Parents of children 3 to 5 years old will have another option for early education this fall when the Fiddlehead Center for the Arts begins its FiddlestArts program in Scarborough.
The FiddlestArts program is based on Reggio Emilia, an educational approach that was developed by an Italian town with the same name after World War II. The program emphasizes the arts and communication and features music, movement and a variety of art mediums.
“In a traditional classroom, the teacher would take the lead on an art project, probably the same project that had been undertaken at the same time each prior year,” said Fiddlehead Center co-founder Mary Jo Marquis. “However, in a Reggio Emilia inspired classroom, each day of each year can be completely different.”
Fiddlehead co-founder Jacinda Cotton-Castro described the program as child-directed. She said that if a particular student was interested in trees then a project could be developed based on that interest.
“We’re exploring the passions and interests in a child that are in them and helping to guide them,” Cotton-Castro said. “Instead of stifling questions we encourage them.”
The FiddlestArts program began last year at the organization’s facility at the Pinelands, in New Gloucester, and was successful, said Cotton-Castro.
She said parents and children have been very happy with the program. Children enjoy the fact that they are encouraged to be creative and are given the ability to express themselves through art during the classes. Parents are just as happy with the class, noting that their children enjoy coming to school and in fact look forward to it, she said.
This type of response encouraged the Fiddlehead Center to begin expanding and the organization began searching for other locations. Scarborough was settled on because it was identified as a place where parents would be interested in joining.
Interest here in the program has been strong, Cotton-Castro said and the Tuesday and Thursday class is beginning to fill up. As the summer begins to wind down Fiddlehead organizers believe that the student enrollment will increase.
The program offers parents flexibility and classes are offered two, three or five days a week and children can attend half or full days.
There will be an open house at St. Nicholas Church on Route 1 on Thursday, Aug. 4, beginning at 7 p.m. where parents can find out more about FiddlestArts. For more information visit www.fiddleheadcenter.org or call 688-2244.
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