Pikler approach

 Emmi Pikler (1902-1984) Born in Vienna, lived in Budapest and Trieste, then lived in Hungarywith her husband Gyorgy Pikler and daughter Anna.

 She observed that parents routinely teach their children to sit, stand and walk before they are able to do these things by themselves.  She questioned what these common practices conveyed to the child about his/her own abilities and concluded it was much healthier for an infant to be doing what he/she can out of its own initiative at any one time.  She and her husband decided instead to allow their daughter the freedom to develop her motor skills at her own pace.  She also applied the principles she had learnt during her medical training, promoting her child’s healthy development by giving careful consideration to all aspects of her care and building an authentic, respectful relationship. 

The Pikler approach is based on a respectful relationship between an adult and infant, through choreographed tender care moments, a naturally paced motor development, free self-directed movement and uninterrupted play.

(All the above are extracts from http://www.pikler.co.uk/)

http://www.pikler.co.uk/