If you’ve spoken with our teachers or visited our centers, you know that the Reggio Emilia approach has guided Children’s Discovery Center for more than 40 years. So, when our educators were blessed to visit the birthplace of this incredible teaching tool, we jumped at the opportunity. On May 22, Kristin Tansel and Angel Heath boarded their flight, ready for an unforgettable adventure to Reggio Emilia, Italy!

We learned where it all began!

As part of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA) 2026 Study Group, we spent a week visiting schools, meeting educators, exploring ateliers and immersing ourselves in the community that continues to shape the approach today.

Now safe and sound back in our favorite place (Children’s Discovery Center, of course!), we are thrilled to share more about our trip and all the inspiration we’ve brought home to our CDC classrooms!

Reggio Emilia principles guide our work each day, and there was something powerful about experiencing them in the place where they were first imagined.

Throughout the week, we explored learning environments designed around children’s thinking and creativity. We observed classrooms, studied documentation displays and listened to educators share stories about their work.

Everywhere we went, we saw children viewed as capable and curious. It was a meaningful reminder of why we do what we do and the limitless potential each child holds.

While our notebooks, hearts and minds are full from this experience, a few special moments stand out. 

It was powerful to see the level of independence local children were given! Children were trusted, and their curiosity was respected. Each child had full autonomy in their unique paths of discovery, moving freely throughout the school’s indoor and outdoor spaces.

Among the most impressive moments, however, was our trip to the Remida Center, which provides recycled materials for artistic and educational exploration. Experiencing this renowned “creative reuse center” opened our eyes even further to the creative learning opportunities offered by even the simplest everyday items.

But above all else, the most surprising part about this adventure was how familiar so much of it felt.

Although we traveled thousands of miles to learn, we often found ourselves recognizing practices, values and conversations that already exist in our Discovery Centers. Now, we’re ready to help share this experience with our students and families! Because, after all…

Learning journeys are better with company!

Now that we’ve returned home, it’s clear that one of the most exciting parts of this experience is that it won’t end with us. 

This fall, our team will come together during our October In-Service Day to share reflections, photos and learning from the study group experience. Together, we’ll continue exploring ways to strengthen the Reggio-inspired practices that guide learning across all CDC locations.

Professional growth is one of the many ways we invest in the quality of our programs and the experiences we provide for children every day.

And that matters for all our children!

You may be wondering what a trip to Italy has to do with your child’s classroom in Toledo. The answer is simple: everything.

Every conversation, classroom visit and learning experience helped us deepen our understanding of the values that shape our approach to early childhood education, and those insights will influence the questions we ask, the environments we create and the opportunities we provide for children to explore and learn through hands-on experiences.

Just like we teach our students that each day holds new discoveries, we teach our staff the same. When educators continue learning, children always benefit.

And after spending a week in the place where the Reggio Emilia approach was born, we are more inspired than ever to continue creating meaningful learning experiences for every child who walks through our doors.

Thank you for trusting us with your children each day.

With gratitude,

Kristin Tansel and Angel Heath