Your Image of the Child

Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach, offered these insights on the image of the child is his article, "Your Image of the Child:  Where Teaching Begins," in the Exchange Essential: Inspiring Practices - Part 1.

"There are hundreds of different images of the child.  Each one of you has inside yourself an image of the child that directs you as you begin to relate to a child.  This theory within you pushes you to behave in certain ways; it orients you as you talk to the child, listen to the child, observe the child.  It is very difficult for you to act contrary to this internal image.  For example, if your image is that boys and girls are very different from one another, you will behave differently in your interactions with each of them.

"The environment you construct around you and the children also reflects this image you have about the child.  There's a difference between the environment that you are able to build based on a preconceived image of the child and the environment that you can build that is based on the child you see in front of you — the relationship you build with the child, the games you play.  An environment that grows out of your relationship with the child is unique and fluid.

"The quality and quantity of relationships among you as adults and educators also reflects your image of the child.  Children are very sensitive and can see and sense very quickly the spirit of what is going on among the adults in their world.  They understand whether the adults are working together in a truly collaborative way or if they are separated in some way from each other, living their experience as if it were private with little interaction."

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