Reggio Emilia, Italy
November 17-21st, 2025
"The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy based on the image of a child with strong potentialities for development and a subject with rights, who learns through the hundred languages of belonging to all human beings, and grows in relations with others." www.reggiochildren.it
Traveller:
Austin Goldie
Director/Co-Owner
Narnia Learning Centre,
Lethbridge, Alberta, CAN
With 15 years experience of teaching and leadership, I have spent the last decade in my current role as a Pedagogist and Director of a local, private childcare program. I am passionate about creating inspired learning environments where children take the lead on their own learning through play and project work. I believe in honouring children's voices as mighty citizens of the world. The team at Narnia values indoor and outdoor environments as the 3rd teacher, focusing on sustaining learning, risky play, intentionality, recording and observing play, and responsive practices- bringing joy into the everyday with children as the focal point.
Education:
I have received an Early Childhood Education Diploma (level 3) graduation of Lethbridge Polytechnic. I am also a key note speaker, guest host, and child advocate for (BLW) Baby Led Weaning, Learning Through Play, FLIGHT: Alberta's Curriculum Framework certified, Play and Exploration Series, Risky Play advocate, and certified in Interior Design from the Interior Design Institute of Technology, TO.
Join me on my quest to enrich my own personal philosophy as I grow as an educator for children from across the globe.
Come with me as I continue exploring the beauty and challenges of education through the lens of Reggio Emilia. Together, we can celebrate the wonder of childhood, the hundred languages of children, and the endless possibilities that unfold when we truly listen to children.
-Austin
MY "Why"
Since beginning my journey in the childcare field over 15 years ago, I have moved through many stages of discovering my own inner philosophy—what I believe to be true about young children, and what I value most during those first five crucial years of life. I consider my role as an Early Childhood Educator and Director of a centre with 45 children to be a noble honour—one that I hold in the highest regard and one that continues to fuel and inspire me every day.
For those who know me well, it’s no secret that my core principle is simple: children are my whole heart. Since I was young, I have had a deep, unapologetic passion for children. It’s the kind of passion that keeps me up at night, that I identify with on a deep level. I can’t help but feel this warmth—this pull—toward children, all children.
This passion has been my driving force, and now—15 years later—it’s opening doors I once could only dream of- travelling to the homeland of the Educational Approach I choose to live and teach by. Like a young hockey player meeting Wayne Gretzky at the Stanley Cup Finals—well… this is my Gretzky moment! The Reggio Emilia Approach was born in a town recovering from the devastation of war—a community yearning for peace, democracy, and respect. In 1946, using the very rubble of the war, parents and teachers built a school that celebrated children as symbols of hope and renewal. The children’s innocence, curiosity, and joy became the foundation for one of the most inspiring approaches to early childhood education in the world. For years, I have dreamed of visiting Reggio Emilia, Italy, to experience the birthplace of this beautiful philosophy. I have followed every membership, subscription, Facebook group, and program related to Reggio Emilia. I even completed an Interior Design Certificate in 2014 to deepen my understanding of the environment as the third teacher. Knowing that the changes I make have a direct connection to how children access to supportive learning spaces, ultimately enriching their learning and development to reach its full potential. It is my mission to bring back and share this knowledge with my colleagues and community, continuing to champion approaches that honour children as capable, curious, and full of potential through methods that have touched young lives for over 75 years.
View from my Varanda.
