Charting a lively day in a fictitious childcare setting, this book brings to life the approach to guiding children’s early development by Emmi Pikler, Hungarian paediatrician and educator. It’s an approach that is grounded in a deep sense of respect for infants and toddlers.

The first part of the book follows in detail the day of the eight children, aged 5 to 24 months, who attend the daycare. As we get to know the children, their parents and the carers, a variety of situations unfold and we learn more about how Emmi Pikler’s approach is applied in practice.

While witnessing the children’s experiences, we gain insights into their cognitive, social and motor development. Concepts such as autonomy, interaction, attachment, self-regulation, socialisation and self-confidence become concrete and evident.

And the carers’ ways of communicating with the children and dealing with specific situations can serve as inspiration and instruction for childcare professionals and parents alike. This first part reads like a kind of novel.

The second part of the book provides a theoretical perspective on the described events. It offers an in-depth exploration of themes including settling in at daycare, stages of motor development, meaningful cooperation between carers and children, and development of play.

There is also information on various studies by Emmi Pikler and her staff, and you can find the Pikler Convention on the Rights of Children in Daycare. The book is nicely designed with watercolour illustrations.

Anna Tardos (child psychologist and former president of the Hungarian Pikler Lóczy Association) ends her foreword with:The narrative structure and the many practical examples in this book bring to life the pedagogy that Emmi Pikler and her staff developed over many years. I am confident that not just experts in the field, but many parents, too, will read it with interest and pleasure.

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