When I arrived home from Washington, from my first Reggio-journey, I felt enlightened. This is what I’ve been looking for. I am on the right path. The Reggio-approach made me stronger, filled me up and changed my everyday 
routine. I’ve always known that you don’t need to approach a child differently just because he is a child. Be honest, natural, trust them and then they will come to you the same way. Reggio helped me to express what I think about raising children and teaching. Be with the children, listen to them and hear them! They have incredible thoughts and knowledge of the world, we can’t even imagine it. Don’t force your own ideas and decisions on them, help them with questions. Let them solve their conflicts, their problems, let them learn how to cooperate, but be by their sides so they can feel you support them. Catch them before they fall, but only at the last moment!
I try to approach everybody and everything with this attitude, at home, and at work as well.
I’m lucky that I had the chance to spend another week with Mara Bier and Shelley Remer at our school in Budapest. I could deepen my knowledge, and I’m happy that my colleagues, my team could be part of this learning process too. The more of us know and understand what a child needs in order to become a successful, creative, environmentally conscious adult – who can stand up for themselves and others, who can say NO to the things they don’t like – the more certain the success is!
We have to trust and believe in our children. If we believe that they are able to put their shoes on, we should also believe that they know what makes them curious, what are they interested in. Our job is to bring in values, provide a safe environment and give them the opportunity to try and experience as many things as possible.
My three sons are 3 different personalities. I never wanted to behave with all three of them the same way. My relationship with them is based on honesty and trust, this is the strongest bond.
My advice to all those who work with children: take a step back, squat down when you are amongst them, and then you will meet the miracle, this wonderful world will open for you!
Thank you for the opportunity SOS International. ~ Szonja Merenyi, Director Lauder Javne Ovoda, Budapest, Hungary
