“Our image of the child is… rich in potential, strong, powerful, competent, and most of all, connected to adults and to other children”, Louis Malaguzzi

Preschools that follow the Reggio Emilia philosophy of early childhood education are innovative in the way that they create such environments. Knowing more about the approach and knowing what to look for when you visit preschools will help you find the one that is the best fit for your child.

A school needs to be a place for all children, not based on the idea that they’re all the same, but that they’re all different.

The History

The Reggio Emilia approach began in the 1940s when a community located in the town of Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, along with schoolteacher Loris Malaguzzi, began building a preschool for their children. Following the destruction of their area during World War II, the community came together to build their schools with the desire to raise a new generation of citizens committed to justice and equality. And it was a true community effort. A local farmer donated land for the structure, and townspeople – men and women – donated their time and labor to build the school using materials from the ruins of their village. This idea of coming together as a community for the sake of the children is at the very core of the Reggio Emilia approach today.

The Fundamentals

Schools that follow the Reggio Emilia Inspired philosophy of education build their programs on the following principles:

• An emergent curriculum that builds upon the interests of children  In-depth projects that are long term and built upon the concepts, ideas, and interests of the group

Representation in multiple forms (print, art, construction, drama, music, puppetry, and shadow play) as tools for development

Collaboration among home, school and community

Teacher as learner, researcher, resource and guide

Documentation of children’s work into portfolios

An environment that plays a crucial role as the third teacher

A key tenet of the Reggio Emilia approach is that art helps children express their thoughts. Reggio inspired classrooms provide a profusion of innovative materials for the children to work with, such as pebbles, dried orange peel, driftwood, tangles of wire and tin cans.

The Reggio Emilia Approach in San Diego

College Park Preschool is a member of the San Diego Reggio Roundtable, a group of early childhood educators and parents who promote the Reggio philosophy.