Preparing for the Journey

Six months ago, Ashley and I learned of an incredible opportunity to venture to Reggio Emilia, Italy to study the Reggio philosophy during a networking event at the IAEYC conference. Shortly after, the official information went out to join the study tour and we said YES!

With the support of our friends, family, school and PTO, this trip became a reality. To prepare, we began with exploring the rich history of Reggio Emilia, Italy.

Born after a period of suffering and pain following World War II, the city of Reggio Emilia was liberated on April 24, 1945.  The municipality had a small sum of money from the sale of tanks and other war equipment, the conversation began of how to invest the money.  The men wanted farm equipment and the women wanted a new school for the children.  The women won and an early childhood center was  created.  Brick by brick, the citizens built the school.  We knew that a community this strong, was worth exploring!


With information in hand and shoes on our feet, we boarded a flight from Indiana to Paris- Paris to Milan- and lastly a bus trip from Milan to Reggio Emilia.

It is here that our reflective journey began on October 7th, 2018. Day 1 concluded with the formation of new friendships, delicious pizza and creamy gelato!