Babies and Toddlers Place

These are some highlights from whānau who joined us for term one ✨

We feel so honoured to walk alongside parents and pēpi over 10 weeks.

Our next course starts April 30th and there's a just few spots available.

Sign up through our website or by emailing [email protected] / brothersandsisters.org.nz/workshops/babys-place

Dance with me in the Heart Babies
19-22 Oct 2026
With Bronwen Olds and Suzi Rea

Bronwen and Suzi are back with another 4-day Intensive 'Dance with me in the Heart Babies' course!
Held at October at Kapiti Coast, Aotearoa New Zealand.

To register, email [email protected] today!

Brothers & Sisters Suzanne Rea, M.Ed.

We're approaching the end of our first Baby's Place for the year, which means registrations are now open for term 2!

We love offering this course to whānau in the Hutt Valley. It's a warm, welcoming space to support whānau navigate that first big year - meeting and getting to know your baby, yourself as a parent and setting the foundation of your parenting partnership.

We talk about:
🌱 Free play
🌱 Free movement
🌱 The way we speak to and about our babies

What you can expect:
🌼Grow understanding and trust in your baby’s natural development.
🌼Learn practices that support bonding and a loving partnership.
🌼How to be an observer and read baby’s cues.
🌼A calm, relaxed and supportive group to share the joys and challenges of parenting.
🌼Morning tea served to YOU because you deserve to be cared for too.

Register online or by emailing facilitator Bronwen Olds at [email protected] / https://www.brothersandsisters.org.nz/workshops/babys-place

There are just 2 spots left on our next Toddler Place course.

We start next week, and we're so looking forward to meeting the whānau who are stepping into the next phase of partnership with their toddlers.

If you know a whānau who might like to join us, please share this with them. DM or email [email protected] to register.

Has your little one been upskilling into toddlerhood? This is for you.

We learnt how to partner and care for our infants with respect in Baby's Place. But what happens when they learn the word 'no'? Discover the urge to throw? That's when it's time for us as parents to upskill too.

Our next Toddler's Place course starts in March. We've already had interest in this course, so (as always) there's limited availability. Get in touch now to book your place by sending us a DM or emailing [email protected].

Because what society is terrible at telling parents is that toddlerhood can be a joy. ✨

🙌Hands up if you agree babies are free and equal and deserving of respect? 🙌

Just 2 spots left for this term, starting on Thursday. DM to register or email Bronwen directly at [email protected].

Or if you're expecting a pēpi to join your whānau, check out the dates for later in the year.

“Babies are free and equal human beings” - Dr Emmi Pikler

This shouldn’t be an outrageous statement. Babies are precious and parents want the best for their children.

But let’s slow down a moment to think about if the traditional western parenting model acknowledges babies’ inherent capability... and if not then what does?

That’s what we explore together at Baby’s Place.

This is a 10 week course for parents and babies under 1. It’s an invitation to step outside of the noise, to slow down and notice the capability inherent in our babies. To experience a different way of relating to our babies that’s backed by 50 years research at the Lóczy Institute.

🌱 Free play
🌱 Free movement
🌱 The way we speak to and about our babies

Each week we focus on one core principle for safe, caring - respectful - parent infant partnership.

What you can expect:

🌼Grow understanding and trust in your baby’s natural development.
🌼Learn practices that support bonding and a loving partnership.
🌼How to be an observer and read baby’s cues.
🌼A calm, relaxed and supportive group to share the challenges and joys or parenting.
🌼Morning tea served to YOU because you deserve to be cared for too.

Baby's Place 2026
Term 1 - Feb 5th to April 9th
Term 2 - April 30th to July 2nd
Term 3 - July 23rd to September 24th
Term 4 - October 8th to December 17th

Thursday 10am - 11.30am at Wesley Rata Village, Naenae
Cost: $200 (includes resource book & morning tea)

✨"It's the village I didn't know I needed."✨

Send us a DM or email [email protected] to join a waitlist.

Meet our wonderful facilitator, Bronwen Olds.

