Reggio Emilia vs. The Finnish Approach at HEI Schools Saigon Central: Same Child-Centered Philosophy, Different Flavours

Choosing the right educational approach for your child can sometimes feel like choosing between coffee and tea. Both are great, both have their loyal followers, but they offer different experiences.

At HEI Schools Saigon Central, the Finnish early childhood education (ECE) approach is the foundation, but many parents ask, “How does it compare to Reggio Emilia?” Well, it’s a bit like asking whether your child should become a little explorer or a little philosopher—both approaches respect children’s natural curiosity but go about it in different ways.

So, let’s dive deep into these two approaches and break it down in a fun, insightful, and real-life way!

1. The Big Picture: How They See Children

"A child discovering their handprints and shadow in the sunlight''.

If Reggio Emilia and the Finnish approach were two types of parents, this is how they would see a child:

🟢 Reggio Emilia Parent: "My child is a natural researcher, a mini Einstein with a thousand languages. I must provide the perfect environment for their ideas to flourish!"

🔵 Finnish Parent: "My child is a happy, independent human who learns best by playing freely. I trust them to figure things out at their own pace!"

How This Plays Out in the Classroom:

Reggio Emilia: Teachers follow children’s deep interests and turn them into long-term investigations. If a group of children shows curiosity about shadows, it might turn into a months-long exploration with shadow art, storytelling, and experiments.

Finnish Approach (at HEI Schools Saigon Central): Teachers observe children’s play and guide them toward balanced experiences—a mix of creativity, problem-solving, outdoor exploration, and social-emotional growth.

📌 Real-Life Example at HEI Schools Saigon Central: One day, a child finds a snail in the garden.

In Reggio Emilia, this could spiral into a full-scale “snail project”—children sketch snails, build snail habitats, and even create snail-inspired sculptures over weeks.

At HEI Schools, the teachers might encourage the child to observe, touch, and talk about the snail, then let the experience fade naturally as new interests emerge.

➡️ Key Difference: Reggio Emilia is about deep dives into a topic, while the Finnish approach ensures children get a variety of experiences without overly structuring their interests.

2. The Role of the Teacher: Who’s Running the Show?

Reggio Emilia vs. The Finnish Approach at HEI Schools Saigon Central: Imagine you’re on a road trip with your child. Who’s in charge of the map?

🟢 Reggio Emilia Teacher: "Sweetie, where do you want to go today? Let’s explore together!" (A co-researcher exploring alongside children.)

🔵 Finnish Teacher: "Here’s the car, you can choose your route, but we’ll make sure you stop for snacks, rest, and a little bit of everything!" (A facilitator balancing freedom and structured play.)

How This Works in the Classroom:

• Reggio Emilia Teachers: Document children’s ideas, photograph their work, and encourage them to express their thoughts through art, storytelling, and hands-on projects.

  
  

• Finnish Teachers at HEI Schools: Observe play, support independence, and ensure children experience a range of developmentally appropriate activities.

  
  

📌 Real-Life Example at HEI Schools Saigon Central: A child starts stacking blocks into a tall tower.

• In Reggio Emilia, the teacher might say, “That’s interesting! What are you building? Let’s document your process and write a story about it!”

  
  

• At HEI Schools, the teacher might watch, let the child experiment, and only intervene when the child is ready to discuss balance, measurement, or teamwork.

  
  

➡️ Key Difference: Reggio teachers are intensely engaged observers and documentarians, while Finnish teachers create space for children to explore independently while providing light guidance.

3. The Learning Environment: The "Third Teacher" vs. Cozy Simplicity

"A Tiny Tots student and their mother attended an educational exhibition."

If the classroom were a home, what would it look like?

🟢 Reggio Emilia: An art studio meets science lab, filled with natural light, mirrors, hanging artwork, and thousands of loose materials like shells, beads, and wooden blocks waiting for creative hands.

🔵 Finnish Approach: A calm, cozy home-like setting with wooden furniture, soft cushions, warm lighting, and a deep connection to nature.

How HEI Schools Create the Right Balance:

Classrooms at HEI follow Finnish design principles—they’re uncluttered, filled with neutral tones, and focus on a sense of security and warmth.

Outdoor time is a daily priority, ensuring children connect with real nature, not just pictures of trees on a wall.

📌 Funny Thought: If you walked into a Reggio classroom, you might think, “Am I in a creative genius’s studio?” If you walked into a Finnish classroom, you might think, “This is so cozy… can I take a nap here?”

➡️ Key Difference: Reggio classrooms stimulate children’s artistic and investigative minds, while Finnish classrooms prioritize comfort, simplicity, and a home-like feel.

4. Play-Based Learning: Structure or Freedom?

"The Tiny Tots class is exploring the shapes of fruits and vegetables through colors."

🟢 Reggio Emilia: Play is woven into long-term projects and deep investigations—it’s structured by children’s natural curiosity.

🔵 Finnish Approach: Play is free, unstructured, and seen as essential to learning. Kids choose what to do, whether it’s climbing, painting, or building imaginary worlds.

📌 Real-Life Example at HEI Schools Saigon Central: If children show an interest in music…

In Reggio Emilia, this might evolve into weeks of research on instruments, sound experiments, and musical storytelling.

In the Finnish approach, children would have access to music materials daily, free to explore at their own pace, without a structured project approach.

➡️ Key Difference: Reggio integrates play within projects, while the Finnish approach lets play be completely open-ended.

5. Parental Involvement: Co-Teaching or Trusting the Process?

🟢 Reggio Emilia Parents: Parents actively participate in learning, documenting children’s progress, and sometimes even shaping classroom projects.

🔵 Finnish Parents: Parents trust teachers and the school system to provide the best experience, without needing constant updates or involvement in daily activities.

📌 Real-Life Example at HEI Schools Saigon Central:

• Parents receive regular updates and communication, but they are not expected to co-develop lesson plans as in Reggio Emilia.

  
  

• The emphasis is on trusting the teachers, knowing that a well-designed play-based system works.

  
  

➡️ Key Difference: Reggio requires high parental involvement, while Finnish education values a trust-based partnership between parents and teachers.

Reggio Emilia vs. The Finnish Approach at HEI Schools Saigon Central. Final Thoughts: Which Approach Is Right for Your Child?

"The Tiny Tots English class."

✅ If you want a deeply personalized, artistic, project-based journey where your child directs their learning, Reggio Emilia is a great fit. 

✅ If you want a balanced, play-based, holistic experience that builds independence and well-being, the Finnish approach (as practiced at HEI Schools Saigon Central) is ideal.

At HEI Schools Saigon Central, the Finnish model ensures that children learn, grow, and develop life skills in a joyful, stress-free environment—just as childhood should be! ❤️

And who knows? Maybe instead of asking “What did you learn today?”, you’ll start asking, “Did you have fun today?” 🌱✨