What Is Reggio Emilia? A Parent's Guide to Our New Approach
This year Doodle Bugs began a new chapter: our classrooms are now inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach. Families have asked great questions about what that means, so here is a plain-language guide.
Where the approach comes from
Reggio Emilia is a city in northern Italy. After World War II, parents and teachers there built schools around a simple belief: young children are capable, curious, and full of ideas. Educator Loris Malaguzzi helped shape the philosophy, and today schools around the world draw inspiration from it. There is no Reggio "curriculum" to buy. It is a way of seeing children and designing their days.
The big ideas
Children are capable learners. We start from what children can do, not what they can't yet do.
Teachers are partners and guides. Instead of lecturing, teachers ask questions, offer materials, and help children test their ideas.
Children's interests shape the plan. If a group is fascinated by the rain gutter outside, that curiosity can become a week of exploring water, sound, and flow.
The environment is the "third teacher." Rooms are organized, calm, and full of open-ended materials that invite exploration.
Learning is made visible. Teachers photograph, write down, and display children's work and words so everyone can see how thinking grows.
What it looks like at Doodle Bugs
You will notice natural materials like wood, baskets, and plants; art supplies within children's reach; and small groups working together on a question. You will still see the familiar rhythms of the day: meals, rest, outdoor time, and circle time. Reggio does not replace structure. It changes how we fill it.
Each week our classrooms follow a theme, a book, and a letter, number, and color of the week, and teachers plan hands-on experiences around what children notice and wonder about.
How families fit in
In Reggio schools, families are true partners. You know your child best. Share what your child talks about at home, what they're building, collecting, or asking about. Those details often become the spark for classroom projects. Watch for photos and updates in the Playground app, and ask your child's teacher what the class has been investigating.
A question to try tonight
Instead of "What did you do today?", try "What did you wonder about today?" or "What did you make with your hands?" You may be surprised by the answers.
We are excited to grow into this approach together. If you have questions, our Director is always happy to talk.