Pikler UK organise Basic Level Pikler Trainings in the UK in cooperation with the Pikler House, Budapest. For details of how to become a Pikler pedagogue and what is required, please see THIS PAGE on the Pikler House website.
BUDAPEST COURSES DELIVERED IN LONDON
Next Course
Autonomous Play Activity
(0 to 3 years)
28th April to 2nd May 2025
Beavers Children’s Centre, 103 Salisbury Road, Cranford TW4 7NW
Course outline
Photo: Marco Jeda
Participants will learn about the Pikler perspective on everyday experiences with children and also about the results of research studies carried out by the Pikler® Institute, with a specific focus on Dr Pikler’s ideas regarding infants’ competencies in their autonomous play activity.
During the course we will learn about how infants’ and toddlers’ self-initiated play activity contributes to their well-being and development and will delve into the topic of the development of free play, including its many, often overlooked stages.
Participants will consider the role of the adult in supporting the infant’s and toddler’s self-initiated play activity and also learn about the environment and materials needed in each phase of development.
On the course we will spend time thinking about:
· The beginning of infant’s play activity
· Development of thinking and playing
· The infant’s attention during play
· Autonomous activity in the parent-child group
· Organizing the conditions of free play in the daycare centre
· How the caregiver supports children’s play
Participants will deepen their understanding about early childhood education through studying our most important pedagogical principles, learning about everyday experiences with children, and also through hearing about the results of research carried out by the Pikler® Institute.
The topics will be elaborated by presenting core materials of the Institute. The results of research and practical experience, the opportunity to watch and analyse photos and video footage, accounts of personal practice and discussion of the questions raised by participants will all be included.
Meet the Trainers…
Andrea Szőke
I graduated with a double degree in early childhood education and social pedagogy. I gained my initial theoretical and practical professional experience of several years working as a caregiver in the Pikler Infants’ Home. It also greatly helped me in my work that I have regularly been participating in various professional further trainings since I began my career.
I have been working as a pedagogue in the Pikler Daycare Center since 2006, when it was opened, and I have been heading it since 2008. I am a member of the methodological workshop of the Pikler House. I also facilitate parent-child groups. In recent years, I have lectured in seminars offered to early childhood professionals internationally. Among others, I have led workshops and held lectures in the fields of early childhood education and pedagogy abroad as well, e.g. Germany.
Zsófi Kozics
My name is Zsófi Kozics and originally I studied History at ELTE University in Budapest. When I finished my studies I got the chance to be a part of a European Voluntary Service (EVS) program and I spent a year in Portugal. There I did voluntary work at a daycare, which changed my life and made me reconsider my future.
When I moved back to Hungary I went back to school. This time I studied to be a caregiver. The first time I heard about the Piklerian approach, I knew immediately that this is something that I could see myself doing. I started working at the Pikler Daycare Centre in 2019 as a caregiver.
Since then I had the opportunity to learn from people with decades of experiences and work in a team that I’m really proud of.
To find out what training is available elsewhere, please go to pikler.hu or pikler.org.