There seems to be a nursery on every corner in Kuwait, and yet none of them had everything I wanted for my child. As a teacher, I’d researched some of the top nursery programs in the world and fallen in love with the Reggio-Emilia approach. The primary schools in this small, Italian town cater to the unique needs of the community and students. Children construct their own understanding of the world around them through literal construction with blocks, clay, sand and water. They represent their ideas with painting, photography, film, dance, music and theatre. And most importantly, they play! They play outdoors in the grass and dirt; they climb and swing; they play pretend and they play out real life scenarios. This rich and stimulating environment is what I wanted for my child, and when I couldn’t find it, I created it.
The Kuwait Reggio Center brings all of the above from Reggio-Emilia, Italy to Mansouriya, Kuwait. KRC is an inquiry-based, child-centered nursery where curiosity is the curriculum. Children explore the classroom to find what interests them. Maybe they will learn to compare sizes and shapes in the block area, or choose to learn colors and fine motor skills in the art space. They can build literacy skills cuddled up with a book in the reading loft, or expand their vocabulary through dramatic play. Outside the classroom, the central piazza allows them to perfect their gross motor skills in the soft play obstacle course or move to a rhythm created in the music corner. They also have the chance to play with light, sound and touch in the sensory room, or calm their senses and focus on their breath in yoga class.
It’s not all pretend-play, the children have real work to do! They cook up snacks in our custom built kitchen using food from the school garden. They create works of art using diverse media from modeling clay to woodwork. They reduce, reuse and recycle in our recycling center. Their artwork, dialogue and photos decorate the walls so that the children know their work is meaningful.
Learning takes place outside the walls of KRC too. There is a playground where they can swing and slide, a sand and water section where they are allowed to get messy, a large track where they can pedal, scoot, and drive, and an open field where they can run through the grass or rest under the shady tree.
They can do all of this safely because the children are supported by well-educated, caring, vigilant, and certified teachers who extend and foster the students’ creativity. Parents are also invited to participate in their children’s education because parents are a child’s first and most important teachers.
I am a parent first, and Kuwait Reggio Center is the nursery I built for my children. If you think it might be the right school for your child, find out more at our website www.kuwaitreggiocenter.com or request a tour by contacting [email protected] or 98747518.
