​For more than two decades, Pistoia’s network of early childhood education centers has drawn international attention. Situated about 30 minutes west of Florence in Tuscany, Pistoia is known for its long-standing system of municipal infant-toddler centers, preschools, and children’s spaces known as AreaBambini. The city’s first preschool opened in 1964, followed by its first infant-toddler center in 1972. In 1982, it launched the first AreaBambini for children aged 18 months to 8 years, and in 1996, a center for babies and their parents was established. Across Italy, infant-toddler and preschool programs are administered by local municipalities, each reflecting the unique culture and values of its community.  

During our visit, we had the privilege of exploring a range of inspiring infant and toddler centers and preschools—each one reflecting the deep care and creative spirit that lie at the heart of early childhood education in Pistoia. A true highlight of our experience was the opportunity to visit two extraordinary AreaBambini—dynamic, thoughtfully designed spaces that foster children’s growth and imagination.

​Overall, this trip reaffirmed our deepest beliefs about children and the values that shape our educational philosophy. It was inspiring to witness how the educators of Pistoia infuse their daily lives with an appreciation for the beauty found in small, everyday moments—a quality that is seamlessly woven into the fabric of their early childhood culture.

From the thoughtful arrangement of materials to the intentional design of every space, the care and reverence for the learning environment is evident the moment you step into any of their centers. This visit offered a refreshing and deeply meaningful perspective on how the Reggio Emilia philosophy can be interpreted and adapted—revealing Pistoia’s own uniquely beautiful and authentic expression of this approach.

During Tu BiShvat week, Giving Tree students engaged in a variety of activities to celebrate the "birthday" of trees. The classrooms were filled with Tu BiShvat-themed projects, invitations, and provocation tables, all designed to inspire learning and creativity.

In a special celebration, the second graders visited the Almond and Fig classrooms to perform a song about trees. The students not only sang along, but also learned and participated in the accompanying movements, making the experience interactive and memorable.

The Oak and Fig classes worked together on a special hallway activity. They began by listening to a story about Tu BiShvat, which sparked their creativity. Each student then crafted their own tree, which was later hung up in the hallway. When combined, the individual trees formed a large, collaborative tree mural for families to admire and decorate. It was a beautiful way to symbolize growth and unity during the celebration.

Later in the week, families were warmly invited to join in a Tu BiShvat celebration that took place throughout the classrooms and hallways. Together, families participated in a variety of Tu BiShvat-themed activities, including painting pieces of wood, creating vibrant tree murals, and planting seeds—each offering a hands-on way to connect with the spirit of the holiday. It was a joyful opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate the beauty of nature.

HHAI/Giving Tree Early Learning, in collaboration with PJ Library, organized a vibrant and engaging Chanukah celebration that brought the community together for an unforgettable event. This festive gathering was designed to be interactive and fun for attendees of all ages, making it an ideal opportunity for families to celebrate the holiday in a creative, hands-on way.

The team at Giving Tree transformed the light studio into a stunning Chanukah wonderland, completely immersing visitors in the holiday spirit. The studio was filled with an array of activity stations that catered to a wide range of interests and skills, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy. One of the highlights was the pretend latke-making station, where families could pretend to prepare these traditional holiday treats together. For those with a passion for building and creating, there was a block-building area, where kids could unleash their imagination while constructing their own festive structures. Additionally, the loose part menorah table allowed children to craft their own menorahs, fostering both creativity and an understanding of the holiday’s significance.

Beyond these featured activities, there was a wealth of sensory and interactive experiences designed to engage young minds. Sensory tables invited children to explore a variety of textures and materials, while light tables offered a unique visual experience.  For those seeking a bit more excitement, the laser tag station provided a thrilling opportunity for families and older kiddos to join in some friendly competition. Additionally, the Shrinky Dink making station allowed participants to create their own Chanukah-themed designs, which would shrink and harden into festive keepsakes. As if that wasn’t enough, the donut station sweetened the event with a delicious array of treats, filling the air with the tempting aromas of freshly baked goods.
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Throughout the event, families were able to engage in a wide variety of activities, each thoughtfully crafted to encourage creativity, learning, and fun. With so many hands-on experiences to enjoy, this Chanukah celebration brought the community together in a joyful and meaningful way.

