There are parents who are defying the directives of their culture. Such parents are not only helping their children to have a childhood. Those parents will help to keep alive a human tradition. [Our culture] is halfway toward forgetting that children need childhood. Those who insist on remembering shall perform a noble service.
       - Neil Postman The Disappearance of Childhood.

Childhood Development   Importance of Play   Media Literacy   Parenting   RIE Pickler  

Childhood Development    New studies are brought forth that change our views on childhood. We are rediscovering what it is to be human. We are looking at the whole child, so it includes the physical, psychological, and emotional as well as the spiritual dimensions of the human being. We carefully study of the different stages of development that the child experiences. Only in this light we can learn to understand how we can shape the conditions required to optimize the support for the growth and unfolding of the child. We will touch on pre- and post-natal life, brain development, imagination, emotional intelligence, the importance of bonding, imitation, and creative play. BACK TO TOP		ARTICLES    REFERRALS WORKSHOPS
ARTICLES    REFERRALS WORKSHOPS	Importance of Play    This section stresses the crucial importance of expression through free play. Play gives the opportunity for the child's full social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development. In the first seven years a child learns predominantly through 'doing' activity, imitation, repetition and free, unhindered play, developing the senses, the importance of rhythm and more. The child's main task is the (unconscious) development of the will. From seven to fourteen, the child lives predominantly in the feeling realm, and learns through living pictures, fairy tales and myths with an emphasis on beauty; and at around fourteen children come into the realm of ideas, thinking, and a deep desire for truth. BACK TO TOP
Media Literacy    Childhood is a critical phase of life and must be protected to be fully experienced. It should not be hurried. Children also need time for active, physical play; hands-on lessons of all kinds, especially in the arts; and direct experience of the natural world. Computers, TV and other new media technologies are reshaping children's lives often at the expense of creative, hands-on educational opportunities, resulting in damage to children's physical and emotional health. Common sense suggests that we consider the potential harm, as well as the promised benefits, of this change. BACK TO TOP		ARTICLES    REFERRALS WORKSHOPS
ARTICLES    REFERRALS WORKSHOPS	Parenting    Holistic parenting involves taking care of the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of your children and to help them to grow into happy and healthy adults while, at the same time, it will help you to become more aware of who you really are. There are many names and many styles of parenting with these aims such as Attachment Parenting, Continuum Parenting, Holistic Parenting, Natural Parenting, Non-Coersive Parenting, TCS (Taking Children Seriously), CPF (Creative Parenting Fellowship), Loving Guidance BACK TO TOP
RIE Pickler    RIE Philosophy was developed from the work of Dr. Emmi Pickler at the Loczy orphanage in Budapest, Hungary. The concept of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) was established in the United States by Magda Gerber. Her approach to infant care is based on respect for the child and the adult in a reciprocal interaction based on the need of the child to grow at his/her own speed. BACK TO TOP		ARTICLES    REFERRALS WORKSHOPS

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