麻豆官网

This book is one of the outcomes of a joint research project between the Center for Early Childhood Development, Education, and Policy Research (CEDEP at the Graduate School of Education, University of Tokyo, and Shibuya Day Nursery in Shibuya, Tokyo. Since 2021, children and teachers at Shibuya Day Nursery have been collaborating with Ayaka Tsuda, an atelierista from Reggio Emilia, Italy, on exploratory projects in the atelier.
 
We were fascinated by the intelligence that children displayed during exploration projects, their compassionate interactions with peers, living beings, objects, and by their delicate or bold ideas. To share our fascination with children and their explorations with parents and teachers from day nurseries, we compiled a publication and organized an exhibition. At that time, some teachers expressed interest in working on exploration in their own day nurseries but were unsure how to begin. This book was written to address these concerns. The book includes an overview of their exploration projects and the philosophical ideas that guided them at Shibuya Day Nursery in 2021 and 2022. Rather than providing step-by-step instructions, we aim to share our vision and philosophy.
 
As the subtitle suggests, the projects in this book are deeply inspired by early childhood education in Reggio Emilia, a city in Northern Italy. For over 60 years, Reggio Emilia has fostered creativity and democratic early childhood education through its network of public preschools. Its philosophy and practices have received global recognition, influencing early childhood education reforms worldwide. The term “Reggio Inspired” signifies adaptation of Reggio Emilia’s philosophy, encouraging educators to interpret its principles in unique local contexts.
 
In Reggio Emilia, children are treated as “researchers,” with infant schools (for ages 3-6) and day nurseries (for ages 0-3) serving as curious environments that nurture children’s inquiries. With the atelier being one of the most significant spaces for exploration and discovery, it serves as a place where children's diverse forms of knowledge are recognized and nurtured. As the name “atelier” suggests, beauty and curiosity both are deeply valued there.
 
In this book, the “atelier” is presented as a place designed for children's exploration, while incorporating aesthetic elements. When both the teacher and the child are willing, the child’s journey towards discovery begins in the atelier.
 

(Written by ASAI Sachiko, Professor, Graduate School of Education / 2025)