Creating the conditions in which children, adults and relationships can flourish
Like many parents, I simply wanted to do the best I could for my children.
I followed my instincts, listened to advice, made mistakes, learned as I went, and, like most parents, wondered whether I was getting it right.
It wasn't until my youngest child was around four or five years old that I discovered the work of Dr Emmi Pikler. That moment changed the way I saw children.
Instead of asking, "How can I teach my child this?" I found myself asking different questions.
What is my child already capable of?
What happens when I slow down and observe instead of stepping in?
How can I create the conditions in which they can discover things for themselves?
Those questions have shaped everything I've done since.
The questions I discovered through Pikler didn't stay within early childhood. They changed the way I think about learning, relationships and what it means for human beings of any age to flourish.
A journey of learning
My curiosity led me to study the Pikler approach — first in York and then at the Pikler Institute in Budapest, where I deepened my understanding of respectful care, free movement and the extraordinary competence of even the youngest children.
Since then, I've spent many years supporting families, working alongside early years practitioners, writing for professional journals and parenting magazines, and continuing to learn through my own practice.
Although the Pikler approach remains at the heart of my work, my learning has never stood still. I'm currently training as a Feldenkrais Practitioner, exploring how movement influences not only physical development but confidence, learning and wellbeing throughout life.
Each new experience continues to deepen — not replace — the understanding that first drew me to Pikler all those years ago.
Why Balanced Beings?
Balanced Beings grew from a belief that children flourish when the adults around them flourish too.
To me, balance isn't about perfection. It's about finding confidence in ourselves, trust in our relationships and room to grow.
Whether I'm working with a baby discovering movement, a parent finding confidence in their own observations, or practitioners reflecting on their practice, my aim is always the same: to create the conditions in which growth can happen naturally.
Because development isn't something we make happen.
It's something we learn to notice, support and trust.
You're warmly invited
Whether you're looking for a calm place to spend time with your child, support for your early years setting, or simply a different way of thinking about childhood, I'd love to welcome you.
I hope you'll find something here that speaks to you.
Experience & Roles
Founder, Balanced Beings (formerly First Playtime) (est. c.2013)
Parent–Child Group Leader (since 2006)
Early Years Consultant, supporting nurseries and early years practitioners through workshops, mentoring and consultancy in the UK and internationally.
Parent Educator, delivering in-person workshops and online courses.
Chair of Pikler UK (2019–2026) – Supporting the organisation's work in promoting and developing the Pikler approach across the UK.
Experiential Tutor, Pikler UK Training – Teaching the experiential strand of the professional training programme in London, supporting students to deepen their understanding through observation, movement and reflection.
Education & Professional Development
Foundation Degree in Childhood Studies – University of Winchester
Pikler Training (UK) (2011–2014) – A member of the first cohort to complete the inaugural Pikler training delivered in the UK.
Advanced Pikler Study – Ongoing professional development at Pikler House, Budapest.
Feldenkrais Professional Training (currently in training; eligible to teach Awareness Through Movement® classes from January 2027).
Writing & Publications
Alongside my work with families and practitioners, writing has become another way for me to explore and share ideas about respectful relationships, child development and observation. I've contributed to early years journals, parenting magazines and co-authored a chapter in an early years publication.
Selected publications:
Freedom to play, freedom to move, freedom to be me: the Pikler approach to autonomous play – in Being with Babies: Establishing a sense of belonging in early childhood settings (2026)
Early Years Educator Journal — several articles on the Pikler approach (2024-25)
JUNO A Natural approach to family life — regular Q&A column answering parenting questions (2024-26)