Reggio kindergarten, kindergarten

The concept of the Reggio Kindergarten comes from Italy, but has also prevailed in this country. In addition to many other approaches, Reggio pedagogy in Germany also has a certain following, which especially appreciates the fact that parents are actively involved. The mothers and fathers of children who attend a Reggio kindergarten thus have a significant part in everyday kindergarten life. This gives them a variety of opportunities to make an active contribution, but they are also challenged. Parents who are looking for suitable childcare and come across a Reggio Kindergarten, among other things, should be aware of this and the peculiarities of Reggio pedagogy know.

Philosophy and basics of Reggio pedagogy in kindergarten

The free development of children, taking into account their individual possibilities, is the measure of all things within the framework of Reggio pedagogy. Through various projects, the children can realize themselves and at the same time discover a wide variety of expressions for themselves. The educators are encouraged to focus on the strengths of the children and to work primarily with them. It is therefore not a question of fighting against the weaknesses. This principle defines the philosophy of Reggio pedagogy. In addition, active integration of the entire environment is characteristic of Reggio pedagogy. For day-to-day kindergarten, this means that, among other things, parents are actively involved and are not just outsiders. Community projects, which are not, however, mandatory and which focus on the interests of the children, determined the everyday processes in a Reggio kindergarten. By participating in it or at least living in the presentations, the parents have a share in the day-to-day life of their offspring. Cooperations are therefore of great importance for Reggio pedagogy. It is also more experimental and gives the children the opportunity to try them out.

The history of Reggio pedagogy

This drew attention to the special concept in 1991 and named it the world’s best program in the “Early Childhood Education” category. Reggio pedagogy has been on the rise since the 1990s at the latest and has long been known not only in its Italian hometown of Reggio nell’Emilia. Reggio Kindergartens are also available in many places in Germany and are very popular here.

What does everyday life look like in a Reggio Kindergarten??

In view of the fact that the freedom of choice for children is paramount in Reggio pedagogy, it is reasonable to assume that such a kindergarten is more than chaotic. Each child can decide where it is, even though there are groups. There are also other leeway in which the children can let off steam or live out creatively.

Surprisingly, however, chaos does not break out because everything is tailored to the children’s freedom of movement and individuality. They can pursue their personal interests and develop freely. This generally creates a harmonious mood, while the children are fully occupied. The expected chaos does not occur because the organization is aligned with the Reggio approach.

Why is there no specialist literature on the principles of Reggio pedagogy??

This does not want a fixed construct consequences, but retain the greatest possible flexibility. In order to achieve this, the principles are not written down. As a result, Reggio pedagogy proves to be extremely changeable and does not work danger, to hold onto the old out of a wrong awareness of tradition.

How is the involvement of parents in a Reggio Kindergarten??

There is no question that the educators and parents have to pull together in the care, support and upbringing of the children and act as partners. In many kindergartens, however, mothers and fathers still feel more or less as outsiders and make up only a small part of everyday life in kindergarten.

This is very different in a Reggio Kindergarten, because parents are always welcome here and are encouraged to actively participate in everyday kindergarten life. The partnership relationship between educators and parents can be promoted, for example, by parents organizing certain projects in kindergarten and thereby contributing their professional competence.

Crafts projects, cooking together or a choir of educators, parents and children can make mothers and fathers active pillars of everyday kindergarten life.