Free to Be - Infant-Parent Class (4-10 months old) with Jennifer Curtis

Free to Be…"
A place and time for infants and their parents
with facilitator Jennifer Curtis, CD(DONA), CIIM
8 Tuesdays
January 10th - February 28th

2:30-4pm

$260 per family (Register before Dec. 20 for $20 off)

Infants starting at 4 - 10 months (pre-walkers) with a parent or caregiver
Minimum: 4 adult-child combos / maximum 6
*Pre-registration is required*

“Free to Be…” is founded upon the guiding principles that infants are born as competent individuals who can actively problem-solve, will develop fully when allowed to freely explore their world (in a safe, age-appropriate environment) and have the right to be engaged with authenticity, appreciated for what they can do now and handled with regard and respect. Through this 8-week series, parents (or caregivers) receive a very special opportunity to experience their infants demonstrating the value of these principles for us, as we intentionally grant them the freedom “to be.”

Discover the joy of interacting with your baby as the competent, whole person she is. Come together to learn how you can encourage your child’s independent play, foster his critical thinking skills, and deepen your relationship – all in a less-is-more approach!

Discover how your infant benefits from independent play
Appreciate what your child can do right now
Learn how care routines can be favorite times for both you and your baby
Share in the beautiful unfolding of your infant’s first relationships—with herself, with others, with his surroundings
Support only as much as needed

Class structure:
We begin each class with a warm-up time to check in with one another as a group before settling into a quiet observation period. Then we take some time to share and discuss our observations afterwards, plus questions and answers (as time allows). I will provide some written resources for you to peruse, as well as offer at each class access to my “lending library” of materials related to this approach of supporting early childhood, with authenticity, from birth.

Our individual roles:
My role as facilitator is to “actively” demonstrate a trust-based model of thoughtful-intervention, to guide your little ones only as needed, for example when they have not been able to resolve challenges on their own. Parents (or enrolled caregivers) will be able to sit back comfortably and thoughtfully observe their infants’ natural development unfolding, while being present and available, serving as their little ones’ “secure base,” for physical needs or emotional check-ins as initiated by the infant. Infants are thereby given the freedom to explore and discover themselves and their relationship to this prepared environment, including to one another, on their own terms.

About the facilitator:

"Just as the child’s first teacher is his parent, the parent’s first teacher is her child."

Jennifer Curtis is a DONA-Certified Birth Doula, Certified Instructor of Infant Massage and credentialed Montessori ECE teacher, bringing a lifelong study of human development and 20 years’ experience in early childhood education to her support of families in the perinatal year and beyond. Jennifer passionately promotes the importance of primary relationships from birth, modeling authentic and respectful care while inviting parents to discover their amazing children as unique, competent individuals worthy of thoughtful support to become all they came here to be. Both honored and humbled by the privilege of walking alongside new families in their formative journey together, Jennifer is thrilled to offer “Free to Be…” opportunities for infants and their parents at Pomegranate! Learn more about Jennifer at www.heartfulbirth.com