Maison Continuum promotes free movement. But where does this concept come from?
It was developed by Emmi Pikler, a 20th century Hungarian pediatrician.
While doing an internship during her medical studies, she noticed that children from working-class neighborhoods were less likely to suffer serious accidents. She attributed this to the way they were raised: these children were less overprotected than those from more affluent backgrounds and were therefore freer in their movements and daily activities, and were less coddled .
Her research validates her hypotheses: the baby who is given the opportunity to move, to move by himself, naturally discovers the motor skills adapted to his age. He assimilates on his own the most appropriate positions for playing, for moving without losing his balance, which leads him to fall less seriously. His ease and prudence acquired in this way reduce "motor clumsiness". Emmi Pikler also attributes motor clumsiness to the behavior of parents and people who participate in the child's education.
How to implement free movement?
You must identify and encourage, both in care and in activity times, your baby/child's initiatives and freedom of movement. Pay particular attention to the natural development of your child's skills, do not force him to adopt positions or postures (standing, sitting, etc.) that he cannot master alone. Your physical interventions must be reduced to a minimum in these free motor activities.
If the goal is to let the baby develop his skills on his own, you still have a role to play in his learning. Your encouragement and your emotional relationship should guide him and encourage him to experiment while feeling safe. You also work to ensure that his environment and the stimulation he receives are adapted to his age and development.
Since your baby will try many things alone, there will be moments of frustration, sometimes of irritation. Here again, your support to express your confidence, to reassure him, to encourage him to continue or to explain to him that the difficulties are normal and that he will overcome them is essential!
What equipment will help your child develop?
First of all, keep in mind that there is no mandatory equipment. The first advice is to select accessories or equipment that hinder as little as possible the baby's or child's movements, movements, fields of vision, etc.
An environment conducive to free motor skills is above all a safe space or place (and therefore adapted to their age and progress). When it is still an infant, equip yourself with a sufficiently firm mat where you can place the baby lying on their back or stomach to let them experiment with their body, while staying close to them to ensure a secure relationship and the possibility of stopping the experiments as soon as they are too tired. This mat can still be used with the growing baby, allowing them to develop and fall without pain.
Little by little, he will develop his abilities until he acquires autonomy on the skills acquired or in the process of being acquired. In free motor skills, there is no notion of "early" or "late" for the acquisition of new abilities. The important thing is that the child develops them at his own pace, reassured by his own successes and progress but also by learning his limits.
At Maison Continuum , we are convinced of the benefits of free motor skills for the development of the child. Our creations are all imagined with the prism of free motor skills, so as not to hinder it and even to encourage it. The design of clothes or furniture must participate in the development of the baby and the child, this is part ofour philosophy !
