The recent passing of Carla Rinaldi has left a profound void in the global educational community, particularly among those devoted to the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. A pioneering pedagogical consultant, Rinaldi’s work transcended cultural and national boundaries, inviting educators around the world to reimagine what it means to teach and learn through a child-centered lens. Her passionate advocacy for environments that empower young learners and celebrate their creativity changed countless classrooms and minds.
Rinaldi’s life work was deeply intertwined with Reggio Children, an organization founded to promote and develop the Reggio Emilia approach. Through her collaboration with parents, teachers, and school leaders, she championed an educational philosophy that views children as competent, curious, and full of potential. She firmly believed in the importance of relationships—between children, educators, families, and the spaces in which learning occurs—and she promoted a culture of listening and co-construction in education.
At the heart of Rinaldi’s teachings was the conviction that observation is a critical tool in understanding children’s needs and desires. She urged educators to move beyond rote instruction and truly listen to children—seeing them not as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge, but as active participants in their own learning. This respectful, responsive approach fosters a sense of autonomy and self-worth, helping to cultivate confident, inquisitive learners with a deep, lifelong love of discovery.
Rinaldi also brought global attention to the concept of the “hundred languages of children,” a foundational idea in the Reggio Emilia philosophy. She encouraged educators to recognize and nurture the many ways children express themselves—through drawing, movement, storytelling, music, building, and more. Her insights into the value of these diverse forms of communication enriched the way learning is experienced and documented in early education settings, allowing children to truly be seen and heard.
