Unleash your children’s potential: free motors skills seminar at the Pop.Pins Academy
Free motor skills enable children to develop their independence, self-confidence and motor skills in a natural way! Thanks to Pop.Pins Academy, you can take part in a seminar on free motor skills for babies in Geneva on Saturday 14 September from 9am to 1pm. Thanks to Vanessa, our expert, you’ll be able to find out everything you need to know about this approach, which supports not only the physical, but also the cognitive and emotional development of toddlers!
Meet this passionate and educational professional, who explains all about free movement and its benefits.
(BeeBoo) Hi Vanessa, you’ll be speaking at the next Pop.Pins Academy seminar on the theme of ‘MOTRICITY: From birth to walking, free motor skills’. Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
(Vanessa) My name is Vanessa, and I’m a perinatal and parenting coach. I’m the proud mother of Luca, aged 11, and Lena, aged 22.
Since 2019, I’ve been helping future and new parents on this wonderful adventure of parenthood. My background and training have enabled me to develop solid expertise in supporting families from the earliest stages of their child’s life. I worked in a micro-crèche as an early-learning coordinator before deciding to focus on childcare that was more in line with my values, which is why I’m now a home-based nanny.
I’m delighted to be making my debut as a trainer with the Poppin’s Academy, and I’m looking forward to sharing, exchanging and passing on my expertise to early years professionals and/or future and young parents.
My career in perinatal and parental support began with a passion for child development and parenting support. I have taken a number of specialist courses to deepen my knowledge and skills:
– Training in perinatal support: I took a certified course in perinatal support, which enabled me to acquire specific skills for supporting families during pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum period.
– Training in parenting support: This training enabled me to develop tools to help parents better understand and respond to their child’s needs, while boosting their self-confidence.
– Home nanny training: I completed the first session of the Poppin’s Academy course and graduated in February 2024.
– Practical workshops and courses: I’ve taken part in a number of practical workshops and courses on topics such as breastfeeding, babywearing, child sleep and free movement.
What is free movement and what are its benefits?
Free movement is a concept developed by Hungarian paediatrician Emmi Pikler. It is based on the idea of letting children freely explore their movements and motor skills without excessive adult intervention or direction. This means offering children a safe and stimulating environment where they can move, roll, crawl, sit up and walk at their own pace, without constraints.
Free motricity means giving free rein to the child’s spontaneous movements, without trying to teach them. Placing children in a position in which they are not capable of moving on their own, or preventing them from moving freely, will delay their development and independence.
What are the advantages of free movement?
– Physical development: Children develop better coordination, muscle strength and balance by exploring and experimenting with different movements on their own.
– Autonomy and self-confidence: By having the freedom to move and discover their abilities, children gain confidence and autonomy.
– Respect for the child’s rhythm: Each child progresses at their own pace, with no pressure to reach age-specific milestones.
– Creativity and exploration: Children learn to solve problems and explore their environment creatively (interest in discovering the world).
– Emotional security: By knowing that they won’t be pushed or forced to do something they’re not ready for, children feel more emotionally secure.
Are the methods to be used easy and accessible to all parents?
Yes, setting up free-motion activities is generally straightforward and accessible to all parents. Here are a few key points to consider:
– A safe environment: Make sure that the space where the child moves around is safe, with no dangerous objects or areas at risk.
– Appropriate equipment: Use play mats, cushions and non-directed toys that encourage exploration and manipulation.
– Comfortable clothing: Dress the child in clothing that allows plenty of freedom of movement. Leave the child barefoot as often as possible.
– Observation rather than direction: Let children experiment on their own rather than showing them how to do each movement.
A few tips for introducing free motor skills:
– Create a safe space: Set up a safe play area where children can move freely without risking injury. Use safety barriers if necessary.
– Avoid restrictive equipment: Reduce the use of walkers, support seats and other equipment that limits freedom of movement.
– Encourage free play: Offer simple, open-ended toys that encourage manipulation, exploration and invention.
– Observe without interfering: Let children explore and experiment on their own. Only intervene if necessary for safety reasons.
– Respect the child’s rhythm: Accept that each child has his own pace of development and avoid comparing his progress with that of others.
– Encourage interaction: Encourage interaction with other children in safe, supervised play environments to stimulate social and motor learning.
– Avoid over-stimulation: Provide a calm, orderly environment with enough space for the child to concentrate on movement without being distracted or over-stimulated.
Thank you very much Vanessa !
To register : poppinsacademy.ch@gmail.com
Find out more : https://www.poppinsacademy.ch/formationsetseminaires/seminaires
To find out all about current and future educational trends, discover all the seminars organized by Pop.Pins on the BeeBoo blog and meet Vanessa, a BeeBooo early childhood professional who will accompany you during this seminar.
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