We understand that the decision about which childcare centre to send your child is a very important one, which sometimes
parents start pondering on sometimes even before the child is not yet born! As parents ourselves, we know we have to be sure that the centre chosen will be the best for our children in the long-term.
Here at Gigi and Friends Childcare Centres we have been adopting and using the Reggio Emilia approach in our daily care for a number of years. The idea is that through each and every activity, we are sure that each and every child is learning skills that will help her/him not only in their present development, but also throughout their life.
The Reggio Emiglia approach
Our Programme of Activities is inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education which is a child-centred curriculum dependent on play.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy of education originated in Northern Italy by Loris Malaguzzi and can be adapted in different learning environments according to the different locations and cultures.
The programme of activities designed by the childcarers are play-based, age appropriate, adapted to each child’s individual needs and inspired by her/his child’s interest. It is flexible and is offered within a framework that offers freedom to choose and change from one activity to another, with a mix of both free play and scheduled play. One of the principles of Reggio Emilia approach is that the child has the right to the control over the direction of her/his learning.
According to Prof Carlina Rinaldi, President of Reggio Children ‘From the beginning children demonstrate that they have a voice, know how to listen, and want to be listened to by others’ (2001). With this in mind, the childcarer observes the child and what he/she is curious about and what challenges them, record their observations and devise ways to help them expand their learning and development.
The curriculum also takes into account the children’s developmental differences and is therefore flexible to meet their diverse needs. According to founder of Early Childhood Schools of Reggio Emilia Prof Loris Malaguzzi (1993): “School can never be always predictable. We need to be open to what takes place and able to change our plan and go with what might grow at that moment both inside the child and inside ourselves.”
SOURCES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggio_Emilia_approach and https://www.reggiochildren.it/?lang=en