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Freedom of Movement at BestStart Te Whariki
In the nursery at Beststart Te Whariki, we practice the principles of Freedom of Movement. What is freedom of movement? Freedom of movement involves children being in control of their own physical development. Adults allow infants and toddlers to move completely freely so that they can reach each stage of their motor development by themselves, at their own pace.
Adults support, rather than hinder, the natural development of infants and toddlers by not placing them into positions they cannot get into or out of themselves. Infants are placed on a safe floor space, and if it is not meant to be a specialised tummy time, they are placed on their backs as it is the least restrictive position for them.
The benefits of freedom of movement? Freedom of movement allows infants and toddlers to feel confident with themselves while gaining interest in the world around them. Freedom of movement allows children to learn balance, body awareness, concentration, problem-solving, and a sense of self. It is also believed that freedom of movement leads to children having greater physical security, sensory awareness, and skill development.
Where does freedom of movement come from? Freedom of movement is an essential component in the philosophy of Emmi Pikler (RIE). Pikler believed that all children should be allowed the time and space to develop their physical capabilities, to experiment and to overcome difficulties. Infants develop from their heads to their feet and from the centre of the core to their fingertips. There are twenty-three parts of the body an infant needs to experience moving and controlling. Providing an infant with the ability to reach, look, shift positions and move can aid them in developing motor skills naturally and fully. For Pikler, the best thing you could do for an infant was to let them naturally unfold their development without interference.
Accommodating differences between centre and home. We understand that our centre care practices may be different from those used at home, some infants are used to being propped up to sit or being fed in a highchair. At Beststart Te Whariki, we respond to these differences with flexibility, placing children who are used to being propped up into a sitting position when they become frustrated with lying down, and placing children who are used to being fed in a highchair into a sitting position on the floor (if they can sit up unaided) or feeding them in a sitting position in our laps.
Want to know more? If you would like to know more about our nursery’s Freedom of Movement practices, or any of our other practices, just ask any of our wonderful Kaiako.