Preschools in Reggio Emilia are places for children and their families where everyone belongs and inclusion is a priority. In Montecavolo, at the foothills of the Appenines (baby Alps), we got to spend time with educator Greta and atelierista Pier. They shared so many beautiful things with us about their school.
In every nook and cranny there were roses swimming in water in colorful glass vases. Pier told me that the Nonne (Grandmothers) of the children knew we were coming, and so they cut fresh flowers from their gardens to decorate the school so it would look nice for American visitors.
Nonne (grandmothers) decorated the school with roses from their gardens to welcome visitors from America in Reggio Emilia.
My visit of the Reggio Emilia preschool. I love this place.
Children’s artwork in the Reggio Emilia school. It is amazing what children create.
Italy celebrates Mother’s Day too. Educators, pedagogistas, and atelieristas welcomed us with open arms the day we visited right before Italian Mother’s Day. Children showed us the beautiful gifts they were making. They grew rosemary that is used in a recipe for bath salts that will go into artistic glass jars each child made for their Mama with a handmade salt dough heart ornament on the lid. It smells and sounds heavenly in this classroom as children celebrate their families.
The children grew this rosemary at school in their garden that they are using in the bath salt jars they are making in Reggio Emilia.
Handmade salt dough ornaments the children made for their mothers in Reggio Emilia.
Children are prepared for outdoor play with these rainboots organized nicely outside their classroom door in Reggio Emilia.
Lounge area for children to read books in Reggio Emilia.
Child-sized sinks make it easy to clean up after creating neat things in the atelier in Reggio Emilia.
Inclusion of children with disabilities is a priority in Reggio Emilia schools.
This school’s name is Butterfly Tree in Reggio Emilia. Materials from the REmida recycling center were used to create butterflies.
Preschool classroom in Reggio Emilia.
Outdoor classroom in Reggio Emilia.
Outdoor classroom in Reggio Emilia.
Outdoor classroom in Reggio Emilia.
Outdoor classroom in Reggio Emilia. Some materials from the REmida recycling center.
Outdoor classroom in Reggio Emilia.