by: Kelsey Vasquez & Sabrina Ball

The educational program at Pinnacle Preschool has been heavily influenced by the educators of Reggio Emilia, Italy since 1998. Their unique approach was born out of the literal rubble of World War II and in direct opposition to the fascist regime Italy experienced under Mussolini. Last month, the educator tours in Reggio Emilia reopened from Covid restrictions and four members of Pinnacle Preschool staff were able to travel, learn, and explore for a full week.

Democracy is a weaving of differences grounded in liberty and fundamental rights. Children are the owners of rights and we each hold the responsibility to make explicit our image of childhood and our image of the child. An education that is based on democracy allows for the expansion of perspectives and richness of interpretations. It is crucial to be involved, to feel like you belong, in order to welcome others. What are the ways that we truly see children?

Diversity in children’s work is the starting point to appreciating the differences, to welcoming the differences in each of us as essential pieces to the larger puzzle. Often, typical preschool classrooms are filled with examples of how learning is transmitted from the adult to the child, such as worksheets, product-based arts and crafts, and a directed organization of what children do and how much time they spend doing it.

The Reggio Emilia Approach deviates from this traditional view of early childhood. School is a place where children go in their entirety: physically, emotionally, cognitively, with their knowledge, doubts, and curiosities. Learning processes take place in aesthetic, playful, and emotional situations and contexts. Liberty is experienced, not in an attitude that children simply do whatever they want, but as the right to be involved, to express themselves. Liberty to time; time for meaningful learning that is deep and purposeful.

Our week of study in Reggio was a reminder of how important this work is as we continue to resist the trend of pushing down standardized learning and rushing through childhood. It reinvigorates us as educators and encourages us to continue to offer the best practices to our families, advocate within our community, and continue to share our educational program with educators from across our state.