Booming baby class’ 10th birthday
LUKE KIRKEBY
Helping to raise 213 babies over 10 years has been a rewarding experience for Tokoroa’s Fran Thompson Stevens.
Thompson Stevens marked 10 years of running her free babybeings parent, baby, and toddler classes last weekend.
She did so with fellow parent educator Levi Mainekaiariki Sikking and parents and children who have taken part over the years.
The classes are based on the innovative approach of renowned Hungarian pediatrician Emmi Pikler.
Pikler, who opened an orphanage in Hungary after World War II, believed children were capable beings which should be seen as a person and partner right from birth.
Through observation and effective communication she believed children would be able to develop in their own way and it’s that thinking that Thompson-stevens has implemented into her classes.
‘‘The first three years are so important for brain development so when you can help parents feel that the job they are doing is going to have such a lifelong impact then you feel like it is such an important thing to keep doing,’’ she said.
‘‘It is such a beautiful thing because you are working one-onone with parents right there but you can see the big picture of doing it too and that is to help the whole community and society.’’
She said she plans to continue offering the classes three times a week for as long as she can.
Thompson Stevens was a One News’ Good Sorts in 2016 and a Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year finalist in 2016 She said parents were returning with their second, third, and even fourth child.
‘‘Other people comment on their parenting and parents that come back also realise that their first child taught them a lot so their next might teach them something different. Even I am still learning,’’ she said.
‘‘It gives my life purpose, that’s why I love it so much.’’