Our and Reggio Emilia philosophy: words teach, examples fascinate.

The Putnu dārzs preschool uses the Reggio Emilia Approach to teaching. We have taken over the best ideas from the Reggio Emilia global experience and harmoniously integrated them into the local environment in Latvia. Daily life at Putnu dārzs consists of games and practical activities based on the Reggio Emilia Approach.

The Reggio Emilia Approach was developed by Loris Malaguzzi (1920-1994) who began practicing it in Italy in the second half of the 20th century. Malaguzzi’s views are based on the belief that children must gain knowledge themselves, and they develop skills most effectively if given the freedom to act. The intellectual growth of the child takes place in motion, with experience gained in practical work. It is also one of the guiding principles of the Reggio Emilia Approach: learning the expression of emotion through movement.

The mind needs wings!

Literally translated, ‘Putnu dārzs’ means ‘Bird garden’, and the bird is a symbol of freedom. Putnu dārzs is a place where children grow up as free, creative and intelligent personalities. The people of Putnu dārzs are companions and supporters of the children. In our understanding, freedom does not mean permissiveness. The child must have a clear understanding of the rules, but the rules must be comprehensible and easy to implement while being appropriate to the child’s age and maturity level. The child’s growth at Putnu dārzs is based on the development of social and emotional competencies, concern for safety, support and loving boundaries that expand your consciousness and let you fly.

The teachers at Putnu dārzs are convinced that children have a huge potential from birth and that the child is an equal member of the community. On a daily basis, employees are mindful of each child’s personality, type of perception, worldview and pace of acquiring knowledge, while paying attention as the child develops social and emotional competencies.

We want to maintain this sense of flight for both children and adults, giving them the opportunity to express themselves, to "fly".

Study programme

The curriculum of the Putnu dārzs preschool is based on the Reggio Emilia Approach. At Putnu dārzs, learning in the form of exploration and games is organised in development centres of various sizes, designed for:

Development centers

Language, reading and writing skills

Forming and constructing mathematical concepts

Natural sciences

Arts (music, dance, visual and fine arts)

Games with sand and water

Development
centers

The child has the freedom to choose which of the development centres to join. In the development centres, children work in small groups, which allows the teacher to pay individual attention to each of the little explorers.

Fluency in speech is developed by a speech therapist who holds individual or small-group sessions. At Putnu dārzs, children learn English several times a week, exercise in physiotherapy classes and develop their musical abilities in music classes.

Daily schedule

We are open and ready to welcome the little explorers

Breakfast

Outdoor activities

Rest

Developmental lessons

Seeing the children off

7.30

8.30

9.00

9.30

11.00

12.00

13.00

15.30

16.00

17.00

18.30

Morning circle

Lessons in development centres

Lunch

Afternoon meal

Outdoor activities