Chapter One
Planes, taxi, & trains
After what felt like an endlessly stretching day of international travel- one of those surreal time-zone-hopping journey's where sunrise and sunset are blurred together- I finally touched down in beautiful Bologna, Italy. The flights were long, sleep was scarce, and I'm pretty sure my internal clock has given up on trying to figure out what time it's supposed to be. But despite the fog of exhaustion (and very strong espresso), my excitement is unmistakably alive. -Austin Tip: If you ever visit Italy, follow the local coffee rhythm: enjoy a cappuccino ONLY in the morning- ordering it after 11AM instantly red flags you as a visitor. Later in the day, step up to the bar and order a quick espresso. Do this, and you'll blend right in with the locals. -Think "efficient enjoyment", but still savoured. A MESSAGE FROM THE TRAVELLING BEAR: BOUNJIORNO FROM ITALY! TODAY I TOOK A VERY LONG AIRPLANE RIDE WITH TEACHER AUSTIN. LIKE SOMEONE HIT THE FAST-FORWARD BUTTON ON THE WORLD. NOW I AM AWAKE AND YOU ARE ASLEEP. IM SO TIRED. EVEN BLINKING IS HARD WORK... SOMEONE HOLD MY EYES OPEN FOR ME... (YAWN) HERE IS A PICTURE OF ME WAITING FOR MY FLIGHT. CIAO CIAO! -BEAR
Chapter Two
A day in Bologna
This wet, and foggy morning started off with a charming Italian breakfast ... why is all the water frizzante unless you specify otherwise?
After breakfast I headed off for a scheduled full-meal food tour with a local foodie who is equal parts culinary expert and stand-up comedian. Under his guidance, I made sure to savour every last bite: silky pasta al ragu, tender veal parmesan with potatoes, a glass of red and a finale of impossibly creamy gelato. By that point, the only Italian word I needed was "fantastico".
The afternoon drifted by with a short nap in a blissfully comfortable bed and some reading THE HUNDRED LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN, letting its ideas fuel my growing excitement for what tomorrow will bring.
Each page reminding me of why I came all this way, why I've been counting down the days for what seems like years of my life, researching, saving money, following the passion... the pull for this. It's just within reach. After some walking it's time to say goodbye to Bologna and board the train to Reggio Emilia- the star of the show, the reason all of this is happening. Tomorrow is the day I learn. And with any luck, I'll also master the art of asking for flat water. Goodnight followers, Austin
Chapter three
Day One: Loris Malaguzzi
International Study Tour 2025
Day one was a whirlwind- emotional, impressionable, and absolutely life changing. I had the opportunity to observe first-hand a truly innovative early learning approach that prioritizes children's well-being giving them space and time to reach their full learning potential. It is so key to understand that children are capable, and have value, and have rights... just like you or I.
This approach places the learning environment on a pedestal, reflecting the children themselves: their image, how they learn, what they love, and the remarkable potential they carry.
It embraces the many languages of childhood- cognitive, expressive, communicative, and relational to name a few- and translates them into practical research-informed strategies. Being among 200 Directors from 45 different countries, I see myself in so many of them, talking endlessly to fellow Directors, exchanging wild ideas, thinking bigger, dreaming bolder and diving into conversation with people from UK, Atlanta, California, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands to start... with fellow deeply passionate childcare providers, teachers, educators that all share the same obsessions, same passions... its just so exciting! Take Aways: Reggio Emilia Educators are the masters, and I think I know why... I was in awe of the profoundly creative thinkers and innovators of Reggio Emilia. I see that when your career choice is taken seriously- and loudly respected- by families and the broader community, something powerful happens: your work becomes the launchpad for deeper creativity and stronger collaboration. I plan to place greater value on my colleagues at Narnia, trust them, encourage and support them as we all get to shape the first 1,000 days of a child's life, a person's life. Documentation, or "the living wall": Display the learning...write it down and post it up. It provides children and adults with a concrete and visible "memory" of what they have said and done to serve as a jumping point for the next steps in learning. It is a means of provides the educators with a tool for research and improvement and renewal. I have seen new innovative ways to display children's work and make it visible... oh man I can't wait! It is important to allow the child to interpret the world, and give them a chance to express their understanding and potential. Thank you for supporting me and tagging along on this exciting journey- there's so much more to come! -Austin
On the bus outside our tour
Chapter Four
Touring one of the oldest Reggio Emilia Preschools
Today was incredibly fulfilling, We took an early bus to visit one of the oldest and most recognized preschools in Reggio Emilia. Established in the early 1960s- during a time when women were eager to enter the workforce after the war- this preschool became a pioneering model, and it remains one of the most profoundly influential early learning centres today.
