During my studies, I started working at the kindergarten founded by Klaudija Hēla, and the whole experience completely captivated me. I would even say that this time was deeply healing for me personally – seeing how genuinely and empathetically the teachers spoke with the children, and how well the environment was suited to their needs.

Currently, I am a mother to a very curious son and active twin daughters. I honestly cannot imagine what my everyday life at home would be like without the knowledge I gained in the Pikler Basic Course and the people I met there. All of this gives me a sense of calm and confidence — to trust my children and to give them time.

In my professional work with children, this experience has also helped me set healthy professional boundaries while remaining warm and showing each child that they are truly valued in this world.

I love you just as you are.

I trust in your abilities.

If you need me, I am by your side.

At first, try on your own!

/Emmi Pikler/

Sometimes it’s so simple — and yet so difficult — to put into practice these seemingly straightforward words. But I am convinced that we all can learn to do it, so that we can give our children a life full of respect, where they can be self-active, confident, and possess healthy self-esteem; where they grow into individuals who understand their family’s values and treat others with respect.

Every day, in my work — whether working with families and their children as a physiotherapist, as a preschool director, or meeting parents and children in playgroups — I see children who want to become this kind of person, and I also see parents overwhelmed with information.

I want to encourage parents to believe in themselves again, to trust their intuition and their abilities. I would like if  parents would trust not only themselves but also their child, and I want them — and their whole family — to give this newborn, this little person, the chance to explore this exciting, sometimes quite challenging world. As parents and as professionals, we can do it — by treating children with respect, recognizing them as individuals, and being there when they need us.

May we all succeed in treating everyone with respect — ourselves, our children, and all the people we meet. As Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” And I must also agree with this: "Only a society based on respect can live in peace." Let us all make it happen!

I work at the preschool “Respectful Childhood”, where children spend their days based on the concept developed by Emmi Pikler through years of research. A concept that is centered on respectful relationships. It embraces care, as well as the child’s physical and emotional development through free play.

When I started working at this kindergarten, I immediately knew that this was what I had been looking for — that this is exactly how every child deserves to spend their day in preschool.

With great joy and enthusiasm, I completed Pikler - Basic course led by Monika Aly. I now apply this knowledge widely in my daily work, and I continue to admire and witness how much the Pikler concept contributes to a child’s personal growth.

The attitude in small things can change everything.

I first came across the name of Emmi Pikler around the time I became a mother myself — during a lecture by Klaudija Hēla about play. I was deeply moved by the idea that we, as adults, are responsible for the environment and the toys, while at the same time giving the child freedom to move and play independently. We take time during caregiving moments to truly get to know the child and to trust their choices.

I studied this concept more deeply in the first Pikler - Basic course held in Latvia, and I continue to apply that knowledge both at home and in my work with parents and little ones.

I’m a mother of three children (born in 2012, 2017, and 2021) and also a Parental Emotional Support Specialist. These studies opened yet another chapter in my life, allowing me to delve even deeper into human emotions and to realize how delicate each person’s inner world can be.

Being a mother is undoubtedly one of my life’s missions. Although it isn’t always easy or beautiful (because — life happens :)), when I look at my children, I feel proud of both them and myself — for how much we are able to give each other and how we build our relationship together.

In my view, the greatest value in life is to stay true to yourself, to listen to your heart and intuition, and to nurture close, genuine relationships with those you call your own. 💛

I am a physiotherapist, and in my daily work I support children and their parents from birth up to 3 years of age. I have been working in this field for 20 years, and for the last 10 years I have based my practice on the Pikler concept.

The Pikler approach has given me a completely new perspective on the child. In my practice — and also in my everyday life with my own children — I see how much it contributes to a child’s independent physical development and how important it is to understand what unstimulated development truly means. Emmi Pikler’s approach supports the formation of secure emotional development and helps foster cognitive skills through play.

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