Our Reggio-Inspired Programs

Our Reggio-Inspired Approach to Learning

At Lutheran Early Learning Centers (LELC), we believe every child is capable, curious, creative, and uniquely created by God. Our curriculum is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and grounded in our commitment to nurturing the heart, mind, body, and spirit of every child in a caring Christian environment.

Our Reggio-inspired approach begins with a strong image of the child—seeing children as competent and capable learners who have ideas, questions, theories, and many ways of expressing themselves. Rather than simply providing children with answers, educators listen carefully, observe their interests, and create opportunities for children to explore, investigate, wonder, problem-solve, and develop their own understanding of the world around them.

Learning Through Relationships and Exploration

At LELC, learning happens through meaningful relationships—with educators, peers, families, the environment, and the wider community. Educators act as co-learners and facilitators, thoughtfully extending children's learning through questions, conversations, materials, experiences, and new possibilities.

Children are encouraged to learn through play, exploration, creativity, and inquiry. Their interests and ideas help shape our curriculum, allowing learning to develop naturally and meaningfully. A simple question, discovery, or fascination can become the beginning of a deeper investigation that may unfold over days, weeks, or even longer.

The Environment as a Teacher

We intentionally design our learning environments to invite curiosity and encourage children to explore. Open-ended materials, natural elements, recycled and repurposed resources, art materials, books, loose parts, and opportunities for movement and investigation allow children to make choices and express their ideas in many different ways.

We believe the environment can act as a “third teacher,” encouraging children to wonder, create, collaborate, and discover.

The Hundred Languages

Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of the “Hundred Languages of Children,” we recognize that children communicate and learn in many different ways. Their ideas may be expressed through words, movement, drawing, painting, music, construction, dramatic play, nature, storytelling, sensory experiences, and countless other forms.

Our educators provide a variety of materials and experiences so children can represent their thinking, revisit their ideas, and make their learning visible.

Educators as Researchers

Our educators observe, listen, document, and reflect on children's learning. Documentation helps us understand children's thinking and plan meaningful opportunities to extend their learning. It also allows children to revisit their experiences and gives families a window into the learning taking place each day.

We value educators as lifelong learners and researchers, continually reflecting on their practice and learning alongside the children.

Rooted in Our Christian Identity

While our approach is inspired by Reggio Emilia, LELC's curriculum is uniquely our own and reflects our Christian faith and Lutheran identity. We seek to help children experience God's love through Jesus Christ while developing a sense of wonder, compassion, responsibility, and respect for others and for God's creation.

Faith is woven naturally into our daily experiences through relationships, prayer, stories from the Bible, music, acts of kindness, gratitude, service, and opportunities to appreciate the beauty and wonder of creation.

Learning Together with Families

Families are valued as important partners in children's learning. We welcome families' knowledge, perspectives, cultures, experiences, and ideas and believe that strong relationships between home and LELC enrich children's development.

Through our Reggio-inspired approach, we strive to create an environment where children are known, heard, valued, and encouraged to wonder—where their ideas matter and where every child has opportunities to grow in confidence, creativity, relationships, knowledge, and faith.

At LELC, we don't simply teach children about the world—we invite them to explore it, question it, create within it, and discover their place in it.