Families visiting the Museo dei Bambini in Lecce often ask us where to eat nearby that’s both kid-friendly and enjoyable for adults. Salento is known not only for its beauty and history, but also for its rich culinary tradition. A good meal—especially one where children can play—can perfectly complement a museum outing, turning a day of discovery into a relaxed, full-family experience. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Museo Dei Bambini – Lecce Children's Museum (@museodeibambini) Lecce Restaurants with Play Area for Kids Lecce, often dubbed the “Florence of the South,” is renowned for its ornate architecture and vibrant street life. Amidst its historic charm, several establishments stand out for their family-friendly amenities. Korten Nestled within the verdant expanse of Parco Galateo, Korten offers a unique blend of nature and gastronomy. This open-air venue is a haven for families, providing ample space for children to roam freely while parents savor the flavors of Salento. The relaxed atmosphere, combined with quality food and beverages, makes it an ideal spot for casual family gatherings. Terre – Parco Extraurbano Located on Via Vecchia San Donato, Terre is a multifaceted space combining a restaurant, pizzeria, and bistro. The venue boasts a

At Viaggio, the parent community of Museo dei Bambini in Lecce, we are always looking for meaningful, hands-on activities that help our children connect with nature, food, and culture. Spending time as a family is about nurture curiosity and build memories. And in southern Italy, there’s no better way to do that than through Salento’s masserie didattiche. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Museo Dei Bambini – Lecce Children's Museum (@museodeibambini) Whether you’re feeding baby goats, baking traditional bread, or discovering how olive oil is made, these immersive, kid-friendly farms are redefining what it means to travel with children in southern Italy. Here are some of the top educational farms in the Lecce area, based on local reputation, visitor reviews, and family-friendly programming. La Fattoria di Nonno Pippi – Ugento On the outskirts of Ugento in southern Salento, La Fattoria di Nonno Pippi invites children into a world of furry and feathered friends. Created by animal lover Giuseppe, this farm is best known for its petting-zoo charm and warm hospitality. Visitors can meet and feed a variety of animals including rabbits, ducks, chickens, turkeys, and pheasants. The farm’s standout experience is the three-hour agri-aperitivo, where families enjoy

At the Museo dei Bambini, our team regularly meets parents eager to extend their child’s learning beyond our hands-on exhibits. They ask how to bring the same spirit of discovery home—how to nurture curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity through everyday play. That’s where STEM toys come in. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Museo Dei Bambini – Lecce Children's Museum (@museodeibambini) Whether you prefer to shop local or browse from home, Lecce offers a surprisingly rich landscape of shops where educational toys take center stage. Here’s a guide to the most reliable options in the area, along with three standout online retailers. Città del Sole – Piazza Sant’Oronzo, Lecce This boutique toy shop is well-known throughout Italy for its thoughtful selection of educational and creative toys. In Lecce, it’s located in the heart of the city. Parents will find wooden construction kits, magnet-based logic puzzles, and early engineering toys—all presented in an inviting space that feels more like a Montessori classroom than a store. Staff are knowledgeable and available to help choose age-appropriate STEM options. They also offer home delivery and telephone ordering. Abbruzzese Giocattoli – Via Imperatore Adriano, Lecce Operating since 1920, Abbruzzese is one of Lecce’s

In the heart of Salento, children and families are discovering new ways to connect with nature, imagination, and each other. While Lecce’s Museo dei Bambini offers a world of indoor discovery, those looking for outdoor adventures will find a magical setting at Melograni Martino in Monteroni di Lecce. This organic pomegranate farm is much more than a place to grow fruit—it is a living, breathing classroom under the open sky, where every event is crafted to awaken curiosity, joy, and a deep respect for the natural world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mamma Giulia 🩵👦🏼👶🏼 (@mammaepiccolofrancy) A Farm That Inspires Curiosity Founded on a love of the land passed down through generations, Melograni Martino is not just about agriculture; it is about creating a connection between people and nature. The farm grows over 25 varieties of pomegranates, from local treasures like the Viola di Monteroni to international favorites such as Wonderful and Ako. Walking through the orchard, children are immediately immersed in the vibrant landscape of lush greenery, buzzing bees, and the occasional burst of scarlet from ripening fruit. Every corner of Melograni Martino invites questions and discoveries, making it the perfect setting for educational and

