Are You New to The Reggio Emilia Approach?

You might have heard fellow educators talk about The Reggio Emilia Approach and embracing a Reggio-inspired practice in their settings. Maybe you’ve scrolled through Pinterest, admiring natural materials, soft lighting, and aesthetic setups—but still found yourself wondering:

What exactly is The Reggio Emilia Approach?
How does it actually work?
Am I “Reggio enough” to do this?

I get it. When I first started learning about Reggio, I felt the same way—excited, curious, but also overwhelmed by all the information out there.

But here’s the truth:

• The Reggio Emilia Approach isn’t about copying a look—it’s about a way of thinking.
• It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about learning how to ask better questions.
• And most importantly, it’s about embracing a practice that aligns with your values, your children, and your setting.

Today, I’m going to break down what you need to know about The Reggio Emilia Approach—so you can start your journey with clarity and confidence.

Why is The Reggio Emilia Approach Important?

You may come across people in the early years profession who believe that being reggio inspired is simply having natural baskets and wooden toys.

However, as much as the Reggio Emilia Approach values beautiful environments and materials, this comes from their strong images of children, families and educators that guide their interactions, relationships and decision making.  This means that this movement towards valuing and supporting all 3 protagonists is changing the perspective of early childhood education to a more holistic and relationship based approach and reading this tells me you’re at least curious about it all and the potential impact it can have on your role.

On top of that you’ll find a new profound level of trust with the children and yourself that will create more ease in your day and deeper engagement from the children.

For example:

After reflecting on my image of the child and educator, I was able to see opportunities during everyday experiences that allowed me to implement my image of the child as strong, capable, valued and competent learners. 

I didn’t rush into solve problems.

In fact I once said I didn’t know how to help them one time when the problem was each child had an awesome idea to solve their problem and me picking one wouldn’t help.  It felt weird in that moment to admit it as an adult to children, but they went back to the drawing board and solved their own problem!

Background on The Reggio Emilia Approach

Don’t worry,  this is not some boring history class.

One of the best ways to understand a new concept is to travel back in time and understand where it came from and the processes that led to its inception.

For The Reggio Emilia Approach®, we have to look at a tiny city called Reggio Emilia, Italy just after World War II.

Believe it or not, the first Reggio Schools were built out of the rubble from World War II,  because the women of the community wanted something different for their children.  After being oppressed, having their freedoms taken away and schools becoming authoritarian, the women of the community and Loris Malaguzzi built a new approach to early childhood education that was founded on rights of all 3 protagonists.

This transformative approach to early childhood education has revolutionized how we view children, nurture their development and which in turn has moved educators roles from “teaching” to co-learners, facilitators and researchers.

Dr. Diane Kashin has an excellent blog on The Studio Approach to early childhood education that is influenced by the Ateliers of The Reggio Emilia Approach.  Check it out over here

What is The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education?

At its core, The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy that sees children as:

• Strong and capable learners
• Curious researchers of their own world
• Active participants in their learning

Instead of following a set curriculum, educators observe, listen, and respond to children’s natural curiosity—co-constructing learning experiences together.

This approach is deeply relationship-based, viewing learning as something that happens in collaboration between:

Children – The protagonists of their learning
Educators – Researchers and co-learners alongside children
Families & Community – Equal partners in the child’s learning journey

But before we dive deeper, let’s clear up some common misconceptions.

Myths: What The Reggio Emilia Approach is NOT

If you’re new to this approach, you’ve probably seen plenty of misconceptions floating around. Let’s clear them up.

Myth #1: “I’m not Reggio enough.”

Truth: There is no “right” way to have a Reggio Inspired Practice. Your practice will look different from others because it is shaped by YOUR context. Your program will never be EXACTLY what is in Reggio Emilia because you’re not in Italy! The goal is to learn from the Reggio Educators and subsequently apply it to our own contexts….it’s never been about copying. 

Ask yourself: How can I bring these values into my practice in a way that feels authentic?

Myth #2: “How do I make my environment LOOK Reggio?”

Truth: It’s not about aesthetic perfection. A true Reggio-inspired environment should reflect the children, families, and educators within it. This approach is a way of thinking and having a strong image of the child, educator and family….your setting will be as unique as the people in it. The Reggio Emilia Approach helps us move away from conformity towards individuality and community…with the people actually in your setting.

Ask yourself: Take a look at your learning environment. What is it communicating? How might you make it more inviting to exploration?

Myth #3: “Am I doing it right?”

Truth: There’s no formula to follow—the key is observation, reflection, and responsiveness. The biggest shift that transformed my practice was embracing reflection as a daily habit. In Reggio-inspired practice, reflection isn’t an afterthought—it’s essential. That’s why I use the Reflective Practice Pathway: Research → Reflect → Renew.

Reflective Practice Pathway for Your Reggio Inspired Practice

It’s a cycle of ongoing learning and growth, and once you start using it, you’ll begin to see small shifts that lead to deeper transformations.

Step 1: Research (Observe & Gather Information)

• What do I notice about how children interact with their environment?
• How do I currently see my role as an educator?

Step 2: Reflect (Make Meaning from What You See)

• What is going well?
• What feels challenging?
• What assumptions am I holding about learning?

Step 3: Renew (Make Small, Intentional Changes)

Instead of overhauling everything at once, pick ONE small shift to try.

• Maybe it’s pausing before stepping into play.
• Maybe it’s offering children more choice.
• Maybe it’s rearranging materials to encourage self-initiation.

Pause and reflect: Which of these myths have you believed? What mindset shifts might help you let go of them?

The Reggio Emilia Approach is Not About Knowing the Answers

It’s about leaning into the wonders, questions and problems that arise and THINKING about new perspectives to engage the children’s curiosities and yours.

After this you turn on your ECE superpower, researching, to understand how children acquire knowledge and best support them.

As a result of embracing this way of thinking, you’ll now be able to move forward in your journey with a clearer understanding, and use your reflective practice to make meaningful and purposeful changes.

Now that we’ve busted these misconceptions and have a clear mind to start your journey with The Reggio Emilia Approach, take the next 30 min and watch this video, as I walk you through the next steps to creating a practice that represents you, the children and families in your context.

I can’t wait to hear how you reflect this beautiful approach into your setting.

Leave a comment on the blog so we can continue the conversation and learn alongside each other.

Start Your Reggio Inspired Practice – FREE GUIDE

Final Thoughts: The Journey Starts Now

Reggio isn’t about perfection—it’s about reflection, adaptation, and curiosity.

💬 Which mindset shift resonated with you the most? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear from you!

Your Reggio-inspired journey starts today. Let’s embrace it together.

LINKS MENTIONED

Reggio Inspired Practice – Free Guide

The Reggio Emilia Approach In A Nutshell – Video

Values & Principles of REA

The Image Of The Child – Loris Malaguzzi

Reggio Children