One of the highlights of the tour was that the children were in attendance while we explored the spaces. (Unfortunately due to privacy measures no pictures were allowed inside or outside the building- which probably explains why my writing hand is still cramping from all the frantic note-taking I had to do instead). Also, a first for hosting during enrolment hours since before COVID 5 years ago... exciting for everyone!
Seeing the little bambinos in their daily routines added meaningful context to everything we have been learning about over the past two days. It reminded me that these are children just like the ones I work with in Canada, and it grounded the Reggio Principles in real, observable practice.
There were several elements of the environment that I am excited to implement when I get back back home to Narnia Learning Centre, especially such simple yet effective strategies, such as fostering self-help skills, and creating a Makers Space to encourage a higher potential. The most enlightening, however was my "Aha Moment": a deeper and more tangible understanding of the Hundred Languages that Loris Malaguzzi describes in his work and embodies throughout the Reggio Emilia Approach. Take Aways: The Hundred Languages of Children is more than a poetic concept- it's a reminder that these languages (beyond speaking English/Italian/ect), are ways to express understanding. Their communication extends far beyond words. Children often don't HAVE the vocabulary yet, and instead... express themselves through clay work, light and shadows, movement, wire sculpting, painting, or graphic representation. These are just some of the hundreds' of ways to say to us "I understand this", or "I know this", or "I have a solution". It came to me this way... after the Atilerista described a situation involving a 5 year old child with special rights, could not yet form the muscles in his hand needed to properly hold his writing pencil, and therefore couldn't draw the tree. Did we know he understands the tree, the bark, the stems, the roots, can he grasp the concepts of what a tree really is? It wasn't clear of his cognition on the subject until he began squishing and rolling the clay to form tree branches, and with uninterupted time and space was making the best, more realistic branches for his clay tree. He could not write, but he spoke his understanding to us in a way that made us see his developmental level of cognition. PS can we draw attention to the phrase the Italians refer to as a child with Special Rights... how inclusive, how beautiful, how Reggio. After many questions arose around the role of an Atelierista, it was explained to us through a 3 month-long project about leaves, yes just leaves, for three whole months. Beginning in September, the project unfolded through deep, research and play between the bambini (children) and the teacher- a genuine exchange of ideas, hypothesis, and interpretations about what leaves are in their context, in their "livingness". Through repetition, thoughtful provocations, and sustained engagement, the children became true experts- masters of leaves. It was an extraordinary illustrations of the Reggio Emilia IMAGE OF THE CHILD: capable, curious and rich potential. A great reminder that although they may seem bored, or we as educators are bored of something simple as leaves, we must create space to gain greater knowledge, even to the most simplest concepts in the living world. -Austin
Travelling Bear: Hello everyone... Italy is really fun! I have been on two planes, and two hotels so far, as well as plenty of taxi's and trains. I have had pizza, pasta, risotto, and fresh gelato and pastries. This is quite the adventure, including how much the cars honk around here... cars honk at other cars, and honk at people walking, or honking and waving to people as they drive by. It scares me every time. I wonder why they do that? Also, strangely the bathrooms have 2 toilets? or like a tiny sink for your bottom! It sprays water out to help you clean up. You have to be really careful with it. Another thing... people in Italy speak Italian, and it sounds like they are singing a beautiful song, but they are only talking. I wish I could speak Italian, It would be really fun! Voglio parlare italiano!! Bye for now Bear
Chapter Five
A Journey Through the Hundred Languages
End Chapter
Gallery & end remarks
This past week has given me much to pause and reflect on as I immersed myself in the deep study of the Hundred Languages of Children and the Reggio Emilia Approach- right at the heart of Italy. The small moments moved me to tears, and the big moments sparked growth within me as a teacher, entrepreneur, parent, and researcher.
I've been deeply touched by the people from all walks of life and all backgrounds, and the profound knowledge I now have the privledge of bringing back home to Narnia Learning Centre. I can't wait to create meaningful change for the children and families we serve.
Ciao Italy! It's been a slice (of pizza) and so, so, much more!!
-Austin