At Giving Tree, we incorporate Jewish holidays into the classroom in developmentally appropriate ways by talking about tangible themes that support children in the Jewish identity. 


Rosh Hashanah at Giving Tree was packed with fun apple, honey, and bee themed activities. 

Children participated in baking experiences with Ms. Georgia and each child made their own honey cake.  Each classroom had the opportunity to make round challah from scratch during a two day baking activity.  Kiddos learned to mix the dough so that it could rise.  The next day all of the challahs were baked and children took some home and celebrated in the classrooms.   ​

The ram visit is always exciting for children.  Our friend Chicken Noodle, the ram, was calm as children pet him and learned about his horns.  Rabbi Schusterman came the month of September to blow the shofar for all of the Giving Tree kiddos. 

As we ended our Rosh Hashanah festivities, the Oak classroom held their annual Apple Market.  The Oak students created bags for children to take their apples home in and distributed "money" they made so children could go shopping for apples.  All of the classes 12 months to second grade came to the Oak apple market and took home a green apple and a red apple.  

This year we decided to explore the theme of identity.  Who we are as teachers, who the children are, how they fit into their community, who they are in their families and in the classroom.  We started this process during professional development before school started and we will continue through the school year.  

One important aspect of our Identity exploration are Identity walls in the classroom.  Each classroom has an Identity wall that will feature each child, their name, birthday, and age.  The identity wall is big enough for children to see themselves.  It gives them a sense of ownership in the space that they spend so much time in and creates a foundation of community and partnership with the peers and teachers.  

Children love seeing themselves in their classroom and pointing to their friends.  They also noticed when their age changes and they have their birthdays.  

An important piece of identity is how the children see themselves.  To explore this idea, teachers support children in creating self portraits.  Books, mirrors, paper, and writing tools are provided for children to use to create their own self portraits.  Even our youngest learners begin doing self portraits.  Self portraits will be done throughout the year.  As children grow and develop, so will their sense of self and it will be relected in their self portraits.

Children have started participating in actitivies that are based in identity.  They may be exploring different body parts, their interests, their names, what they think, their favorite things, and their families.  Activities like these support deeper thinking while establishing a sense of self for the children.  Activities will age based on each age group and their stage of development.

For our end of the year event, we decided to do something a little different this year.  We wanted to embrace the Indy 500 happening in Indianapolis.  

The teachers signed up to create activities for different spaces.  This event took place on Friday, May 24th just in time for the race and Memorial Day.  Our families were invited to attend and participate in the activities set up in our outdoor spaces. 

Our families and kiddos enjoyed so many of the activities.  There was water play, a variety of races, sensory play, a tire shop, car wash, and ramps for toy cars.  Our toddler and preschool playground each had several opportunities for taking race photos.  Our Grove had a winners podium.  Our bike track boasted a bike and car race, some parents even got involved in the racing action.  

The Race into Summer with Giving Tree end of the year event is one of several family engagement events put on by the Giving Tree staff.  Family engagement events are especially important in early childhood because it creates investment in education in the early years that matriculates on through elementary and beyond.  Family engagement opportunities create spaces for relationships to be fostered and connections to be made within the school community.  It is a wonderful time to connect with teachers, children, and other families in the program.  

Our Purim Celebration requires that each creative play space is turned into an immersive Purim experience.  Teachers grouped together to create a plan for each space.  In the week leading up to Purim, they spent any free time they had transforming their chosen space.  Children and teachers were encourage to come to school dressed up to celebrate Purim

Mrs. Georgia and Ms. Michaela led a hamantaschen making station for each child to make their own hamantaschen.  Children were able to cut out their dough, and their filling, and fold up their hamantaschen. 

The Atelier had castle building with foam blocks and shaving cream as well as loose parts.  Children were able to explore grogger sensory bins with rice and beans and empty bottles.  There were castle decorating invitations set up with paper, water color, card board, stickers, and tempura sticks. 

