Frequently asked questions

Why the Reggio Emilia Approach?

The core activity of the founders of Putnu dārzs is related to languages and various language technologies. Since 2008, during frequent business trips to such business hubs as San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the founders of Putnu dārzs have noticed that many of their clients and colleagues choose Reggio Emilia Approaches at schools for their children. The answer to the question ‘Why the Reggio Emilia Approach?’ was that this approach provides children with a wide range of skills from an early age, teaches them to cooperate and work in a team, use their creative potential, develop soft skills, be empathetic to others and not be afraid to be different. These are the principles that motivated the founders of Putnu dārzs to open the first Reggio Emilia preschool in Latvia for the children of their employees and other parents who are interested in or passionate about this approach to teaching and its principles.

How many children are there in Putnu dārzs?

Putnu dārzs is a small preschool with no more than 55 children exploring the world at a time. Putnu dārzs employs seven full-time teachers and teaching assistants, as well as English, kids yoga, audio speech therapy and music specialists who teach classes to children several times a week.

Where is Putnu dārzs located?

Putnu dārzs is located in the heart of the Āgenskalns region of Riga, at Slokas iela 41A, in a historic Hamman manor, the renovation of which was completed in 2022. Premises were designed and based on the preschool concept of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Putnu dārzs has its own spacious outdoor area where children can be creative and enjoy freedom while playing games. We are also frequent visitors at the University of Latvia Botanical Garden that is based nearby.

Where can I learn more about the Reggio Emilia Approach?

Online sources offer a wealth of information on the approach in English if you search for ‘Reggio Emilia Approach’. You can get an idea of the Reggio Emilia Approach here: https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/reggio-emilia-approach/

North American Reggio Emilia Alliancehttps://www.reggioalliance.org/

We Skoolhousehttps://weskoolhouse.com/

Fairy Dust Teachinghttps://fairydustteaching.com/

One of the most comprehensive books on the Reggio Emilia Approach is The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Experience in Transformation by Carolyn Edwards, Lella Gandini, George Forman.