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When World War II ended and Italy started prospering, revolutionary ideas started blossoming in the field of education as well. The best ideas are both sown and cultivated by the community, and such is the story of Reggio Emilia. Psychologist Loris Malaguzzi and the parents from the villages around the Italian town of Reggio Emilia used the progressive atmosphere to push an educational philosophy resting on social constructivism and calling exclusively for a self-guided curriculum based on exploration, community bonds, self-expression, and development. They did not underestimate children but understood what we as adults lose along the way.
As parents are faced with an increasing number of holistic approaches to early education and institutions offering to take perfect care of their kiddos, we are here to break down one of the oldest and leading among them and tell you exactly where to find Reggio Emilia-inspired Preschools in Kuala Lumpur!
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Reggio Emilia is perhaps precisely as powerful as it is because it is "only" an idea—an idea that is allowed to take many shapes, in the form that its host wishes, uninhibited. Schools that implement this approach cannot obtain a Reggio Emilia certificate or go through a training course—there is no such thing, so they can only be "Reggio Emilia-inspired." There is no method, no curriculum, just a well-defined underlying philosophy. They are listened to and guided according to their own inherent, displayed, expressed interests to dive deeper into establishing communication links between themselves, their community, their environment, and their ideas.
Everyone and everything can be a teacher, but there are three official Reggio Emilia ones—the first are the teachers along with parents, the second the peers, and the third the environment. They believe it takes a village to raise a child—including the scenery. Reggio Emilia teachers are students too, which ultimately makes everyone collaborators. Kids and adults communicate and teach each other about themselves and the world, children are seen as extremely insightful and valuable members of society, teachers stay with individual groups for at least 3 years to avoid disrupting development by disrupting the community bond. Parents are an integral part of both the education process and matters such as school policy. Everyone is on the journey together.
Children surprise us every day. You surprise yourself when you're a child, and that's why Reggio Emilia takes nothing for granted. No project is planned in advance, everything is a matter of children's expression and where further exploration—an open conversation, a hands-on project, or something else—takes them. There may be no curriculum and no predetermined units, but there are plenty of materials to work with. Concepts are presented to children through music, drama, puppetry, print, shadow play, and more kids are encouraged to depict their understanding through one of many symbolic languages, including drawing, sculpture, dramatic play, writing, etc. Teachers meticulously document the children's thoughts expressed through the hundred languages and work to create new opportunities for expressing their essence.
A lot of attention is dedicated to the "third teacher." Reggio Emilia spaces are intentional and as balanced as the approach itself. Spaciousness and coziness in harmony, no clutter and no predictability of space in synergistic service of stimulation, easy access to a flood of light and community to give that holistic warmth to Reggio Emilia community members big and small!
This preschool offers an award-winning curriculum within a fully-equipped Reggio Emilia inspired campus, specially designed for exploratory and self-directed learning amongst children. They promote an educational culture of collaboration, focusing on the child as an active and competent learner, whilst celebrating the active role of the environment as the third teacher
Odyssey The Global Preschool, Lot 15226, Off Jalan Duta Hartamas Dutamas, Taman Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +603 6203 3733, Website
Alice Smith, the oldest not-for-profit British international school in Malaysia ensures that earning experiences are planned around your child’s interests, curiosities and their natural quest for knowledge; leading to inquiry, investigations, discovery and active hands-on exploration - heavily influenced by how children best learn at this age through the Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum.
Alice Smith School, 2, Jalan Bellamy, Bukit Petaling, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +603 2148 3674, Website
Anyaman Preschool’s emergent curriculum is responsive to the needs and interests of the group, identified by our teachers through close observation. They invest heavily in their daily classroom journals and longer term forms of documentation to provide the basis for deep reflection and the development of a curriculum that is both intellectually ambitious and meaningful for children and teachers alike.
Anyaman Preschool, 80, Jalan Balau, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +6018 400 0092, Website
With the unique philosophy of Reggio Emilia, Curious Child Center aims to nurture each child’s unique talent to achieve their highest individual potential and develop them into engaged, proactive and confident participants in society. Every child is different and they should be given ample opportunity to find and express their talent and hence, children are encouraged to express themselves and learn in ways of “100 languages”.
