Ever heard someone say their child is not creative?
Many of us are guilty of judging creativity in terms of the end result that we see or experience, but our role as adults is not to focus on the end result produced by the child, but rather on encouraging and supporting their crucial journey of creative expression.
Every child is creative and every child is capable of creative expression. In fact, creative expression is absolutely vital for their healthy growth and development.
For a child, creative expression is about how they use things like drawing, sculpting, construction, movement music, movement and dramatic play to fire up their imaginations and articulate their thoughts and feelings. It’s as natural as breathing to them.
And there’s nothing frivolous about their creative expression. It’s crucial to early childhood learning and for progress on a physical, social, intellectual and emotional level.
Allowing children the freedom to explore the world around them and providing them with appropriate materials and resources, parents and educators can facilitate the development of essential skills and facilitate learning.
The value of creative expression comes from the process itself. It’s the journey in the lies in the process, not the end product.
Children refine their fine motor skills when working with pencils, paints, string, clay, scissors and other types of materials. These skills are essential for day-to-day activities like eating with a knife and fork, writing and tying shoe laces.
Children are born explorers and creative expression fosters this natural curiosity. It leads to innovation and discovery as children use their imaginations, communicate, develop independent opinions, try out new ideas, find solutions and solve problems. It also promotes the development of important cognitive skills such as numeracy, language and literacy.
Through creative expression, children are free to communicate their emotions. They learn how to deal with their feelings appropriately and when they learn that their contributions are respected and valued, they’re more likely to develop a sense of identity and a healthy self-esteem.
Picture a kindergarten playground. Whether three littlies are having fun in the sandpit, a group is climbing on the jungle-gym or some are pretend playing that they’re going shopping, their creative play and social interactions exposes them to concepts like teamwork, collaboration, sharing, empathy, negotiation, patience and taking turns.
Free exploration allows children to be themselves, without any constraints, judgement or expectation. This is key to helping them grow more confident in showing their unique personalities and starting to develop a strong sense of self.
It's interesting that creativity is a central tenet of the Reggio Emilia approach to early education which emphasises a child’s abilities, competences and natural aptitude. It had its roots in a small northern Italian town after WWII and has since achieved global acclaim.
Its founder, Loris Malaguzzi, believed that children weren’t empty vessels to be filled, but were born with infinite creative potential and every child was an artist in their own right. His famous poem ‘100 Languages of Children’ refers to the myriad ways that children express this creative potential.
There’s no doubt that creative expression plays a crucially important role in many different areas of a child’s development. But it’s important to remember that it’s about the process – not the product. As adults, we need to celebrate that process, encourage and support each individual child and avoid judging their creative abilities on an outcome. Each is highly capable and highly creative and by giving them the freedom for self-expression, we can help them accrue skills and benefits which can set them up for later success.
The Reggio Emilia philosophy is a holistic, play-based approach to preschool and primary education which has the child at the centre of the learning process. Children are active participants in the classroom and construct and direct their own curriculum according to their individual interests and curiosities.
Reggio Emilia is not an educational model with prescribed methodologies, but rather serves as an inspiration for early education environments and educators.
Schools aren’t ‘accredited’ and educators aren’t formally trained, but are instead inspired and guided by the principles which saw this progressive approach come to life in a small Italian village after WWII and which has now grown into an acclaimed and highly successful educational philosophy right around the world.
But not everyone finds it easy to grasp the concept of child-directed learning. This is largely due to the fact that traditional education is based on systems where the teachers are in charge and where children learn by instruction, completing tasks which have expected outcomes.
Contrary to what some may think, the Reggio Emilia classroom isn’t chaotic. Children don’t run wild. The reality is that when they are encouraged to do things that interest them, bcvxfzgthings that pique their natural curiosity, the scale, scope and depth of their learning and comprehension are quite remarkable.
Let’s unpack the principles of this approach to give you a greater understanding.
There are three core elements of Reggio Emilia namely the child, the teacher and the environment.
Each child is seen as capable, resourceful, unique, naturally curious and capable of acquiring their own knowledge. They will forge their own paths of discovery according to what interests them.
In Reggio Emilia, children have many different ways of learning and communicating. This concept is beautifully illustrated in the poem, ‘The 100 Languages of Children’, written by the founder of Reggio Emilia, Loris Malaguzzi.
