Observed freedom

Reggio Emilia International Study Group 2016

Each preschool or infant toddler centre in Reggio Emailia has outdoor spaces and a central 'piazza' where small groups are allowed to go with "liberta vigilanza" or observed freedom. In the morning gatherings each day a group of children will be 'chosen' to independently go outside or in the piazza (where there are often role playing or construction opportunities). The Pedagogista spoke of how the teachers make choices - especially about the makeup of these groups, explaining that some children would not be put in a group together when given this freedom.

The effect is twofold (or reciprocal again!) in that the group get to operate independently with all its inherent benefits and the teachers are able to give more attention to observing a smaller number of children in the class.