BALANCED BABIES

About

I’ve been running classes since 2006 and, for more than half of that time, I’ve been bringing the principles of respectful care, co-operation, free movement and self-initiated play into everything I do.

Whether it’s parent-child groups for those with young children or workshops and consultations for adults, these same principles shine a light on child development and parent development.

By working alongside our children, we can positively influence their feelings of self-esteem, self-confidence and balance. And, while we do all this, we can also discover how to be our authentic selves - reconnecting to our inner child and discovering simpler, more mindful ways to be both parent and partner to our children.

Inspired by the Pikler Approach, Balanced Babies groups are equipped with playthings that encourage free, self-initiated play. These playthings can be manipulated in different ways – stacked, sorted, rolled, banged – open to interpretation and the wonderful world of your child’s imagination.

And at a time when we’re easily overwhelmed with information and technology almost everywhere we look, Balanced Babies Groups provide you with time and space to sit back and really enjoy that oh-so-fleeting period of your child making sense of themselves and their surroundings.

I help parents learn how to support their children’s play and learning whilst respecting their autonomy. Questions about behaviour, play and gross motor development can be brought and discussed within the group. Deeper discussion and exploration is offered in adult-only workshops or Parents’ Classes.

My inspiration to begin was the invaluable experience of attending parent-child groups with my three children over a period of about eight years. I became fascinated with child development and decided to support parents to be the authentic parents they know they can be.

I was privileged to attend the first Basic and Practice Guidance Level Pikler Training held in the UK, from 2011 to 2014. This was deeply inspiring, leading to the start of a new model of classes focusing on the work of Dr Emmi Pikler.

I also enjoy writing articles both for my own website and other publications.

In recent years, I’ve deepened my knowledge by attending more Pikler training, mostly in Budapest, Hungary, and I currently chair the Pikler UK Association, which is a great privilege. We deliver Pikler training, workshops and CPD for professionals and parents alike.