Whether it’s through language, drawing, painting, sculpting, singing, dancing, movement, acting, role-playing, pretend play, storytelling and everything in between, children express themselves and their understanding of the world around them in a multitude of ways.
Teachers and parents are seen as co-learners and collaborators, encouraging every child’s independent learning. They aren’t ‘givers of knowledge’, but rather listen, observe, document, mentor and encourage the child to explore and discover things that interest them – and the teachers and parents themselves learn along the way too.
There’s no right or wrong way of doing things and teachers don’t set tasks that have to be completed. Instead, children are gently encouraged and supported to experiment and find their own solutions through creative thinking. Making mistakes is a crucial part of the learning process and much of the child’s learning is accumulated through research and problem-solving during open-ended projects.
Documentation is also a key aspect of the Reggio Emilia approach. Teachers have different methods of doing this, including taking pictures and displaying the child’s work for teachers, parents and other children to view and engage with.
The classroom environment is seen as the ‘third teacher’, enriching the child’s learning experience. That’s why you’ll find that Reggio Emilia inspired classrooms are welcoming, nurturing spaces filled with quality materials, readily accessible tools and diverse resources that promote uninterrupted ‘hands-on’ and comprehensive discovery.
But it’s not just about the four walls of the classroom. The outdoor environment and natural world are highly valued too and children are encouraged to move freely inside and outside the classroom as they pursue ideas and solutions at their own pace.
No two Reggio Emilia schools are the same and the very best way to visualise the philosophy is to experience it in person.
We welcome you to book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning childcare centres in Clayton or Albert Park so that you can get a feel for how a Reggio Emilia-inspired early learning environment works. We know that when you see our high-quality educational programmes that are based on each child’s interests, abilities, culture and strengths, it will be evident just why this is inclusive and child-centric approach brings out the best in each and every little person in our care.
Find out more at Evoke Early Learning or book a tour through our website. We’d love to meet you and your family!
A quality early education directly affects a child’s chances of lifelong success, so it’s easy to see why new and prospective parents are so determined to make the right decision about a child care centre.
But there is a mountain of information and conflicting opinions out there and parents are also often faced with several options in their neighbourhood, all of which can complicate the decision-making process.
The good news is that there is one approach to early education that sets children up for long-term success – the Reggio Emilia approach.
This progressive alternative to the more traditional styles of early education delivers excellent long-term results and its global acclaim is testament to its success. In this article, we explain what’s behind the Reggio Emilia approach and why it gives young children the very best start in life.
Reggio Emilia is a play-based approach to preschool and primary school education rather than a prescriptive model. Schools and educators are inspired by the philosophy of the approach and adapt it to suit their individual circumstances.
The approach is centred on the premise that children have an innate curiosity and creativity which drives them to explore and discover the world around them.
The child is seen as the main constructor of their own knowledge, with the other primary participants being the environment, the educators, the family and the wider community. In the Reggio Emilia world, it truly ‘takes a village to raise a child.
The children learn according to their own interests and at their own pace. Plus they’re encouraged to communicate and to express themselves in any way they feel that they can, without judgement or expectation.
It is important to remember that Reggio Emilia is a philosophy and that neither schools nor educators become ‘accredited’. Instead, it’s an approach to a way of life at the school or childcare centre and serves as a guide for the educators’ decisions and the curriculum initiatives.
The approach differs substantially from the more traditional education system which sees educators ‘teach’ children via a defined curriculum and prescribed outcomes. There’s no ‘learning by rote’ in Reggio Emilia environments where children simply regurgitate what they’ve been taught. Instead, the curriculum emerges organically and children learn by doing.
Their thirst for discovery is slaked through authentic play-based experiences, with the lines of enquiry in the many open-ended projects led by the child’s interests rather than by what the educators feel is the ‘right’ thing to do.
In this way, children learn without fear of judgement, criticism, comparison or failure. And as they feel truly heard and seen, their self-confidence grows and they develop a healthier sense of identity where self-expression is valued and encouraged.
By exploring things that interest them, be it through drawing, singing, sculpting, dancing, acting, playing, climbing, building or picking apart things, messing about with water and sand, role-playing with friends or quietly contemplating an item in nature, they develop the confidence to test their ideas and theories.
Children learn at a gradual pace and repetitive learning experiences are encouraged. This enables the child to explore deeper into their chosen subject matter and remember what they’ve learnt, thereby building a strong knowledge and skills base which sets them up for success in their later schooling.
