Reggio Emilia Toys

What is the Reggio Emilia Approach?

The Reggio Emilia approach is an early childhood education philosophy that views children as capable, curious beings with inherent potential. Rather than relying on highly structured activities, this approach encourages children to learn through their own self-directed exploration, creativity and hands-on experiences.

In a Reggio Emilia inspired setting, educators observe children’s interests and design learning opportunities around their questions, ideas and discoveries. Open-ended resources are often used because they can be explored in many different ways, allowing children to creatively lead the way in their play.

The Environment as the Third Teacher

A key idea in the Reggio Emilia approach is the environment as the third teacher. This means the learning space itself plays an important role in shaping how children think, play, interact and learn.

Classrooms should feel open and inviting, filled with natural light and stimulating materials that drive curiosity.

A thoughtfully designed environment can support this through:

• Natural materials that bring warmth, texture and connection to the learning space.
• Flexible furniture that can be moved, rearranged and used in different ways.
• Accessible storage that allows children to choose, return and care for resources independently.
• Calm colours that create a peaceful space for focus, creativity and discovery.
• Natural light and plants that make the room feel open, inviting and connected to nature.
• Sensory tables and activity tables such as sand trays and mud kitchens that invite hands-on investigation.
• Open-ended resources such as loose parts, blocks, mirrors and nature toys that encourage children to explore ideas in their own way.

Our Reggio Emilia inspired toys and resources are selected to support these principles, helping early learning centres create environments that are beautiful, practical and purposeful.

Choosing the Right Reggio Emilia Toys for Your Classroom

Reggio Emilia-inspired resources invite children to explore, question, create and express their ideas in many different, open-ended ways. From blocks and mirrors to loose parts, people figures and nature toys, each material becomes part of the learning environment, encouraging children to lead their own play.

Loose parts: Are open-ended materials that children can move, carry, stack, sort and combine in different ways. They support creativity and child-led discovery.

People toys: Invite children to explore relationships, emotions and communication through storytelling and small world play. They can represent families, friends, communities or imagined characters. 

Nature toys: Help children connect with the world outside. They encourage curiosity allowing children to investigate the plant and animal kingdom from the classroom. 

Wooden blocks: Are open-ended resources that children can build, balance and arrange in their own way. Natural materials support spatial awareness, fine motor skills and creative thinking. 

Kids Mirrors: Encourage children to investigate light, reflection, symmetry and movement. When placed at different angles and heights, they help children see their environment from new perspectives. 

Stacking & Sorting Toys: Invite children to classify, compare and arrange objects. They support early thinking around colour, shape, size and patterns.

Setting up your Reggio Emilia Space For Success

When creating a Reggio Emilia inspired learning area, focus on spaces that feel calm, open and easy for children to navigate. Resources should be visible, accessible and arranged in a way that invites children to make choices independently.

Consider including:

• Natural timber furniture and open shelving
• Loose parts and open-ended play resources
• Play kitchens, home corner furniture and role play materials
• Tables and chairs for group work, drawing and investigation
• Storage solutions that keep resources organised and easy to access

The goal is to create a space that encourages children to slow down, notice details, ask questions and engage deeply with the materials around them.

Discover Our Other Educational Toys

Explore our diverse range of preschool equipment and educational toys, including educational toys, compact cots, kids mud kitchens, stacking toys, outdoor wooden bench seats, kids mirrors, felt toys, baby changing stations, blocks for kids, and versatile corner furniture. Enhance your child’s learning environment with our thoughtfully curated selection.