Play and Learning in Action: A Day in a Reggio Emilia Inspired Classroom at Lily Valley Preschool
Play-Based Approach
Last updated on 3 June 2025
Lily Valley PreschoolLily Valley PreschoolPlay-Based Approach
Last updated on 3 June 2025
Play and Learning in Action: A Day in a Reggio Emilia Inspired Classroom at Lily Valley Preschool
Play-Based Approach
Last updated on 3 June 2025
As the sun enters the windows of Lily Valley Preschool, it casts a warm glow on happy children getting ready to make new discoveries. They may be selecting art materials from shelves of options or taking part in open-ended activities with other little learners.
This is no ordinary classroom, after all. This is a Reggio Emilia-inspired space that invites exploration and discovery, serving as the “third teacher” for learners.
If you’ve never been in one, let us show you what a day in a Reggio Emilia classroom is like. Below is a description of what happens in our own classrooms!
The start of a day in a Reggio Emilia classroom is always warm and welcoming. Both educators and the thoughtfully designed learning environment welcome the children with open arms.
In Reggio Emilia, the environment is a third teacher. It isn’t a background or an empty space. Instead, it’s an active participant in our learning process that supports the children’s development.
Our environments do this in a variety of ways – from being full of natural light and textures to offering carefully curated materials that spark the senses.
The children have a wealth of options at this point. We encourage them to choose activities that resonate with their actual interests.
We don’t direct children to follow a set activity. Instead, we encourage them to choose their own paths. If a child prefers to work with clay while another wants to explore picture books, we support both.
Instead of leading, we provide aid by asking questions or offering materials and tools that may extend the children’s moments of discovery. This is how we promote autonomy and self-directed learning.
A Lily Valley classroom offers both natural materials and open-ended resources. Our teachers let children explore at their own pace. Instead of being strict guides, we act as facilitators who observe and support each child’s learning journey.
In our play-based approach at Lily Valley, play is a key medium for learning. Children can use it to develop various skills, explore ideas, and experiment in ways tailored to their individual interests.
For instance, a child might count pebbles while building a path, developing both numeracy and spatial reasoning, or experiment with clay to observe how water changes its texture – a sensory experience that sharpens observation and critical thinking.
This organic approach to learning nurtures children’s critical thinking and also fosters a positive attitude towards the learning process. At Lilly Valley, we do away with rigid instruction in favour of creativity, play, and reflection.
Collaboration is key to the Reggio Emilia approach to education. Reggio Emilia classrooms are vibrant communities of children learning together.
By working together, children can learn from one another and build their social skills too. You can see this in the way their shared projects turn out or their group discussions and problem-solving sessions progress.
The social skills learned here are critical to early development. Through collaborative interactions, children can learn ideas like respect and empathy, as well as learn to see things in other perspectives.
This is why our teachers encourage teamwork and interaction among learners. At the same time, we document each child’s progress through notes, photos, and videos. All of these documents afford reflection for both teachers and parents, who can use them to better understand and support each child’s growth.
As the afternoon sun softens, the Lily Valley classroom starts to wind down as well. The rhythm slows into one that encourages reflection and gentle transitions.
Children often indulge in storytelling at this point in the day. They share tales both real and imagined, or listen to a teacher reading a story.
This is a time we never rush, as it allows the little ones to draw meaning from what they’ve done throughout the day. It lets them feel seen and helps them use their own words and languages to express the day of wealth of experiences they’ve had.
At Lily Valley Preschool, a day in a Reggio Emilia classroom blends play, exploration, and collaboration into a meaningful learning experience. Our play-based approach builds a strong foundation for lifelong curiosity and growth.
Play becomes more than a break from learning. It becomes integrated with it as a key medium, along with exploration, collaboration, and reflection. This is how children build knowledge and skills at Lily Valley.
If you want to learn more, visit us – you can schedule a tour with us to see our classroom for yourself.