People
We have collected here, stories of people who inspired Pikler, worked with Pikler, those who carry on her work at Lóczy Street and those who use her ideas and teaching in their work today.
We realise that it is not always possible to have everyone who should be on this list, here. New information is always welcome at The Pikler Collection, so if you know of anyone who you think should be included on this page please get in touch.
In alphabetical order...
We have collected here, stories of people who inspired Pikler, worked with Pikler, those who carry on her work at Lóczy Street and those who use her ideas and teaching in their work today.
We realise that it is not always possible to have everyone who should be on this list, here. New information is always welcome at The Pikler Collection, so if you know of anyone who you think should be included on this page please get in touch.
In alphabetical order...
A
Geneviève Appell - psychologist
Geneviève Appell is a recognised authority for early childhood. She has worked as a psychologist in nurseries and crèches, participated in research commissioned by the World Health Organization, worked with John Bowlby, authored and co-authored books, made educational films including films in collaboration with the Pikler Institute of Budapest. In 1968 Appell with her friend and colleague Myriam David made their first visit to Lóczy and later wrote 'Lóczy: An Unusual Approach to Mothering'. Appell co-founded Lóczy Pikler Association France in 1984.
Geneviève Appell is a recognised authority for early childhood. She has worked as a psychologist in nurseries and crèches, participated in research commissioned by the World Health Organization, worked with John Bowlby, authored and co-authored books, made educational films including films in collaboration with the Pikler Institute of Budapest. In 1968 Appell with her friend and colleague Myriam David made their first visit to Lóczy and later wrote 'Lóczy: An Unusual Approach to Mothering'. Appell co-founded Lóczy Pikler Association France in 1984.
B
Gabriella Bakos - caregiver at Lóczy
Gabriella Bakos began work for the Pikler Institute as a caregiver for the Infants’ Home in 2005. While working, she completed studies in caring for infants and young children. Since the closing of the Infants’ Home in 2011 she has been working in the Lóczy Street Daycare Center.
Györgyi Balog Garainé - special therapist
Györgyi Balog Garainé started her professional career at Lóczy as a caregiver, and then worked as an assistant psychologist and a group pedagogue. She took 5 years out to have children, and when she returned to her role at Lóczy, she also became the pedagogue leading the playroom for 16 years. Balog Garainé left Loczy and worked as a day-care counsellor with day-care managers who had begun their careers at Lóczy as caregivers and had been students of Anna Tardos and Éva Kálló in the caregiver training. She taught pedagogy for 15 years and currently works as a group pedagogue in an infants’ home run by the municipality of Budapest, where they raise children according to the Piklerian principles. Balog Garainé co-authored the book 'The Development of Free Play' with Éva Kálló which has been published in Hungarian, German, English, and most recently, in Spanish.
Sjoukje Borbély - special therapist, psychologist
Sjoukje Borbély trained as an orthopedagogue in the Netherlands before arriving in Hungary. Hired by Emmi Pikler, she spent 12 years working at the Pikler Institute where she became a special therapist and a child psychologist. Borbély now works mainly with the parents of disabled children. Information on her booklet ‘Special Education within Lóczy’ and DVD’s ‘An Interesting Challenge Pikler in the Hague’ and ‘Children with Special Needs Living in Lóczy, Additional Care’ can be found on The Pikler Collection.
Gabriella Bakos began work for the Pikler Institute as a caregiver for the Infants’ Home in 2005. While working, she completed studies in caring for infants and young children. Since the closing of the Infants’ Home in 2011 she has been working in the Lóczy Street Daycare Center.
Györgyi Balog Garainé - special therapist
Györgyi Balog Garainé started her professional career at Lóczy as a caregiver, and then worked as an assistant psychologist and a group pedagogue. She took 5 years out to have children, and when she returned to her role at Lóczy, she also became the pedagogue leading the playroom for 16 years. Balog Garainé left Loczy and worked as a day-care counsellor with day-care managers who had begun their careers at Lóczy as caregivers and had been students of Anna Tardos and Éva Kálló in the caregiver training. She taught pedagogy for 15 years and currently works as a group pedagogue in an infants’ home run by the municipality of Budapest, where they raise children according to the Piklerian principles. Balog Garainé co-authored the book 'The Development of Free Play' with Éva Kálló which has been published in Hungarian, German, English, and most recently, in Spanish.
Sjoukje Borbély - special therapist, psychologist
Sjoukje Borbély trained as an orthopedagogue in the Netherlands before arriving in Hungary. Hired by Emmi Pikler, she spent 12 years working at the Pikler Institute where she became a special therapist and a child psychologist. Borbély now works mainly with the parents of disabled children. Information on her booklet ‘Special Education within Lóczy’ and DVD’s ‘An Interesting Challenge Pikler in the Hague’ and ‘Children with Special Needs Living in Lóczy, Additional Care’ can be found on The Pikler Collection.