The Big Muscle room had an obstacle course that children could complete on or off their pool noodle horses.  There was castle building on the platform with horses and knights.  Children could draw masks while talking about Queen Esther.  There was a clown game where kiddos could throw the ball and get it on the clown's face as the nose!  So many fun activities to choose from!

The Early Childhood Library boasted a bead sensory table, a grogger exploration with different groggers for children to explore, and Purim themed puzzles.  There were dress up clothes and accessories from dresses, capes, and tutus, to masks, crowns, and beads complete with a photo booth!  Children followed their curiosity about the Purim story and used different felt characters to act it out. 

The Light Studio had bead exploration, castle building, digital landscapes of castles with flashlight play, and a wind tunnel.  Children experimented with scarves in the wind tunnel and learned about cause and effect through their inquiry.  

Giving Tree held its Reggio-inspired Literacy event on Sunday, March 3rd.  This event was made possible by the Literacy Matters grant, given to Giving Tree from the United Way of Central Indiana.

Each classroom picked an author and chose books from that author to create their reggio inspired acitivites.  Teachers planned accordingly and created open-ended, reggio inspired literacy activites.  There were books from Eric Carle, Kevin Henkes, Jan Brett, Mark Teague, Lois Ehlert, Alice Schertle, and Antoinette Portis.  Several activites included loose parts exploration and sensory play! 

Children toddlers through pre-k enjoyed manipulating materials and organically exploring literacy activities with their families.  

The purpose behind our Reggio Literacy event was to raise literacy awareness while demonstrating how literacy can be incorporated into fun, open-ended activities.  We wanted to showcase children's curiousity and creative expression through reggio inspired invitations.  Literacy is more than sitting down and reading a book, it is all encompassing.  Many developmental areas can be addressed through literacy exploration including fine and gross motor skills, receptive and expressive communication, math and science skills, social-emotional development, sensory integration, and dramatic play skills.  

Giving Tree students received blue bags with 3-4 carefully chosen books to add to the home libraries! 

Tu B'Shvat is the new year of trees, so it is fitting that Giving Tree celebrates Tu B'Shvat with the families!  The teachers in each room planned Tu B'Shvat themed activities in their spaces.  They set up invitations using tree materials, flowers, recycled materials, pink and green manipulatives, and loose parts.  Families were invited to explore different invitations in the hallway and in the classroom to celebrate Tu B'Shvat.  

The interactive Tu B'Shvat experience was a little different this year than in previous years.  Teachers set up age appropriate activities in their classrooms and worked together with their neighboring classroom to set up an invitation in the hallway.  This change allowed families to visit all of the classrooms and experience Tu B'Shvat from the toddler rooms to the preschool and prek rooms.  The idea behind this change was to provide families with the opportunity to view different classrooms, visit with family members where children are comfortable, and to highlight ideas for age appropriate activities. 

Our Giving Tree students and families had a wonderful time! 

At Giving Tree Early Learning we believe it is important for children to have quality experiences together.  We often have classes combine for special occassions and experiences.  Doing this allows for children to see their siblings or cousins, observe each others behavior and abilities, help one another based on developmental needs, and learn from each other.  

A very special occassion that we gather for monthly is our Shabbat Assembly.  The Shabbat Assembly is a time where all of the classes get together in the cafeteria to listen to Rabbi Birnhack sing songs.  Multiage experiences like the Shabbat Assembly are a great way to join together and feel a sense of community at our school 

The Apple Market, held by the Oak class, is a fun way for children from all classes to interact and engage with one another.  The Oak class goes to each class before the market to hand out money they have made.  The classes bring their money and use it to purchase apples at the Apple Market.  

Giving Tree students occassionally have opportunities to interact with HHAI students.  These experiences are very special and often happen during Middle School Buddies.  Middle School Buddies is an experience that happens in one of the middle school electives.  The middle schoolers spend time doing different activities with the Oak class.  They read books, play on the playground, and engage in loose parts play.  

Multiage experiences are beneficial for the development of social skills, language development, and foster collective learning.  Experiences like these support the idea that children learn from one another, watching each other, communicating with one another, and exchanging thoughts and ideas about the world around them.