Kia ora, ko Bronwen Olds tōku ingoa. I've been hosting Baby's Place for whānau in the Wellington region for going on 14 years. I'm a mum to 4 adult children and Nani to 3 gorgeous moko (pictured with #3).

Baby's Place is one of my favorite mornings of the week. It's truly an honour to meet and spend time with new parents and their babies, not just as a warm and supportive social group, but to share the information I wish I'd had when I was a young mother.

It's very special for me to share the work of my friend the late Pennie Brownlee of Dance with me in the Heart. I met Pennie when my own children were still young (!) and over the years I've deepened my knowledge of child development, parent-infant relationships, the wisdom and simplicity that lies at the heart of Pikler's approach to raising and relating to our little ones.

I've also seen first-hand how challenging our western society is for the parents of young ones - the defaults we've inherited from either family of culture itself, the enormous consumer pressure - the mismatch between our modern lives and the needs of babies in general!

That's why, in a way, Baby's Place is one morning a week where baby's (and by extension their parents' needs) are centered and held and it's my privilege to host this space. Ngā mihi, Bronwen.

🌟Our next round of Baby's Place starts next Thursday 5 Feb and there's only 2 spaces left. 🌟

If this resonates, send us a DM or email [email protected] contact to book your place.

🌱 Baby’s Place – New Course Starting Soon 🌱

Baby’s Place is a 10-week course for babies and their parents to come together in a calm, supportive environment, with time set aside to focus on the relationship between you and your baby.

Explore practical ways to support your baby’s development and strengthen your bond, drawing on ideas inspired by paediatrician Dr Emmi Pikler and Pennie Brownlee’s Dance with Me in the Heart.

You may recognise this approach as respectful, gentle, or connection-based parenting. Baby’s Place is about tuning in to your baby, growing confidence in your role as a parent and connecting with like-minded whānau.

✨ Bookings are now open ✨Spaces are limited, so we recommend securing your place early.

👉 Book now by sending us a DM or email [email protected] to find out more.

We welcome you and your baby to our Baby's Place course. Come and join us in a relaxed and supportive environment...all baby noises welcome and learn alongside you baby and evolve your parenting journey . Feel free to contact me...Bronwen directly on 0276778052.

Brothers & Sisters Our tamariki are precious taonga and raising children is one of the most life-changing, incredible, overwhelming experiences available to us in life. Yet somehow our society isn’t set up to support our newest citizens and nurture the relationship of parent and child. From parental leave to overt a...

🌟 Exciting News from Toddlers Place! 🌟

Join us for 6 evening sessions for parents and 3 play sessions for both parents and toddlers!

In our Evening Sessions we will dive deep into essential topics, including:
✨ Principles of the Pikler Approach
🎉 The Urge to Play (Schemas)
🌈 Play, Wonder, and Imagination
💡 Understanding Emotions and the Toddler’s Brain
🤝 Unpacking Conflict and Creating a Partnership Model
💖 Our Role as Guardians: Self-Care and Rituals

During the Play Sessions: Watch your toddlers thrive as they explore, while you enhance your skills in observation and put your learnings into practice!

This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together. Let’s support our little ones on their journey while fostering our own parenting skills! 💕

Ready to join us? Comment below or send us a message for more details!

Brothers & Sisters Our tamariki are precious taonga and raising children is one of the most life-changing, incredible, overwhelming experiences available to us in life. Yet somehow our society isn’t set up to support our newest citizens and nurture the relationship of parent and child. From parental leave to overt a...

🌟 "It's the village I didn't know I needed." - Brooke

We're down to the last few spots for our Baby's Place course starting October 10th! Join us in this supportive space where we engage in meaningful discussions and critical reflections on the cultural narratives surrounding babies and parenting. This is more than just a class; it’s a chance to deeply reflect and equip yourself with tools and insights to consciously navigate your parenting journey.

Don’t miss out—secure your spot today! ✨

Brothers & Sisters Our tamariki are precious taonga and raising children is one of the most life-changing, incredible, overwhelming experiences available to us in life. Yet somehow our society isn’t set up to support our newest citizens and nurture the relationship of parent and child. From parental leave to overt a...