Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/embracing-reggio-principles-in-nature-inspired-family-child-care/5026246/
*Photos can be found in the pdf version of this article.
Learning and teaching should not stand on opposite banks and just watch the river flow by; instead, they should embark together on a journey down the water. Through an active, reciprocal exchange, teaching can strengthen learning and how to learn.”
—Loris Malaguzzi
Family child care is a learning environment that has been embracing Reggio inspired practice for some time. Ideas center around working in small groups, which is based on theories that we form ourselves through interaction with peers, adults, and the natural world around us. Children easily connect to this learning style, as it supports the natural, instinctive way they take in new information. Children are involved in the process, which brings out their unique understanding of how to construct knowledge.
Early educators can observe and support learning alongside children, allowing wisdom to emerge organically. Family child care programs are generally small, home-based environments with informal access to natural spaces, which effortlessly creates a wonder-inspired backdrop for learning. The natural environment serves as the third teacher, encouraging curiosity and wonder, which in turn support children’s understanding of the world around them. Family child care providers who choose to create ...