Author Archives: katepflynn

See what I did with the title here? A little alliteration to parallel yesterday’s post “Pikler’s Principles for Parents.” I don’t like excluding dads but poetic license is at work here. I thought after linking to the article about Pikler’s … Continue reading →

I wanted to repost this great summary of Emi Pikler (forerunner to RIE.org) from an education consultant in New Zealand at ParentingWorkx.co.nz. This article can be found at http://www.parentingworx.co.nz/fantastic-reading/emmi-piklers-8-guiding-principles/ Dr Emmi Pikler lived and found her life’s purpose, working with … Continue reading →

I love this new blog I discovered, especially this article about newborn sleeping and how to avoid bad sleep associations you don’t want and create ones you do. http://amotherfarfromhome.com/ultimate-newborn-sleep-schedule-week-by-week/ And if you think sleep “training” from birth is inappropriate, read … Continue reading →

I’ve invited a guest author to, perhaps, help me increase the post frequency here a bit. She’s new Mom Celeste Faulman and she had baby Luca in August and has been providing respectful care with free movement ever since! Here … Continue reading →

I believe the most important role of a parents is to keep their child healthy and safe. We are their Health and Safety Czars!! The two best ways to ensure good health for your child is to provide healthy nutrition … Continue reading →

Added together, I have spent more than two straight years in Montessori training (0-12 plus Catechesis of the Good Shepherd). I am trained to be a Bradley Childbirth instructed and I completed the RIE Foudations Course in Los Angeles. I … Continue reading →

We have a saying in 0-3 Montessori called “open the door slowly.” This refers to allowing a child to slowly acclimate according to his developing sensory system. First a child develops a nursing relationship with his mother first (which Dad … Continue reading →

Consistency is the key to good parenting. I once found that my family doctor wrote on my child’s chart “mother has unrealistic expectations of what toddlers can do.” The way I spoke to my children differed from what his own … Continue reading →

Babies and children need a safe space. This means a “no-free zone” where they come to predict what will be there and what they will do. Security, not novelty, is what they really need. They also need cognitively challenging (appropriate … Continue reading →

Babies need safe, reliable attachment. Babies and their carers co-determine their attachment in each moment they are together throughout the day. Babies communicate to us. Sometimes we think we know what babies need but how do we know? By observing! … Continue reading →