D
Myriam David - psychoanalyst, pediatrician and French psychiatrist (1917–2004)
In 1962, with the help of John Bowlby, and collaboration of Geneviève Appell, Myriam David received a scholarship from the World Health Organisation to conduct a study on "children separated from their mothers for the first 3 months of life and up their 4 years". It is said that David and Appell are the only two to be quoted by Bowlby. David wrote numerous articles and several books including 'Lóczy: An Unusual Approach to Mothering' which David co-authored with Appell, which is available in English.
David also founded two institutions for children: Soisy Family Centre sur Seine (therapeutic foster care)in 1966 and the Rothschild Foundation in 1976 - renamed in 2006 the Myriam David Centre.
Click here to read more on David.
In 1962, with the help of John Bowlby, and collaboration of Geneviève Appell, Myriam David received a scholarship from the World Health Organisation to conduct a study on "children separated from their mothers for the first 3 months of life and up their 4 years". It is said that David and Appell are the only two to be quoted by Bowlby. David wrote numerous articles and several books including 'Lóczy: An Unusual Approach to Mothering' which David co-authored with Appell, which is available in English.
David also founded two institutions for children: Soisy Family Centre sur Seine (therapeutic foster care)in 1966 and the Rothschild Foundation in 1976 - renamed in 2006 the Myriam David Centre.
Click here to read more on David.
F
Dr Judit Falk – pediatrician (1922 – 2010)
Judit Falk worked at the Pikler Institute for 48 years, for 12 of those she held the position as its director. There she contributed to the Pikler legacy by writing numerous articles and books. She published 21 scientific studies in Hungarian, and a total of 64 more in seven different languages. Falk was an acknowledged professional expert around the world, invited to speak at International conferences. She took professional training, delivered lectures, gave training for caregivers and was active in establishing and managing several other professional organisations.
Judit Falk worked at the Pikler Institute for 48 years, for 12 of those she held the position as its director. There she contributed to the Pikler legacy by writing numerous articles and books. She published 21 scientific studies in Hungarian, and a total of 64 more in seven different languages. Falk was an acknowledged professional expert around the world, invited to speak at International conferences. She took professional training, delivered lectures, gave training for caregivers and was active in establishing and managing several other professional organisations.
G
Magda Gerber – co-founder of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) (1910 - 2007)
Magda Gerber and her young family were under the care of Dr Pikler when Pikler worked as a family pediatrician before the war. After the Second World War Gerber and Dr Pikler remained friends*. In 1956 after the Hungarian Revolution, the Gerbers left Hungary to live in the USA. In 1978 Gerber and Tom Forrest, M.D set up Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE), which is based on the Pikler approach.
Click here to go to the Magda Gerber website.
Click here to go to the RIE website.
* The Pikler Collection is now able to confirm that Gerber did not work or train at Lóczy or have any role in the Pikler's research.
Elsa Gindler – pioneer in somatic bodywork (1885 - 1961)
Elsa Gindler is known to have given work shops for Emmi Pikler on movement.
"Elsa Gindler and Henry Jacoby found in the 1920s that it was essential to understand the natural path of child development in order to allow the child's initial skills and powers to develop. Gindler and Jacoby explained that traditional infant and early childhood education damaged the initiative of children and stunted their development." Quoted from the Wikipedia entry for Emmi Pikler
Magda Gerber and her young family were under the care of Dr Pikler when Pikler worked as a family pediatrician before the war. After the Second World War Gerber and Dr Pikler remained friends*. In 1956 after the Hungarian Revolution, the Gerbers left Hungary to live in the USA. In 1978 Gerber and Tom Forrest, M.D set up Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE), which is based on the Pikler approach.
Click here to go to the Magda Gerber website.
Click here to go to the RIE website.
* The Pikler Collection is now able to confirm that Gerber did not work or train at Lóczy or have any role in the Pikler's research.
Elsa Gindler – pioneer in somatic bodywork (1885 - 1961)
Elsa Gindler is known to have given work shops for Emmi Pikler on movement.
"Elsa Gindler and Henry Jacoby found in the 1920s that it was essential to understand the natural path of child development in order to allow the child's initial skills and powers to develop. Gindler and Jacoby explained that traditional infant and early childhood education damaged the initiative of children and stunted their development." Quoted from the Wikipedia entry for Emmi Pikler
H
Judit Hafner - group-leader caregiver at Lóczy
Judit Hafner began her career in day-care in 1985, first taking care of children aged between one and half and two years, then as a group-leader caregiver for a new infant group. Hafner joined the Institute, working in the Infants’ Home for seven years before leaving work to raise her sons for 6 years. After she returned to work in day-care, it was some years before Lóczy opened the Lóczy Street Daycare Center in 2006 and offered Hafner a position as a caregiver. Hafner continues to work at Lóczy as a group-leader caregiver, and as a member of the training team since 2010.
