Podcast

#8 In dialogue with a Child

Conversations are an inseparable part of daily life for both adults and children. And in any good conversation, there are two equally important components—speaking and listening. We tried to explore how these two sides of the coin work in communication with children.

In the Pikler approach, the most significant place for conversation is during care routines—dressing, feeding, bathing, rocking, changing diapers, and other everyday activities. We speak to the child as we would to any person—about things around us, what we are doing at the moment, and also by listening to what the child themselves is expressing. Conversation is a two-way street, and it also gives the child the feeling that they can express themselves and be heard.

Meanwhile, when the child is playing, the adult becomes more passive in their communication. During play, the child needs the presence of a caregiver, but not active participation.

In this episode, we also briefly outlined what is most important when talking with a child from birth: be at their level, establish eye contact, use simple, literary language, and give undivided attention...

#7 Interview with Monika Alī

In this podcast episode, we meet Monika Aly, a Pikler educator, systemic family therapist, and physiotherapist. In this interview, Monika shares how she came to the Emmi Pikler approach and what she finds particularly meaningful in it. Since 2008, she has also brought her perspective on this field to Latvia, conducting seminars and meeting with local physiotherapists. Monika is an honorary member of the association “For a Respectful Childhood” and currently leads the third Pikler Basic course in Latvia, as well as the first Pikler Practice Guidance course. That’s why it was important for us to introduce her in more detail.

#6 Playtime Part II – A Child’s Time for Themselves

In this episode, we continue talking about how important play is for children—now in the 1–3 year age range.

While the basic conditions and benefits of meaningful play remain the same, after the age of one, adults need to think about new, age-appropriate toys. These allow the child to gather, pour, make lines, sort, build towers, explore where things fit, and more. Additionally, toddlers become even more mobile, so we need to pay attention to whether they have safe opportunities to climb and crawl at home.

Listen to the episode until the end to also find out what can be the most challenging for us adults during this “toddler” stage and how to handle it. 🤭

#5 Playtime Part I

What is play from a child’s perspective, and why is it so important for them? While toys are significant, they are “just one part of the puzzle”—the environment, the child’s well-being, and the adult who understands the child’s motivation and goals, staying close but not interfering, all play a major role. Of course, play also depends on the child’s movements, so it’s important to know what is appropriate at each stage for the child to truly enjoy the activity.

Listen and find out how a child plays during their first year!

#4 Care – Building Relationships

This time, we talked about the second major “pillar” of the Pikler concept—care. The activities we know so well and perform countless times every day—dressing the baby, changing diapers, feeding, trimming nails, and many, many others—adults often perceive as “technical breaks” in our time with the child. However, in Emmi Pikler’s approach, care is the main moment we spend together with the child.

We invite you to look at these routine activities from a different perspective: How does the child feel in these moments? What do they expect and receive from us? How can care help shape and influence the child’s self-esteem?

#3 What Influences the Development of Free Movement?

Activity centers, bouncers, car seats, walkers, slings, baby carriers, and much more fill store shelves, inviting parents to choose what’s best for their children. But what truly supports the development of free movement? What are the benefits and drawbacks of using various aids? In this episode, we discuss and explore what, how, and why different factors can influence a child’s ability to move freely.

#2 Free Movement

The development of infant movement from birth to the first steps. How and why does a baby start moving? How important are specific time frames—do they limit our perspective or guide us? How can we know if a baby is developing according to their age? Movement development isn’t just about charts and tables—it’s important to see the individual child and their unique pace of growth behind the numbers.

#1 Introduction

In this episode, we introduce ourselves—the board of the association “For a Respectful Childhood”: Klaudija Hēla, Regīna Gintere, Alise Višņevska, Inta Stromidlo, and Elīna Pumpure—and share our association’s perspective on children’s free movement and play development. We also explore what comes to mind when people hear Emmi Pikler’s name and discuss simple ways to bring aspects of her approach into the home.