Emmi-Pikler-Pedagogy: Bodywork in the childcare center
Children need time and space to try things out and learn. Emmi Pikler's early childhood education supports them in this. At childcare centers pme Familienservice , Pikler's approach forms the basis of our daily work.
Traffic jam on the slide. A bustle like an anthill. Four children are trying to climb the narrow, sloping towel and slide back down on their stomachs. One-and-a-half-year-old Casper pushes past Livia on the way up. Alessio pushes from the top to the bottom. And ten-month-old Hannah has pulled herself up into a standing position on the side of the play equipment. Bare legs seem to knot together. Little hands reach for little arms.
Crawling, crawling, climbing, sliding - everything is allowed
"When the children have a goal in mind, they don't look left or right," says educator Elke Kleist, who watches the spectacle calmly. "We are nearby if a child cries. But things usually unravel quickly."
In fact, the traffic suddenly flows again without a child making a sound. Casper slides contentedly down the wooden level again and again. Alessio scurries around the room. Hannah has crawled onto a teacher's lap. And Livia crawls to a small hairbrush lying on the floor.
Every Friday is Pikler time for the Wolkenzwerge crèche group. This means: off with the tights and barefoot into a course of wooden poles, wooden rings and arches, a small slide and cloths, through which they are allowed to move freely without any guidance. Crawling, crawling, climbing, sliding - everything is allowed. And unlike usual, the teachers stay out of the action. "We don't offer any games like we usually do in daycare. Every child is free to try things out and explore their limits," says Elke Kleist.
"We always go on a journey of discovery ourselves"
In three modules, the 40-year-old - like all her colleagues at pme Familienservice - was trained to work according to the principles of Emmi Pikler and to use Elfriede Hengstenberg's play equipment. "We always go on a journey of discovery ourselves when we use the equipment. For example, this arch becomes a seesaw when I turn it over," says Elke, pointing to a small round arch with rungs.
Livia, who usually uses her crawling skills rather sparingly, crawls to the objects scattered on the floor. "Nothing is brought to her here, it encourages her to crawl," says her teacher happily. Suddenly Livia moves forward on all fours. "That's great, Livia!" praises Elke. "Watch out, you'll soon be able to walk!"
"Everyone can interact with their child in everyday life in the spirit of Emmi Pikler. For example, you can let your child climb freely in the playground so that they can test their limits." Experiencing and learning are the principles of Pikler's pedagogy.
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Meanwhile, Livia, Casper and Alessio are sitting in a large box filled with dried beans. Casper is filling beans into a plastic bottle with the help of a coffee measuring spoon. He patiently fills the container. When the bottle is full, a load of beans suddenly flies over the edge of the box and lands rattling on the floor. And then there is a warning. "The beans have to stay inside," explains teacher Elke. "Otherwise you have to get out of the box."
Emmi Pikler (1902 - 1984) was a Hungarian pediatrician who broke new ground in early childhood education. Her principles and theories emerged from her work as a family doctor and long-time director of an infant home in Budapest. Movement materials based on Elfriede Hengstenberg are generally used for Emmi Pikler's movement work.
Elfriede Hengstenberg (1892 - 1992) was a gymnastics teacher and worked with urban children in Berlin. Her aim was to enable children to discover and develop their movement skills independently. To this end, she developed special ladders, boards, stools and balancing poles.
