As a Reggio Emilia preschool, Lily Valley Preschool uses storytelling in the classroom through visual and performing arts, music and stories. Here’s how children and parents can experience the various languages of storytelling and sensorial play at this school using the Reggio Emilia approach.
Lily Valley Preschool’s Reggio Emilia approach
Reggionarra is a cultural project dedicated to the art of storytelling. It was born in 2006 as a collaboration between preschools and nursery schools located in the Municipality of Reggio Emilio, Italy, along with Reggio Children (an international centre for the defence and promotion of children’s rights and potential) and various public and private cultural institutions in the area.
Lily Valley Preschool brings Reggionarra to Singapore through its open house activities. The school dedicates spaces for listening to folk tales and readings, and collaborates with professional authors, illustrators, theatre companies and parents to bring stories to life.
As children experience the languages of different forms of visual and performing arts, they’re encouraged to explore their emotions, expand their imagination and develop their unique voice.
Five ways stories are shared at Lily Valley Preschool
#1 Ocean atelier
This specially designed sensorial play space at Lily Valley Preschool enables children to experience the science of light in the deep ocean. Children are invited to build their own underwater city, experiment with ocean sensory trays, put on an imaginary show with sea creatures puppets as well as observe underwater corals under a microscope.
#2 Immersive 3D atelier
Children interact with different ocean animals through touch, movement and sound. This interactive multi-sensorial play space allows children to draw, create new scenography as well as engage in different forms of game play.
#3 Song and dance
Children take part in a Mandarin song and dance performance about the life of creatures in the sea. They also participate in a choral reading of a story that they wrote, titled Sea Creatures, Sea Creatures, What Do You See?
#4 Using clay and technology as mediums
Lily Valley Preschool children create their own representation of sea creatures with clay and also make a stop-motion animation movie with their sea characters.
#5 Classical music
Children experience different types of Chinese classical music by a cello player and an erhu player. They hear the different tones, pitches and scales created by these instruments, and are encouraged to identify different animals associated with different pieces of music played.
Parent participation in Reggio Emilia approach
An important part of Reggionarra at Lily Valley Preschool is the involvement of parents. The preschool believes that just like every child, every parent has their own story that’s valued and respected in their culture, and these are worth sharing.
Parents are encouraged to participate and collaborate with their children in the Reggio Emilia approach through role playing, creative expression, movement and dance, and workshops.
How to take part
Parents who are interested in experiencing Reggionarra can contact the school to register for Lily Valley Preschool’s upcoming open houses.
Deal! They are giving 40% off monthly school fees for each child until K2 graduation.
Lily Valley Preschool is at 6 Raffles Boulevard, #02-27/28 Marina Square. 9248 4281 | lilyvalley.com.sg
This article first appeared in the November 2022 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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