When I first learned that I was expecting a child I was overwhelmed not just by the feeling of suddenly having this huge responsibility growing inside of me but also by the information you find EVERYWHERE about pregnancy, birth and life with a new born. The first few weeks I avoided all that and didn’t study anything, just tried to stay calm and safely make it to the 4th month. Then I told my boss that I was pregnant, not knowing how he would react, not expecting him to be too happy about it. But he sat me down for a couple of hours happily sharing his experience of raising 4 children.
At this time I was already a bit annoyed by all those mothers that knew oh so much about pregnancy and everyone giving you some great advice on how to experience it all the best and the most intense. But what he did was the only thing that sticked and that I am really thankful for.
He said: “You don’t need to worry about anything right now. The only important thing and what I found most exciting for me and my wife was the philosophical discussions about what method of education you want to adapt and that the two of you agree and stick to it.” Then he mentioned Emmi Pikler who of course I never heard of. I was surprised by the outgoing of that talk and soon started researching Emmi Pikler, told my husband about it and never really considered any other major education method. Everything Emmi Pikler said and discovered made so much sense already and the idea of raising a self secure and independent child seemed very attractive to us. For me being a little girl very fixed on my mother while walking around insecure and shy I did not want my child to experience the same.
I have experienced two sorts of people when I started talking about Emmi Pikler:
The people that already have a child have rather reacted as if those methods are natural anyway and that’s what they are adapting. Most of them had not thought about any education methods before the baby was born. And most of them ARE doing the same “mistakes” Pikler is pointing out. That’s the thing, when you tell people about the Pikler method it sounds natural and makes sense. But you really have to understand it and take care of some details to actually adapt it.
The others that don’t have a child yet or are expecting have taken it on happily and were grateful to have found some useful information about early childhood education. Especially since Emmi Pikler is focusing on the care of a new born from the very first day.
Elsewhere:
On my blog I will update you on my experience with this approach. Take a look and discuss. Even if you don’t agree with it. Or especially then ?
There will also be regular updates on twitter. Follow me !
