The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education

This article discusses the inspiring and innovative approach of The Reggio Emilia to early childhood education and how it can be adapted in preschools and homes. It highlights the importance of valuing the strength of children, their capabilities, and knowledge. The article also suggests ways to make necessary changes in the educational system by translating new educational approaches or philosophies that reflect current practices, making policies for staff and policymakers, and making partnerships with parents. The physical features of Reggio, such as ample space and beautifully decorated furnishing, are also discussed.

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The inspiring and innovative approach of The Reggio Emilia to early childhood
education shows that they value the strength of child, their capabilities and knowledge
(EDUCATION SCOTLAND, 2018). The inspiring educational system undertaken by Reggio
Emilia can be applied to preschools along with adapting them in homes also. Being a part of
global staffroom, it becomes our responsibility to find out best educational system and adapt
those which have already proven to be flourishing. While making a study of The Reggio
Emilia approach it was found that there were many features taken up by them that can be
adopted in our systems only if there are no constraints about funding.
Although making a direct replication of The Reggio would not be ethical, their approach can
be utilised in many ways to make necessary changes in our educational system. First step that
can be adopted is to translate any new educational approach or philosophy that reflects
current practices. According to them, every individual must identify their professional and
personnel development and thus Reggio followed their home country, Scottish principles
(Sightlines Initiative, 2015).
Practitioners need to make policies not only for staffs by also for the people who make
policies for educational systems. Many institutes’ constraints teachers to achieve targeted
goals according to the external mandates which reflect their difficulties during personnel
practice. The primary roles of preschool are to develop and broaden child’s learning
experiences to make them confident for primary schools. Young children as compared to
grownups are more enthusiastic and active learners. This feature has been keenly recognised
by The Reggio that needs be applied in every school by treating each child individually and
according to their interest (Gribble, 2017).

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Technical and innovative approach of Reggio can also be adapted in our systems by making
partnership with parents and documenting the learning experience of child. The physical
features of Reggio where there is ample amount of space along with beautifully decorated
furnishing are one of the features many schools would like to adapt. This can help children
learn how to use space along with getting attracted towards their place. Even the space
utilisation techniques of Reggio reflect their way of thinking. The rooms of Reggio are not
clustered with commercial toys but light and space has been given priority. Even special
areas for water activities, sand play area, clay modelling along with play area have been
provided that are allowed to children on specific days (Learning and Teaching Scotland ,
2006).
All the features discussed above that were identified during the study about The Reggio can
be adopted in universal basis to make present early childhood school systems more enhanced.

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References
EDUCATION SCOTLAND, 2018. The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Years Education.
[Online] Available at: https://education.gov.scot/improvement/learning-resources/The
%20Reggio%20Emilia%20Approach%20to%20Early%20Years%20Education [Accessed 22
April 2018].
Gribble, K., 2017. What is The Reggio Emilia Approach? [Online] Available at:
http://www.aneverydaystory.com/beginners-guide-to-reggio-emilia/main-principles/
[Accessed 22 April 2018].
Learning and Teaching Scotland , 2006. The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Years
Education. [Online] Available at:
https://education.gov.scot/improvement/documents/elc/elc35_reggioemilia/
elc35_reggioaug06.pdf [Accessed 22 April 2018].
Sightlines Initiative, 2015. Get Involved. [Online] Available at: http://www.sightlines-
initiative.com/ [Accessed 22 April 2018].