From February through to June 2017, the Hundred Languages of Children exhibition will be on display in Richmond at Guardian Early Learning Group’s Pedagogical Exchange building. An expression of the thoughts, ideas and work of children through photographs, words, paintings, drawings and sculpture – it’s an imagination spectacular. Now in the fifth edition, this ‘narrative of the possible’ has been on show worldwide for more than 35 years. Showcasing incredible creativity and embracing the child as their own ‘seeker of meaning,’ it gives us a unique, beautiful and intriguing insight into how children think.
The Guardian Early Learning Group are excited to invite all of our families and friends to explore the exhibition. Come and see how the visual arts mediums highlight and harness the potential that children hold to become anything from inventors, authors, artists, scholars and scientists. For more information on the exhibition and to register your attendance, visit the Hundred Languages of Children website.
Not only is it a delight, the display also gives us an opportunity to learn more about the Reggio Emilia philosophy and further participate in the ongoing dialogue that we foster between educators, children, parents and the community. Because the early years are the most critical stage of a child’s development, at Guardian, we believe that we have a responsibility to do all we can to optimise a child’s formative experience.
Guardian Early Learning Centres follow a unique approach to early childhood learning. It’s a philosophy that borrows from the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood learning, focusing on core values that encourage, support and allow children to take part in their own learning. Through this colourful curation, you can see how the Reggio Emilia perspective encourages parents, teachers, and children alike to participate and collaborate in the child’s education. The cornerstone of this is placing a strong emphasis on the child’s learning environment.
At the centre of our approach is the notion that children should have access to endless opportunities to express themselves – hence the term ‘The Hundred Languages of Children.’ This expression branches from the understanding that children can and will seek out a wide variety of methods and mediums to express their thoughts and ideas. It’s this natural curiosity that will grow their creativity and artistic abilities as well as their understanding and knowledge.
At our centres, children are given the opportunity to explore diverse environments, experiences and open-ended resources in order to encourage their natural enquiry to discover, think and learn.
As emphasised by Reggio Emilia, we support our children to communicate and learn through everything from dance and song to drawing, music, movement and construction. In essence, we want them to embrace all five senses for a more hands-on learning experience. This type of learning better inspires children to think, negotiate, construct and communicate ideas. By initiating their own encounters, they’re more likely to revisit these ideas if necessary and in turn, more clearly express their thoughts and feelings about what they’ve experienced.
The Guardian Early Learning Group is proud to support the Hundred Languages of Children exhibition in the Exchange, 67-81 Hoddle Street in Richmond. Profits from the exhibition will go towards the Guardian Indigenous Scholarship Foundation, which supports indigenous educators to learn about the Reggio Emilia approach.
The Hundred Languages of Children website.
