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Montessori preschool vs Reggio Emilia preschool for families

Montessori and Reggio Emilia are the two preschool philosophies that expat and nomad families in Bali run into most, from Canggu to Ubud to Sanur. Both use mixed-age classrooms, hands-on learning and almost no formal testing, but they get there in different ways: one through a set sequence of materials, the other through open-ended projects that follow the child's interests. Here's how they actually differ once your kid is enrolled.

By the Knowmads Bali family — parents on the ground in Bali · Updated 28 July 2026

Montessori preschoolReggio Emilia preschool
Daily structureSet materials in a fixed order, worked through individually at the child's own pace, with a calm and predictable rhythm to the day.Flexible days organized around whatever project the class is currently exploring, so the schedule shifts week to week.
Teacher's roleA trained guide who demonstrates how to use each material, then steps back and lets the child repeat it alone.A co-researcher who follows the child's questions, asks more questions back, and documents the process as it unfolds.
Classroom setupShelves of specific wooden or hands-on materials, each with one designated spot, arranged for self-correction.Open-ended art and natural materials, with walls and shared spaces covered in the children's own work and photos.
Availability in BaliCommon. Several preschools in Canggu, Ubud and Sanur run on the method or borrow its materials for parts of the day.Less common as a pure model, but its project-based, art-heavy style shows up in many bilingual and nature-focused preschools.
Fit for short staysWorks well for families passing through for a term or two, since the sequenced materials let a child join mid-year at their own level.Harder to drop into mid-year, since projects build on weeks of shared history the class has already worked through together.
Cost levelTends to sit at the higher end locally, since trained guides and full material sets are costly for a school to maintain.Varies more by individual school than by the method itself, so it can land higher or lower than nearby Montessori options.

Choose Montessori preschool if…

Choose Montessori preschool if your child settles best with clear routines and repeatable materials, or if you're arriving partway through the school year and need a program that still works for a newcomer.

Choose Reggio Emilia preschool if…

Choose Reggio Emilia preschool if you want your child's own curiosity and art to shape what the class does each day, and you're settling in Bali for a full term or year rather than passing through for a few weeks.

Still weighing it up for your family?

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