Relaxed group set up for mums and babies in Ryedale (From Gazette & Herald)
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Relaxed group set up for mums and babies in Ryedale
2:20pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News
Members of the Gentle Loving Start group. From left – Kasia Thornton with Nathanial, group leaders Noelle Thornton and Alison Burns, Lora Briggs with Henry and Helen Howe with James
A NEW group offering mums a relaxed atmosphere in which they can enjoy their babies’ development is hoping to hold sessions at other venues across Ryedale.
Set up by mum-of-two Alison Burns and Noelle Thornton, a grandmother with five children, the aim is to allow children to develop and discover at their own pace.
Noelle, from Middleton, said the pair had met on a course looking at the work of Hungarian paediatrician, Emmi Pikler.
“The teachings put the emphasis on allowing a child to develop at its own pace,” she said. “It is a very common sense approach, enabling children to explore and discover, rather than being urged to do things such as crawling and sitting before they are ready.”
Noelle said that the group, which meets in Middleton Village Hall, has a maximum of eight babies with the aim of proving a safe and peaceful environment for parents and their babies to share experiences, gain confidence and make new friends.
“We start with coffee and cake and then provide an opportunity to share worries and questions, followed by a quiet period in which mums can sit and watch their babies,” she said. “The session finishes with a nursery rhyme and songs which the children love.”
Alison, who lives in Huttons Ambo, said the group hoped to offer mums a space to enjoy their babies and take away the pressure of comparing their child’s development.
“The idea is that the child has the instinct to sit up, crawl and walk when they are ready and we aim to provide an environment for mothers to watch that happen,” she said.
“It is all about trusting yourself and your baby. There are many stages of development and this is about letting them unfold at the child’s pace.”
The group is open to children from birth to toddlers.
“We are now looking at other venues in Ryedale, including Malton, and would love to hear from anyone who would like to join us,” she said.
“It is all about bringing mums together and enjoying watching their child explore and develop.”
A Gentle Loving Start meets in Middleton Village Hall on Thursdays, 10am-11.30am. The cost is £5 per session with the first one free.
If you are interested in joining a group in Malton, phone Noelle on 01751 472283 or 07971 965381 or Alison on 01653 691921 or 07826 522189.
