Compliments are natural

Reggio Emilia International Study Group 2016

When observing in Anna Frank Preschool today we noticed lots of comments similar to "I like it..." "Well done..." "Good job..." and it got us thinking again about the Montessori attitude to praise Vs encouragement. All of the above comments we observed today were quickly followed by comments aimed at extending the child's thinking or sustaining the possibility for learning. For example, when commenting on a self-portrait the Pedagogista said "I like it... but I wonder if the legs are thick enough?" She then took time to help the child investigate the size of her own legs in relation to the rest of her body.

When we got a chance to experience the approach first hand - in the mark making atelier at the Loris Malaguzzi Centre later that day - we asked the Atelierista about the Reggio philosophy on praise. She said that feedback should extend learning but that offering a compliment is not to be avoided because it is what "comes naturally".