How Greenville Is Rethinking Early Learning – With Nature

A Global Education Model Is Alive Right Here in Greenville

In the city of Reggio Emilia, a quiet revolution in education began after World War II, led by parents determined to build a better future for their children.

The result? The globally respected Reggio Emilia Approach — now influencing classrooms around the world. And right here in Greenville, that same philosophy is being put into practice at First Baptist Church of Greenville.

Learning Through Exploration

At its core, the Reggio Emilia approach is built on a simple idea: Children learn best through curiosity, creativity, and connection to their environment.

At First Baptist's early childhood program, that comes to life through:

• Hands-on, child-led exploration

• Classrooms filled with natural light and open-ended materials

• Strong partnerships between teachers and families

• A learning environment designed to spark wonder and discovery

The Environment as "The Third Teacher"

In Reggio-inspired programs, the environment itself plays a central role. That includes:

• Access to outdoor spaces

• Natural materials that invite creativity

• Opportunities for children to explore, observe, and ask questions

Because when children engage with the world around them -- especially the natural world -- they don't just learn. They begin to understand their place in it.d

Why It Matters

As Greenville grows, the spaces we create for children matter more than ever.

Programs like the one at First Baptist remind us that:

• Early learning is shaped by the environment

• Nature supports cognitive and emotional development

• Strong communities invest in both education and place

The best classrooms don't always have four walls. Sometimes, they begin with a child, a question, and the world just outside the door.