Supporting Infant Development through Touch, Movement, and Observation

Across five days, participants study the developmental logic of the first year - how babies organize themselves from head control to rolling, sitting, crawling, and the pathway toward standing. The emphasis is not on exercises, but on learning to see developmental organization, recognize what supports it, and offer conditions that invite a baby’s nervous system to discover new options. For practitioners and professionals, this provides a coherent developmental framework for working with infants and families. For parents and caregivers, it offers practical clarity on what matters in early development and how to support learning and regulation safely.

• Feldenkrais practitioners who want a developmental foundation for working with infants and families, and to integrate developmental logic into broader practice.

• Allied professionals (psychomotricity, pediatric OT/PT, midwives, doulas, early intervention, etc.) seeking a movement-learning and observation-based framework for infant development.

• Parents/caregivers (including special needs and developmental concerns) who want clear, respectful ways to understand and support infant learning and regulation.

• Greater confidence identifying what is happening in an infant’s organization.
• A clearer sense of what not to push, and how to create conditions for self-initiated learning.
• Hands-on tools (adapted to participant background) for exploring developmental support with sensitivity and safety.
• A developmental lens that can enrich broader practice beyond pediatrics (coordination, orientation, posture, and agency).

Child development
Touch and handling
Movement learning
Observation skills
Neurodevelopment
Parent-infant interaction

This is a stage-based immersion. Each day focuses on a major developmental milestone, combining DME lessons, observation and discussion, and practical exploration through partner work and doll practice. Live demonstrations with an infant and caregiver are included where possible.

Day 1 : Orientation & head control
Head/eyes/spine relationships; early weight shift and turning; handling that supports orientation.
Day 2 : Rolling & differentiation
Rotation through the trunk; variability and initiative; observing effort vs compulsion.
Day 3 : Sitting & dynamic balance
Balance as a moving skill (not posture); pelvis-spine relationships; support and freedom.
Day 4 : Crawling & contralateral organization
Cross-patterning and spatial mapping; pushing and reaching; how crawling supports later standing.
Day 5 : Coming to stand (pre-walking organization)
Weight transfer and support; kneeling/half-kneeling/standing transitions; integration and application over time.

There are no formal prerequisites. This is an educational workshop and does not replace medical care. Some practical components may be adapted by the facilitator depending on participant background. Any hands-on elements will follow clear consent and safety guidelines.