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First Reggio Emilia Schools Built by Working Parents
• Groundwork was established shortly after World War II, and the end of the Fascist regime in Italy, when a group of working parents built new schools for their young children.
• These parents wanted schools in which their children could “acquire skills of critical thinking and collaboration essential to rebuilding and ensuring a democratic society” (New, 2000).
*Image of San Felice Reggio Nursery and Preschool from http://www.thearchitectureofearlychildhood.com/2012_03_01_archive.html. -
Association of Elementary School Teachers Founded
• In the 1950s and early 1960s, there was an association of elementary school teachers active in Italy that wanted to bring innovation to education. These teachers were inspired by the works of John Dewey, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. They hoped to develop schools that were non-selective and non-discriminatory.
• Mr. Loris Malaguzzi became a leader in the movement and helped to bring the schools into city management. -
Original Preschools Transferred to City Management
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Social Policies for Working Families with Young Children Established
• A series of national laws were passed between 1968 and 1971 that established free preschools for children 3-6 years old, infant-toddler centers for children 3 months to three years, a maternity leave (in part, with full pay) and a new family law more favorable to women. -
Hundred Languages of Children Exhibit Opens in Sweden
In 1981, the educators of Reggio Emilia prepared the first exhibit about the work constructed with their children called The Hundred Languages of Children. This exhibit opened in Sweden and this marked the beginning of the spread of their message of hope about early childhood education around the world. -
First Presentation on Reggio Emilia at NAEYC Conference
• The first presentation on Reggio Emilia at an annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) took place in Anaheim in 1987. -
Revised Second Edition of The Hundred Languages of Children--Advanced Reflections Published
• Principles of Reggio Emilia's practices are described in numerous English-language manuscripts and publications. Contributing to this still-rising level of interest is a revised second edition of The Hundred Languages of Children--Advanced Reflections. -
Image of the Child
• Reggio Emilia's "image of the child" is a dominant theme in discussions on early care and educational policies. “It is this influence--to promote not only change, but reflection, debate, and conversation--that may well be Reggio Emilia's greatest legacy” (New, 2000).