“Every mistake is a portal of discovery.” — James Joyce In a world that increasingly pressures children to get the right answer, follow the rules, and perform on cue, children’s museums offer something radical: permission to get things wrong. Here, failure isn’t just tolerated—it’s celebrated as a key ingredient in learning. At Museo dei Bambini, children are invited to explore, experiment, and yes, fail. Not because we want them to stumble, but because we know that through falling down, misjudging, and trying again, they build resilience, creativity, and confidence. In the words of Piaget, “Children have real understanding only of that which they invent themselves.” Why Failure Matters in Learning Failure, when experienced in a safe, supportive environment, is one of the most powerful drivers of cognitive development. According to the theory of constructivism developed by Jean Piaget, children build knowledge through active engagement with their environment. Mistakes are not setbacks—they are stepping stones. Stanford professor Manu Kapur has demonstrated the value of productive failure, a concept that encourages learners to attempt solving problems before receiving instruction. His research shows that students who struggle initially often outperform those who are taught solutions right away. In one study, Kapur found that

“Knowledge is not transmitted. It is constructed.” — Jean Piaget What happens in a child’s mind when they watch a pinwheel spin or a ball bounce the wrong way? According to the theory of constructivism, they’re not just seeing something new—they’re constructing understanding from the experience. Every choice, every surprise, every “why did that happen?” moment adds another layer to their mental model of the world. At Museo dei Bambini, many exhibits are designed around this very idea: that children learn best when they actively build meaning—through trial, error, and self-reflection. What Is Constructivist Learning? Constructivism is a theory of learning developed by Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. It holds that children aren’t passive recipients of knowledge—they’re active participants in making sense of the world. Learning happens when children encounter something unexpected, compare it to what they already know, and then reconstruct their understanding based on that experience. This process is often non-linear. Children test ideas, see what works, revise, and try again. Constructivist environments embrace mistakes, encourage exploration, and value the child’s thought process over the “correct” answer. Where social constructivism (from Vygotsky) emphasizes learning with others, Piaget’s constructivism emphasizes learning from within, based on personal discovery. The Research Behind

“Play is the highest form of research.” — Albert Einstein To the untrained eye, play may look like downtime—a break from learning. But for children, play is learning. Through play, they experiment, solve problems, express emotions, and make sense of the world. It’s not a pause from education; it’s the foundation of it. At Museo dei Bambini, play isn’t treated as a reward—it’s the curriculum. Every exhibit invites curiosity, discovery, and joy. And behind each giggle or gasp of surprise, real cognitive growth is happening. What Is Play-Based Learning? Play-based learning is an approach that uses play as the primary context for learning. It’s guided by the idea that when children are free to explore, pretend, build, and move, they develop essential skills—often without even realizing it. This kind of learning is: Play-based learning is especially powerful in early childhood, when brain plasticity is highest and learning through doing is most effective. The Research Behind Learning Through Play Play isn’t just fun—it’s neurologically essential. According to a study by the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, play builds executive function skills such as working memory, self-regulation, and flexible thinking. These are the mental muscles that children use for planning, focusing,

