Tag: theories of child development

Pikler’s approach explained simply for early childhood educators

~ Storykate ~ 2 Comments

As an educator who is passionate about theories, I have only discovered wonderful Emmi Pikler recently, thanks to one of my subscribers.

Emmi Pikler worked most of her life in Budapest, one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe

When it comes to infant development and theories, I already covered quite a few interesting approaches, e.g. heuristic play and treasure baskets; John Bowlby. But Emmi Pikler is definitely worth a separate post and a few videos 🙂

Who is Emmi Pikler?

Emmi was a pioneer in the field of early childhood education,
and her work has had a profound influence on the way that we
understand and care for young children.

Emmi Pikler (1902-1984) was a Vienna-born Austro-Hungarian pediatrician and educator who is best known for her contributions to early childhood education. She co-founded the Pikler Institute in Budapest, Hungary, where she developed an approach that emphasises respectful and child-centred (or should I say infancy-centred) care.

Key Ideas of the Pickler Approach:

  1. Respect for the Child: Like Maria Montessori, Emmi Pikler believed in treating children with deep respect. She argued that infants and young children are competent individuals with their own preferences and abilities. This philosophy fosters a sense of autonomy and self-confidence from an early age. All these ideas were quite advanced for Emmi’s time. This aligns closely with my beliefs as a teacher and is quite similar to Carl Rogers’s views, Reggio Emilia, and the modern EYLF framework narrative.
  2. Freedom of Movement: Pikler emphasised the importance of allowing infants the freedom to move and explore within a safe and supportive environment. This includes giving them time for independent play and self-initiated activities, allowing for the development of motor skills and a sense of independence. I wholeheartedly agree: babies are moving machines and should not be restricted to moving as much as possible.

“The way we help a child to start walking is neither to induce nor to carry him, but to encourage him in all possible ways to use his own abilities in doing it himself.”

Emmi Pickler
  1. Sensory Awareness: The Pickler approach focuses on cultivating a child’s sensory awareness. This involves providing materials and experiences that stimulate the senses, fostering a deeper understanding of the world through touch, sight, sound, and other senses. This aligns closely with the ideas of Jean Piaget, Maria Montessori and nature pedagogies (sensing ecologically approach). Neuroscience supports this, too.
  2. Care Routines with Respect: Pickler advocated for caregiving routines (such as changing nappies and feeding) to be carried out with respect and attentiveness to the child’s needs. This includes involving the child in the process and ensuring that caregiving is a positive and responsive experience. In most ECE centres with Exceeding rating and strong philosophy, based on children’s rights, it is practised by most educators. The common example is to ask a child: “Would you like me to change your nappy? or Who would you like to change your nappy now?”
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Application to Practice:

  1. Creating a Safe Environment: Early childhood educators can apply Pikler’s approach by designing safe environments for exploration and movement. This includes providing age-appropriate toys and materials that encourage sensory exploration. Pickler developed a wooden frame that is often used in Montessori centres and other ELCs. My son loved to climb it when we attended a Montessori playgroup.
  2. Prepared environment: The environment should provide children with opportunities for exploration and learning, e.g. through open-ended materials and spaces to explore.
  3. Observation and Responsiveness: Educators should observe children closely to understand their individual needs and preferences. This observational approach allows for responsive caregiving and tailored interactions that respect the child’s autonomy. EYLF also supports observing infants (NOT JUST TAKING SNAPSHOTS on iPad to show to parents, but professionally noticing learning and behaviour).
  4. Encouraging Independent Play: Pikler’s approach encourages independent play. Educators can support this by providing open-ended toys and allowing children to explore and play at their own pace, fostering self-directed learning. This is aligned with the practices of play-based approach and heuristic play.

Critique:

  1. Cultural Context: Some critics argue that the Pickler approach may be more suited to certain cultural contexts and may need adaptation to be fully effective in diverse settings. For example, she said that we should allow children freedom of movement, which may not be suitable for hazardous environments, like Australia outdoors, where snakes and spiders are present.
  2. Limited Social Interaction: The focus on independent play and self-directed activities with minimal guidance may be criticised for potentially limiting social interactions among children. Some argue that a balance between independence and social engagement is essential. My biggest point of criticism is her belief that children don’t need to be taught anything, they will learn it at their own pace and time, given the freedom to fully bloom. I am a supporter of a sociocultural approach to learning and I believe that learning leads to development, e.g. infants can be taught to appreciate music and even play musical instruments (like maracas, and drums) under the guidance of more knowledgeable other. I think we need to support their developing brain, as this is the right time for it. I taught my son to swim and to ski when he was very young, we used to ride bicycles together and I supported him in learning to read and count. It was part of our daily interactions and this is how he learned.

Who is similar to Emmi Pickler?

