environment design, deep project work, extensive documentation, and specific philosophical foundations. It's a coherent approach rather than just "let them play."

Conclusion

The Reggio Emilia approach offers a vision of early childhood education that profoundly respects children—their capabilities, their questions, their creativity, and their many ways of understanding the world. In Reggio-inspired schools, children are partners in learning, environments are carefully designed to inspire, and documentation makes the beauty of children's thinking visible.

Key takeaways:

1. Image of the child is central—capable, curious, full of potential
2. Environment matters deeply—the "third teacher" shapes experience
3. Documentation is essential—making learning visible
4. Art is a language—one of a "hundred languages" of expression
5. Projects emerge from interests—deep, meaningful exploration
6. No official certification—evaluate each program carefully
7. Philosophy requires training—teacher expertise matters

If you're drawn to an approach that honors children's intelligence, values beauty and creativity, and believes in the power of deep exploration, a Reggio-inspired preschool might be the right fit for your family.

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Explore more preschool philosophies in our guides on Montessori vs traditional preschool, how to choose a preschool, cooperative preschool, and outdoor forest preschool.