DEVELOPING CREATIVITY AND CRITICAL THINKING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION THROUGH REGGIO EMILIA INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD

Abstract

After the Second World War, Loris Malaguzzi led the development of the Reggio Emilia method in early childhood education in the city of Reggio Emilia. Reggio Emilia schools are now held up as role models for the development of young children’s creativity. This article gives an overview of the Reggio Emilia method and looks at how it fits with the results of recent studies on how young children develop their creativity. The current research explored the impact of the Reggio Emilia method on preschoolers’ innovative thinking talents. The study’s goal was to investigate qualitatively what aspects of a school culture of creativity in Reggio Emilia-inspired schools relate to instructional procedures. The qualitative exploratory study technique was adopted to investigate and comprehend the perceived advantages of the Reggio Emilia approach via a thorough literature analysis. The results could lead to a change in early childhood teaching that combines aspects of the social constructivist approach that promotes children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development, bringing about societal change. It was thus determined that the Reggio Emilia method of early childhood education provides a model for the growth of young children’s creativity.