Curious Child Center, F01, 1st Floor, Citta Mall, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia, +6017 629 6034, Website
Our Early Learning Centre (ELC) aims to provide a warm, secure and stimulating preschool environment for children aged 3-5. Using the Australian Early Years Learning Framework and the Reggio Emilia Philosophy, their students are exposed to a variety of learning experiences. Each child’s learning is documented every step of the way, shared daily through digital means and classroom displays to create ‘meaningful conversations’ between the child, the parent and the teacher. By doing this, a valuable learning link between school and home is provided, supporting their growth as lifelong learners.
Early Learning Center - Australian International School Malaysia, Australian International School Malaysia, 22, Jalan Anggerik, Mines Wellness City, 43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, +603 8949 5000, Website
Students in Nursery level at EtonHouse follow an inquiry-based program, adapting the educational approach of Reggio Children in Reggio Emilia. The educational emphasis is on the natural development of a child, and the close relationships the child holds with the environment. Children have rights and are full of potential, and as such take an active role as a creator of knowledge. Most of the learning taking place is project-based, and teachers are active co-learners in this process.
EtonHouse, No. 9, Persiaran Stonor, 50450, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +603 2141 3301, Website
Located strategically at the center of Klang Valley, Hansel & Gretel Child Care aims to make the process of children’s learning more visible. They use a documentation approach to systematically record children’s work through photographs, video recordings and observations. They aim to develop a holistic child who is balanced in all aspects including intellectual, cognitive, physical, social and emotional domain.
Hansel And Gretel Child Care, 2A, Jalan Perisa 5, Taman Gembira, 58200 Kuala Lumpur, +6016 444 1103, Website
The approach at IVEY encourages the children to be inquisitive, independent and enthusiastic in their course of learning. Paired with the Reggio Emilia approach, they lead the children to learn through purposeful play and discovery. Every encounter and the children’s routine are carefully planned to fit into their rich stimulating settings and mindfully led by the certified educators.
International Village Of Early Years (IVEY), G-G-08, Plaza Arkadia, Jalan Residen 3, Desa Parkcity, 52200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +603 2780 6873, Website
This play-based preschool adopts the Reggio Emilia approach in learning as they envision to provide quality learning experience by promoting child-led activities, character building and purposeful discipline. They refer to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), a British framework to nurture our children. With the support of St. James Church Kindergarten, Singapore, they aim to raise global citizens with great passion for learning.
Junior Champs, B-01-01 Gateway Corporate Suites, Gateway Kiaramas, No.1 Jalan Desa Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, +6012 358 3251, Website
At the heart of Small Wonder by Busy Bees, is a pledge to all-round development, where the inquisitive and seeking child is molded, and where learning is always something enjoyable and nurturing. Your child will be nurtured through a proven curriculum developed over 30 years that fulfills every child’s need for schooling, and grooms their love for learning. Small Wonder aims to give every child enrolled in their programme a fun, yet educational experience that will prepare them for formal education both in the Malaysian public school system as well as in international schools.
Small Wonder By Busy Bees, 13, Jalan Damai, Kampung Datuk Keramat, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, +603 6203 6033, Website
The longest established Australian International School in Malaysia, the Australian International School nurtures curious young explorers to work collaboratively and develop an understanding of the world around them. Using the Australian Early Years Learning Framework and the Reggio Emilia Philosophy, students are exposed to a variety of learning experiences. Each child’s learning is documented every step of the way, shared daily through digital means and classroom displays.
Australian International School Kuala Lumpur, 2 Jalan Anggerik, The MINES Resort City 43300 Seri Kembangan Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia, +603 8949 5000, admissions@aism.edu.my, aism.edu.my
Alice Smith School, https://welcome.alice-smith.edu.my/early-years-enquiry-2021
Anyaman Preschool, www.anyamanpreschools.com
Early Learning Center - Australian International School Malaysia, www.aism.edu.my/curriculum/early-learning-centre
EtonHouse, www.etonhouse.my
Hansel And Gretel Child Care, www.hanselgretelcarechild.com.my
International Village Of Early Years (IVEY), www.iveyedu.com
Junior Champs, juniorchamps.my
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