The Hundred Languages of Children

Here is an excerpt from the beautiful poem by Loris Malaguzzi, the founder of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education- along with photos of kids exploring their “100 languages” (from my previous work as a studio teacher). It helps to constantly remind me of the intrinsic creativity in everyone!

The Hundred Languages of Children

The child
is made of one hundred.
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 dream.
The child has
a hundred languages
(and a hundred hundred hundred more)

– excerpt from poem by Loris Malaguzzi