About Loris Malaguzzi

Loris Malaguzzi is a pivotal figure in early childhood education, mainly through his development of the Reggio Emilia Approach. Born on February 23, 1920, in Corregio, Italy, his early life was marked by the upheavals of World War II, which profoundly influenced his educational philosophy. He attended the Istituto Magistrale secondary school in Reggio Emilia and graduated from Urbino University in 1946 with a degree in pedagogy.

During the war, he worked as a teacher in elementary and middle schools in Reggio Emilia and municipalities like Reggiolo, Sologno, and Guastalla. These experiences shaped his later focus on child-centered education. His post-war efforts were driven by a desire to create educational systems that could foster peace and creativity, reflecting the era’s need for renewal after the conflict.

Malaguzzi’s contributions to early childhood education are extensive and multifaceted. In 1951, he founded the municipal Centro Medico Psico-Pedagogico in Reggio Emilia, where he worked for nearly two decades, laying the groundwork for innovative educational practices. From 1968 to 1974, he served as a pedagogical consultant to preschools in Modena, and after 1971, he coordinated Reggio Emilia’s municipal early childhood services and the Pedagogical Co-ordination Group. He also initiated the Robinson Crusoe preschool in 1963. He conceived the exhibition “If the eye leaps over the wall” in 1981, later renamed “Hundred Languages of Children – Narrative of the Possible” in 1987.

His leadership extended to directing the early childhood journal “Zerosei” (renamed “Bambini” in 1985) from 1976 and serving as president of Gruppo Nazionale Nidi e Infanzia from 1980 until his death on January 30, 1994. His work gained international acclaim when the Diana preschool was cited by Newsweek in 1991 as one of the best ten schools in the world, and he delivered a speech at the Kohl International Teaching Awards in Chicago in 1993. These roles and initiatives highlight his commitment to transforming educational practices through collaboration and innovation.

At the core of Malaguzzi’s philosophy is the Reggio Emilia Approach, which views children as strong, powerful, and competent learners endowed with “a hundred languages” to express their ideas.

This concept, originally from a poem he wrote, emphasizes that children have multiple ways to think, learn, and create, including painting, sculpting, drama, and more. The poem, “The Hundred Languages of Children,” is a poignant reflection of this belief, stating, “The child has a hundred languages, a hundred hands, a hundred thoughts, a hundred ways of thinking, of playing, of speaking. A hundred, always a hundred ways of listening, of marveling, of loving, a hundred joys for singing and understanding, a hundred worlds to discover, a hundred worlds to invent, a hundred worlds to dream. The child has a hundred languages (and a hundred hundred hundred more), but they steal ninety-nine.”

This critique of traditional education, which he believed separated the head from the body and limited children’s expression, underscores his advocacy for an emergent, child-centered curriculum co-constructed by educators, children, and families. His approach has inspired educators globally, emphasizing creativity, collaboration, and the role of the environment in learning, continuing to influence modern educational thought.

The following table summarizes key aspects of Malaguzzi’s life and contributions:

Aspect	Details
Birth	Born on 23 February 1920 in Correggio.
Education	Attended Istituto Magistrale secondary school in Reggio Emilia; graduated from Urbino University in 1946 with a degree in pedagogy.
Early Career	Worked in elementary and middle schools in Reggio Emilia and municipalities like Reggiolo, Sologno, Guastalla during the war. Became a teacher and then Director at Convitto Scuola della Rinascita in Rivaltella, Reggio Emilia, end of 1946.
Professional Roles	Founder of Reggio Emilia’s municipal Centro Medico Psico-Pedagogico in 1951, worked there for almost 20 years. Pedagogical consultant to preschools of Modena municipality from 1968 to 1974. Co-ordinated Reggio Emilia’s municipal early childhood services and Pedagogical Co-ordination Group after 1971. Director of early childhood journal “Zerosei” in 1976 (later “Bambini” in 1985, published by Edizioni Junior). President of Gruppo Nazionale Nidi e Infanzia from 1980 to 1994.
Key Contributions	Initiated the Robinson Crusoe preschool in 1963. Conceived the exhibition “If the eye leaps over the wall” in 1981 (renamed “Hundred Languages of Children – Narrative of the Possible” in 1987). Oversaw the conference “Who am I Then? Tell me that first (Alice) – Knowledges in Dialogue to Guarantee Citizenship to the Rights and Potentials of Children and Adults” in 1990.
International Recognition	Diana preschool cited by “Newsweek” magazine in 1991 as one of the best ten schools in the world. Speech at Kohl International Teaching Awards, Chicago, 1993.
Death	Died on 30 January 1994.
Legacy	Led to the formation of Reggio Children and the International Centre dedicated to his name.

Key Citations

• Reggio Emilia approach Wikipedia page
• Loris Malaguzzi biography on pgpedia
• Loris Malaguzzi page on Reggio Children
• The Hundred Languages poem by Loris Malaguzzi

More About Loris Malaguzzi

Learn more about Malaguzzi:

• Loris Malaguzzi and the Reggio Emilia Approach
• Early Childhood Theorists: Loris Malaguzzi
• Loris Malaguzzi and The Reggio Approach to Early Childhood Education

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