Some of the benefits of Reggio-inspired environments include:
Enormous value is placed on the involvement of parents, care givers, educators and the wider community in the child’s growth and development and in supporting them to realise their highest potential. As the founder of the approach, Loris Malaguzzi said: “Our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible.”
We understand that the Reggio Emilia approach is best experienced in real life, and we welcome you to see this globally-acclaimed approach in action for yourself. Why not book a tour of one of our Evoke Early Learning childcare centres in Clayton or Albert Park?
We’d love to show you how the Reggio Emilia approach guides us in our mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment that promotes knowledge and inspires a life-long love of learning in each and every child in our care – we look forward to meeting you!
We often hear someone say: “Look at those children having such fun playing”, but the observation “Look at those children having such fun learning” is far less frequent.
Play is the universal language of childhood and encompasses many different types of activities that children do for fun and amusement. But play and learning are also inseparable.
Young children may look like they’re ‘just’ playing, but when you consider that through play, children develop many valuable life skills, you realise that there is no such thing as ‘just playing’.
With a growing body of research pointing to the long-term benefits of play-based learning, many childcare centres now focus their daily activities entirely on play-based learning. Here, children are allowed to be the discoverers and explorers, constructing, and directing their own learning according to what interests them while the educators act as facilitators and collaborators.
Instead of the more traditional education practices which involve teaching by instruction, prescribed outcomes and repetitive rote learning, play-based learning such as the Reggio Emilia approach is child-centred. Play drives discovery and the child’s experiences lead to deeper, more meaningful learning opportunities.
Children are born with a natural curiosity and thirst for knowledge and play-based learning provides them with endless opportunities to engage with others, with objects and with their environment.
The beauty of play-based learning is that it supports learning in a developmentally appropriate way and doesn’t discriminate or deter participation based on the child’s ability or the pace at which they learn.
Play-based learning is a more natural approach to learning and while it may seem unstructured and unfocused to a casual observer, the reality is that it is the most effective way for young children to accrue many crucial skills.
So whether a child chooses to play with toys or other objects, participate in physical activities, colour, draw, sculpt or craft, play on their own or with others, engage in pretend play and role-play, construct or deconstruct something or dance and sing, by actively engaging with things that interest and inspire them, they’ll be more motivated to learn about the world around them.
Promotes physical development. Active play and movement help children develop their gross motor skills, plus it builds their strength, improves their balance and helps boost their hand/eye co-ordination. Their fine motor skills also get a workout through activities like holding a crayon, cutting and threading.
Promotes cognitive development. Through play, kids develop their intellectual skills such as numeracy, problem-solving, critical thinking, planning and memory skills and retention of knowledge. Why does my tower of blocks keep falling down? How do I get the ball through the hoop? They learn about cause and effect and the consequences of their actions, which lay a strong foundation for their futures as critical-thinking, confident and well-rounded adults.
Encourages their language and communication skills. A child’s vocabulary and their oral skills will grow quickly when conversations are encouraged and when they’re doing things they enjoy.
It helps foster their imaginations. Play activities support a child’s innate creativity and curiosity, driving them to find solutions by using their imaginations.
It helps with the development of social and emotional skills. During play, children are exposed to important lifeskills such as negotiation, co-operation, taking turns, sharing, empathy and resilience. Play teaches them about relationships and how to resolve conflict. If you’ve ever watched a group of young children engaging in a make-believe game, you’ll quickly see how many opportunities there are for them to learn about themselves and about others!
It builds independence. When children are free to play on their own, they’re more likely to take responsibility for their actions.
It helps build a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Play isn’t results-orientated. There are no time pressures to finish an activity and no prescribed outcomes, so children are less likely to feel judged or inadequate. By doing things that they’ve chosen and that they love, they build up their confidence in their abilities and feel good about themselves.
Ultimately, every parent wants their child to have a happy and healthy educational experience.
Quality environments which encourage playful learning and discovery are proven to promote the child’s holistic development and to provide a solid foundation for success throughout the child’s life.
We’d love to show you our play-based learning environments at Evoke Childcare in Albert Park and Evoke Childcare in Clayton so you can make an informed decision about your little one’s future. So why not book a tour? We believe that our open-ended play and child-centred learning sets the foundation for children in our care to develop strong learner identities and empowers them to construct and enjoy opportunities to learn as they head towards school and beyond. We hope to meet you soon!