If it weren't for Loris Malaguzzi, Reggio Emilia — a hamlet in northern Italy — would be most famous for being the birthplace of the country's flag. But because of the visionary philosopher, the small city is now synonymous with a progressive preschool model that's gained popularity worldwide.
Malaguzzi first introduced his groundbreaking preschool concept after World War II while Italy lay in ruins.
That's when Malaguzzi, based in Reggio Emilia, called for an investment in — and an overhaul of — early education to breathe life into the devastated city.
At Malaguzzi's preschools, children were placed at the center of the program, and given some autonomy over what, and how, they learned. They would "learn, live and grow together in freedom," said Carlina Rinaldi, president of Fondazione Reggio Children, an organization that works to promote children's rights through education.
The concept began with 54 public schools that supported babies through six-year-olds. Those who got involved at the ground up were able to "regenerate an idea of education, community and democracy," Rinaldi added.
Because Malaguzzi's philosophy was an approach — not a strict educational method — it was nimble enough for schools of varying socio-economic, religious, cultural, and academic backgrounds to adopt.
In the '60s and '70s the Reggio Emilia method started to move beyond Italy, Rinaldi said. By the '80s, early educators around the world praised the concept for its commitment to innovation. Today, it's the foundation for early education centers across the globe.
Here's what the Reggio Emilia method is and how children benefit from it.