The Environment as the 3rd Teacher

The idea of the environment as the third teacher originated in Reggio Emilia with the work of Louis Malaguzzi. It is proposed educators view the service as a living organism, a place of shared relationships among the children, the educators and the families; hopefully producing a feeling of belonging in a world that is alive, engaging, welcoming and authentic. The layout of the physical space encourages encounters, communication and relationships. It is never simply a backdrop to the curriculum; it is an integral part of a leisure based program in OSHC.

Educators are aware, that children learn from multiple sources – the educators, parents or other adults in a space (first teacher), their peers - especially when they can interact in small groups (second teacher) and finally the space itself. The arrangement of structures, objects and activities encourage choices, problem solving and discoveries in…