  1. Maria Montessori: an Italian physician and educator, developed the Montessori method, which shares some commonalities with Pikler’s approach. Both emphasize respect for the child, the importance of a prepared environment, and the role of independence in a child’s development.
  2. Reggio Emilia Approach Founders: The Reggio Emilia Approach, developed in Italy, is not associated with a single individual but rather a community of educators inspired by the ideas of Loris Malaguzzi. This approach values the child as an active and competent learner, similar to Pickler’s philosophy.
  3. Magda Gerber: Magda Gerber, a Hungarian early childhood educator, worked closely with Emmi Pikler and together they developed the RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) philosophy. Gerber’s approach also talks about respectful caregiving, autonomy, and the importance of allowing infants to learn through self-directed play.
  4. Jean Piaget: While not strictly an early childhood educator, Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, made significant contributions to the understanding of child development. His constructivist theory aligns with some aspects of Pikler’s approach, particularly in talking about the child’s active role in constructing their knowledge through exploration.
  5. John Dewey: John Dewey, an American philosopher and educational reformer, had a profound impact on progressive education. While his focus is broader than early childhood, his ideas about experiential learning, child-centered education, and the importance of the environment resonate with some aspects of Pickler’s philosophy.

“The task of the adult is not to shape the child into but to allow the child to reveal.

Emmi Pikler

Want to Learn More?

  1. Professional Development: Educators interested in the Pikler approach can seek professional development opportunities, including workshops and courses that explore the philosophy and practical implementation. Here is a great website I found on Pickler Institute in Hungary with a lot of info: https://youtu.be/d824gE9MUok?si=uzxZmLGXaF71L2KO
  2. Blogs – https://thepiklercollection.weebly.com/
  3. Peer Learning: Engage with other educators who follow or are interested in the Pickler approach can provide valuable insights and a community of support.
  4. Shop – https://shop.pikler.hu/en/

“In our treatment of children, every moment sends forth its vibrations, every attitude speaks, every glance, touch, or word has an inner meaning. Our task is to be alert to these deep currents, recognise them, and interact with respect.”

Emmi Pickler

What do you think about the Emmi Pikler approach to infant learning?

Post your thoughts in the comments below.

What is mediated action and why do educators need to know about it?

~ storykate ~ Leave a comment


“Hello, educators!

Let’s discuss James V. Wertsch, a prominent figure in early childhood education in Australia. He has built upon Lev Vygotsky’s ideas, with a focus on ‘mediated action.’

  1. Mediated Action: Wertsch’s concept of “mediated action” is central to his theoretical framework. He argues that human cognition and action are not isolated processes but are fundamentally mediated by cultural tools and artifacts. These cultural tools include language, symbols, and various forms of external representation.
  2. Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): Building on Vygotsky’s concept of the ZPD, Wertsch emphasizes that the ZPD is not merely a developmental zone where a learner requires assistance to reach a certain level of competence. Instead, it is a space where cultural tools are used to scaffold learning and facilitate development. These tools help individuals to engage in tasks and activities that they could not accomplish alone

Wertsch emphasises the significance of cultural tools, such as language and symbols, in shaping children’s development and learning. However, it’s not just about the tools themselves; it’s also about the context. Think of it as a child’s learning journey being influenced by the historical and sociocultural environment they’re in, much like a plant’s growth depends on the soil it’s planted in.

Now, here’s where it becomes interesting. Wertsch suggests that children learn effectively when they collaborate. It’s similar to teamwork in sports – they share ideas and solve problems together, and this collaboration is where the real learning takes place.

So, what does this mean for early childhood education in Australia? It’s about creating an optimal learning environment. By effectively using cultural tools and encouraging cooperative learning, educators can facilitate a productive learning experience.

In summary, James V. Wertsch is a valuable resource for understanding how children learn and how to support their learning. His work underscores that it’s not just about providing tools for learning; it’s about creating an environment that nurtures their educational journey, which is building on the ideas of Lev Vygotsky.

Now, let’s delve into some examples of mediated action in early childhood:

  1. Storytelling: When children tell stories to each other or listen to stories from adults, they use language as a cultural tool to develop their imagination and communication skills. This is an example of mediated action.
  2. Block Building: When children collaborate to build structures with blocks, they employ the cultural tool of physical objects to enhance their spatial awareness and problem-solving abilities. Their joint efforts demonstrate mediated action.
  3. Group Discussions: In a classroom setting, when children discuss a topic or problem collectively, they use language to mediate their understanding. They share ideas, ask questions, and arrive at solutions through dialogue, illustrating mediated action. As you can imagine, the teacher plays a significant role as a more knowledgeable other (Vygotsky, 1978).
  4. Art and Drawing: When children engage in artistic activities like drawing or creating art, they use symbols and visual representations to express themselves. This artistic process involves the mediation of their thoughts and emotions through cultural tools. Think about approximation of letters; and culturally meaningful symbols, e.g. Aboriginal Peoples cultural symbols.

These examples highlight how cultural tools and social interaction play pivotal roles in the early learning experiences of children in Australia.”👧🧒📚

What do you think about this theorist and have you heard of these ideas before?