O ambiente na educação infantil e a construção da identidade da criança

Abstract

This paper presents the environment’s role on early childhood education in the perspective of Loris Malaguzzi, considering the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of his work over the early childhood education in Reggio Emilia, Italy. It emphasizes the idea of the environment as a third educator, underlining the role played by relationships children maintain among themselves and with adults, as well as the part taken by toys, books, paintings and other cultural objects in these relationships. The elements used by children to build their identity, according to Henri Wallon, reinforce the importance of the interactions and of the environment in this process, which allows a dialogue among Wallon’s theoretical contributions and the ideas defended by the italian educator.