Reggio Emilia daycares and preschools share the Montessori and Waldorf philosophy of letting children direct their own learning, while teachers act as guides and facilitators. The curriculum is collaborative and project-based, and is guided by the children's interests. Problem solving and skills like math or early literacy are still taught, but through hands-on projects initiated by the students themselves. Through the use of extensive documentation (notes, pictures, videos, etc.), Reggio Emilia preschool teachers are able to identify what the preschoolers know, what they're curious about, and what challenges them. That knowledge is then used to create developmentally appropriate ways to help them reach their academic and social potential.
Strictly speaking, Reggio Emilia is not a method, but rather a philosophy of education that can adapt to the needs of a particular community and group of children, making the character of each Reggio Emilia preschool slightly different. This differs from
Montessori daycares and preschools that strive to achieve the uniform application of a curricular approach. Collaboration between children, teachers, and their parents is an essential component of the Reggio Emilia approach and parents that prefer to be actively involved in their child's early childhood education should feel right at home.
The learning environment is considered a third teacher, with the layout intentionally designed to balance individual, small or large group activities, child directed or teacher directed projects, and indoor/outdoor explorations. The classroom is well organized and filled with natural light, with open, clutter-free spaces that are constantly curated by the teachers to encourage children to delve continually deeper into their interests.
The hundred languages of children is one of the more distinctive aspects of the Reggio Emilia philosophy and involves the belief that children express themselves and show their understanding in many different ways. Whether they are drawing, sculpting, dancing, painting, singing, or doing something else, children can both learn and demonstrate their learning. Reggio preschools strive to nurture each one of those languages equally. Learning and play are not separated, and the hands-on discovery approach of a Reggio Emilia program allows students to use all of their senses and all of their languages, as they develop new skills and explore their surroundings.
The Reggio Emilia approach has become increasingly popular because of the flexibility that it brings to the early learning process. This makes it well suited to a wide variety of children, including those with special needs, who will find a welcoming and supportive environment. Parents seeking a balance between playful exploration and pre-academic learning will also find Reggio Emilia daycares and preschools to be a good option. That said, there is no official Reggio Emilia certification process, so it is important to inquire about the educational background and curricular approach of the teachers when you are considering a Reggio Emilia preschool.