The Reggio Emilia approach is a form of alternative education which focuses on teaching children through a strong sense of community. This philosophy proposes interactive methods of teaching, which often involve the parents, educators and environment in a variety of ways. This approach originated in the Italian city of Reggio Emilia after World War II. At that time, some of the schools in the city rejected the traditional approach of teaching children through strict discipline and guidelines, and adopted a more flexible method. One of the key elements of the Reggio Emilia approach is the school environment. Small and colorless classrooms are thought to be unproductive and limiting to a child’s imagination. This philosophy suggests lessons be held in much bigger rooms with plenty of light, space and real plants. The idea behind the principle is to stimulate a student’s sense of exploration from an early stage. Some schools following the Reggio Emilia approach try to limit the barriers between classrooms to encourage interaction between students.