“What a child can do in cooperation today, he can do alone tomorrow.” — Lev Vygotsky When children play side by side, they’re not just sharing space—they’re building knowledge together. According to the theory of social constructivism, learning is fundamentally a social act. Children don’t absorb information passively; they co-construct meaning through dialogue, imitation, negotiation, and shared discovery. Collaborative learning fosters an environment where children can explore ideas together, enhancing their understanding and skills. What Is Social Constructivism and Collaborative Learning? Social constructivism, rooted in the work of Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky, holds that cognitive development is shaped through social interaction. Children internalize new knowledge best when they engage with others—especially peers and more knowledgeable others (like older children or adults). A central idea is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): the range between what a child can do alone and what they can do with guidance. Peer collaboration is powerful because it allows children to operate just beyond their current abilities—stretching into new skills with support, then mastering them independently. Unlike approaches that emphasize individual achievement, social constructivism values dialogue, shared problem-solving, and co-authored meaning. The Research Behind Peer-Based Learning ​Research has consistently demonstrated that social learning enhances both

“The hand is the instrument of the mind.” — Maria Montessori Maria Montessori saw children not as empty vessels to be filled, but as naturally driven learners guided by an inner need to explore, master, and grow. Her approach—developed over a century ago—is still deeply relevant today, especially in play-based settings that value concentration, autonomy, and purposeful action. At Museo dei Bambini, Montessori-inspired principles shine through exhibits that invite children to use real tools, engage in self-directed tasks, and build their focus through repetition and challenge. What Is the Montessori Approach? The Montessori method is based on the idea that children learn best through hands-on interaction with meaningful materials in a thoughtfully prepared environment. Unlike traditional classrooms, Montessori spaces are calm, ordered, and designed around the child’s need for independence. Adults act as guides, offering gentle support rather than direct instruction. Key principles include: The Research Behind Montessori Learning Multiple studies have confirmed the long-term cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of Montessori education. A landmark 2006 study published in Science by Angeline Lillard and Nicole Else-Quest found that children in Montessori classrooms performed significantly better in reading and math and showed more positive social behavior compared to their peers in

“Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” — William Arthur Ward Children are natural scientists. From the moment they’re born, they begin investigating the world—touching, testing, observing, and asking. Inquiry-based learning embraces this instinct, transforming curiosity into a powerful engine for learning. Rather than providing answers, educators create environments that prompt children to ask deeper questions and pursue their own paths of discovery. What Is Inquiry-Based Learning? Inquiry-based learning is a student-centered approach that encourages children to investigate, explore, and construct knowledge through questioning and experimentation. Unlike traditional models that emphasize information delivery, this method invites learners to actively engage with ideas—and even shape the direction of what they’re learning. The inquiry cycle typically begins with a question or a phenomenon that sparks interest. From there, children hypothesize, test ideas, observe outcomes, and reflect. Teachers serve not as information providers but as guides who listen, document, and support the inquiry process. This approach builds critical thinking, creativity, and resilience. It also supports metacognition—children become aware of how they learn, not just what they learn. The Research Behind Curiosity-Led Learning Scientific curiosity isn’t just a personality trait—it’s linked to brain development. A 2014 study at the University of California,

“The 100 languages of children.” — Loris Malaguzzi In the Reggio Emilia philosophy, children are seen as strong, curious, and full of potential. They are not empty vessels waiting to be filled, but capable individuals who express their thinking in countless ways. This approach to education, born in post-war Italy, centers the child as a co-constructor of knowledge—someone who learns through exploration, communication, and creativity. What Is the Reggio Emilia Approach? Developed in the city of Reggio Emilia in the 1940s under the leadership of educator Loris Malaguzzi, this approach emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and the environment as a key part of learning. Central to the philosophy is the belief that children communicate and understand the world through “a hundred languages”—movement, drawing, building, speaking, dramatic play, and more. Rather than imposing fixed outcomes, Reggio-inspired environments offer open-ended materials and experiences. Children are encouraged to follow their interests, ask questions, and develop their ideas over time. Teachers act as collaborators and observers, documenting the learning process and providing provocations to deepen thinking. The Research Behind Expression-Driven Learning Educational neuroscience supports principles central to the Reggio Emilia approach, particularly the idea that creative activities—such as storytelling, role-play, and visual art—help integrate cognitive, emotional,