Creativity and Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education in the Reggio Emilia Approach and Philosophy

Keywords: children, creativity, parents’ engagement, early education, Reggio Emilia educational philosophy

Abstract

In the article the authors discuss the importance of parental creativity and involvement in early institutional education of a child on the example of Reggio Emilia educational method. Among the main aspects of this involvement are the quality of education, child support, cooperation between teachers and parents as well as a positive feedback. The authors of this paper also deal with one of the main aspects of early education—creativity and its importance for a child’s psychosocial development. The preschool curriculum has been designed for children of the preschool educational institutions to provide them with a rich learning experience and to help them to develop properly. Creative education starts at an early age, therefore kindergartens and families play a very important role in supporting and developing creativity in child’s everyday routine. It is stressed that being creative is primarily about taking initiatives and innovative behavior. These are the qualities required in contemporary society, especially by employers in private and public sectors. However, the process of involving parents in their child’s education starts at the preschool stage and plays the most important role in child’s socialization. It is also emphasized that if children feel the support of both educational subjects (teacher and parents) in the process of preschool education, they feel safer, more comfortable, and much more confident.

Author Biography

Maciej Kołodziejski, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń

Dr hab., prof. UMK w Toruniu, Katedra Edukacji Wczesnej i Obywatelskiej, Instytut Nauk Pedagogicznych, Wydział Filozofii i Nauk Społecznych, Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu, pedagog i muzyk, rzeczoznawca podręczników do muzyki MEN, autor kilku monografii autorskich, redaktor kilkunastu monografii zbiorowych, autor kilkudziesięciu artykułów i rozdziałów naukowych, recenzent w czasopismach naukowych. Zainteresowania naukowe koncentrują się wokół obszarów pedagogiki muzyki, wczesnej edukacji muzycznej, szkolnej edukacji artystycznej, pedagogiki twórczości i kreatywności, pedeutologii.

References

Amabile T.M. (1989). Growing up creative: Nurturing a lifetime of creativity, New York: Crown House Publishing Limited.

Babakr Z.H., Mohamedamin P., Kakamad K. (2019). Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory: Critical review, “Education Quarterly Reviews”, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 517–524. DOI: 10.31014/aior.1993.02.03.84.

Cadwell L.B. (1997). Bringing Reggio Emilia home: An innovative approach to early childhood education, New York: Teachers College Press.

Davidson C.N. (2011). Collaborative learning for the digital age, “The Chronicle of Higher Education”, https://www.chronicle.com/article/collaborative-learning-for-the-digital-age/ (accessed: 31.05.2021).

Dere Z. (2019). Investigating the creativity of children in early childhood education institutions, “Universal Journal of Educational Research”, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 652–658. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2019.070302.

Dewey J. (2010). Professional spirit among teachers, [in:] D.J. Simpson, S.F. Stack (eds.), Teachers, leaders and schools: Essays by John Dewey, Carbondale (IL): Southern Illinois University Press, pp. 37–40.

Gandini L., Etheredge S., Hill L. (eds.) (2008). Insights and inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of teachers and children from North America, Worcester: Davis Publications.

Kernan M. (2012). Parental involvement in early learning, The Hague: ICDI and Bernard van Leer Foundation.

Kołodziejski M. (2010). The role of family and school in developing child’s musical attitudes – Let us appreciate the power of music, [in:] Mūzikas zinātne šodien: pastāvīgais un mainīgais. Zinātnisko rakstu krātjums. II, Daugavpils: Daugavpils Universitātes, Akadēmiskais Apgāds “Saule”, pp. 193–207.

Lindsay G.M. (2015). Reflections in the mirror of Reggio Emilia’s soul: John Dewey’s foundational influence on pedagogy in the Italian educational project, “Early Childhood Education Journal”, vol. 43, no. 6, pp. 447–457. DOI: 10.1007/s10643-015-0692-7.

Malaguzzi L. (1998). History, ideas, and basic philosophy: An interview with Lella Gandini, [in:] C. Edwards, L. Gandini, G. Forman (eds.), The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia approach – Advanced reflections. Second edition, Greenwich (CT): Ablex Publishing Corporation, pp. 49–97.

Markevičienė E. (2010). Reggio Emilia ikimokyklinio ugdymo sistema. Pirmoji pažintis. Reggio Emilia Preschool Education System. A first look. Vilnius. Available in Lithuanian at: https://www.vyturelis-alytus.lt/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Reggio-Emilia.pdf.

Markevičienė E. (2012). Reggio Emilia idėjos Lietuvoje: Kuo jos patrauklios?, Vilnius: Litexpo. Available in Lithuanian at: http://www.upc.smm.lt/paroda/2012/saliu_renginiai/E._Markeviciene._Reggio_Emilia_idejos_Lietuvoje.pdf.

Popek L.S. (2016). Mechanizmy aktywności twórczej człowieka w świetle interakcyjnej teorii psychologicznej, “Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska. Sectio J: Paedagogia-Psychologia”, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 8–32. DOI: 10.17951/j.2016.29.3.7.

Przybysz-Zaremba M., Kołodziejski M. (2018). Socialising-emancipatory function of family: Selected aspects in the “information jungle”, [in:] M. Przybysz-Zaremba, W. Ziarek (eds.), Family. Tasks – help – support: Selected aspects, Vilnius: Mykolas Romeris University, pp. 17–30.

Quality Education for All. Sub-regional Conference. (2004). Vilnius: Lithuanian National Education Forum.

Santín F.S., Torruella M.F. (2017). Reggio Emilia: An essential tool to develop critical thinking in early childhood, “Journal of New Approaches in Educational Research”, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 50–56: DOI: 10.7821/naer.2017.1.207.

Shaffer D.W., Squire K.R., Halverson R., Gee J.P. (2005). Video games and the future of learning, “PDK International”, vol. 87, no. 2, pp. 105–111, https://doi.org/10.1177/003172170508700205.

Vecchi V. (2010). Art and creativity in Reggio Emilia: Exploring the Role and Potential of Ateliers in Early Childhood Education, London: Routledge.

Published
2021-07-23
How to Cite
Kołodziejski, M., & Butvilas, T. (2021). Creativity and Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education in the Reggio Emilia Approach and Philosophy. Elementary Education in Theory and Practice, 16(3(61), 103-112. https://doi.org/10.35765/eetp.2021.1661.07