Our work with families is underpinned by some basic beliefs, values and opinions:

~ All families are different, influenced by their history, geography, and personal preferences. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to raise children. Parents are the experts about their own children and circumstances. Therefore, all parents deserve respect, encouragement and support. 

~ As well as citizens of tomorrow, babies and children are also people today. Despite being smaller and less experienced than adults, babies and children have the same need to be respected, to express themselves, to experience dignity, to be listened to and taken seriously, to play, and to seek comfort. 

~ Babies and children are necessary and important to our society. They have much to offer us today. They have the capacity to teach adults about the importance of play, creativity, curiosity, discovery and rest. They teach us about the importance of community. They have the capacity to teach us about the importance of respectful touch, leaping, dancing, connecting, love and joy.

~ Child development is important and individual to each child. There is now clear evidence that the current culture of accelerating babies and children through their development has a harmful effect on children, families and society as a whole. Rates of anxiety disorders, depression, attentional and behavioural disorders and sensory difficulties in children are on the increase. Children need the opportunity to fully experience and complete each part of the developmental journey at their own pace, rather than being hurried through it.

~ The things that babies and children need in order to thrive come from the relationships they are a part of. Security, belonging, role models, consistency, love and acceptance happen when children are included in the lives of parents, families and communities. These things do not come from services, health professionals, experts, consumer items or extra-curricular activities. 

~ Harm to one child, causes harm to all children and all families. The abuse of any child is no less important because it happens in another place, away from our home or community.  War, poverty, violence against women, environmental degredation, human trafficking and sexual abuse, and economic greed violate the rights and well-being of all children, everywhere.

Our beliefs are reflected in our workshops which:

~ Are facilitated by an appropriately qualified, certified, registered and experienced nurse and educator;

~ Focus on techniques that are backed-up by evidence and research, and on technqiues that are endorsed or promoted by the American Academy of Paediatrics, Infant Mental Health Association, and the SIDS&Kids Foundation;

~ Are respectful of parent's choices, personal preferences and strengths;

~ Focus on supporting parents to understand their baby's cues and to "see the world through a baby's eyes" - rather than on "telling parents what to do".

~ Are for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice;

~ Are fully Montessori and Stiener-Friendly, compatible with both approaches to child development;

~ Promote approaches that are non-distressing to parents and children, and do not use any form of controlled-crying technqiues;

~ Focus on enjoying each child's developmental journey - rather than "forcing" or "hurrying through" developmental stages; and

~ Are delivered using principles of adult education, participation, interaction and fun!