Elfriede Hengstenberg - pioneer in somatic bodywork (1892-1992)
Elfriede Hengstenberg worked as a gymnastic teacher at a Montessori school in Berlin, and she also trained with Rudolf Bode, Elsa Gindler and Heinrich Jacoby. Hengstenberg met Pikler in 1935, around the same time that Pikler was setting up her practice as a family paediatrician. Pikler had already 'stumbled upon' the works of Grindler, Jacoby and Hengstenberg, works which happened to fit in with the approach to movement she was discovering in her own work. Pikler invited Hengstenberg to come to Budapest and take Summer courses, and the two worked closely together around ‘movement’. They both shared the vision, that children can discover and develop their motor skills independently.
Katalin Hevesi - Pikler pedagogue
With a degree in high-school teaching Katalin Hevesi began working at Lóczy in 1963. She worked taking care of the children, and for several years taking the children on their outside-walk, observing the life of the children in groups and working with caregivers. She worked in spreading the Piklerian approach to Hungarian and French infants’ homes, and held seminars for the French Pikler-Lóczy Association in France and in Belgium for 10 years. Her research and publications are on the topics of the verbal connection between the caregiver and the children, methods of training the caregivers and case studies. Hevesi currently works in the archives of the Hungarian Pikler-Lóczy Association.
Judit Hafner began her career in day-care in 1985, first taking care of children aged between one and half and two years, then as a group-leader caregiver for a new infant group. Hafner joined the Institute, working in the Infants’ Home for seven years before leaving work to raise her sons for 6 years. After she returned to work in day-care, it was some years before Lóczy opened the Lóczy Street Daycare Center in 2006 and offered Hafner a position as a caregiver. Hafner continues to work at Lóczy as a group-leader caregiver, and as a member of the training team since 2010.
Elfriede Hengstenberg - pioneer in somatic bodywork (1892-1992)
Elfriede Hengstenberg worked as a gymnastic teacher at a Montessori school in Berlin, and she also trained with Rudolf Bode, Elsa Gindler and Heinrich Jacoby. Hengstenberg met Pikler in 1935, around the same time that Pikler was setting up her practice as a family paediatrician. Pikler had already 'stumbled upon' the works of Grindler, Jacoby and Hengstenberg, works which happened to fit in with the approach to movement she was discovering in her own work. Pikler invited Hengstenberg to come to Budapest and take Summer courses, and the two worked closely together around ‘movement’. They both shared the vision, that children can discover and develop their motor skills independently.
Katalin Hevesi - Pikler pedagogue
With a degree in high-school teaching Katalin Hevesi began working at Lóczy in 1963. She worked taking care of the children, and for several years taking the children on their outside-walk, observing the life of the children in groups and working with caregivers. She worked in spreading the Piklerian approach to Hungarian and French infants’ homes, and held seminars for the French Pikler-Lóczy Association in France and in Belgium for 10 years. Her research and publications are on the topics of the verbal connection between the caregiver and the children, methods of training the caregivers and case studies. Hevesi currently works in the archives of the Hungarian Pikler-Lóczy Association.
K
Éva Kálló - Pikler pedagogue
Éva Kálló studied to become a high school teacher, though during university her interest gradually turned to younger children, which lead to a role at Lóczy in 1970. She began teaching developmental and educational psychology at the Caregivers’ Training from 1973 onwards. Since then she regularly held trainings in Hungary, and abroad since the mid-80s. Kálló worked at Lóczy as a group pedagogue for nearly forty years. Although primarily a practical professional, Kálló also carried out research in the field of institutional education, the results of which have been presented in publications, at the scientific meetings of the Psychological Association of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and papers at various conferences in Hungary and abroad. Kálló co-authored the book “The Development of Free Play” with Györgyi Balog, which has been published in Hungarian, German, English, and most recently, in Spanish. In recent years, in co-operation with French and Hungarian professionals, she participated in creating an educational film outlining some of the results of the Piklerian approach, along with working on new educational videos.
Jutka Kelemen - group leader caregiver at Lóczy
Jutka Kelemen started work at the Pikler Infants’ Home as a caregiver in 1986. She went on to lead Parent-Child groups and played an active role in establishing the Lóczy Street Daycare Center as a manager. Now, based on her own request, she works as a caregiver again, and participates in the Pikler Trainings.
Éva Kálló studied to become a high school teacher, though during university her interest gradually turned to younger children, which lead to a role at Lóczy in 1970. She began teaching developmental and educational psychology at the Caregivers’ Training from 1973 onwards. Since then she regularly held trainings in Hungary, and abroad since the mid-80s. Kálló worked at Lóczy as a group pedagogue for nearly forty years. Although primarily a practical professional, Kálló also carried out research in the field of institutional education, the results of which have been presented in publications, at the scientific meetings of the Psychological Association of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and papers at various conferences in Hungary and abroad. Kálló co-authored the book “The Development of Free Play” with Györgyi Balog, which has been published in Hungarian, German, English, and most recently, in Spanish. In recent years, in co-operation with French and Hungarian professionals, she participated in creating an educational film outlining some of the results of the Piklerian approach, along with working on new educational videos.
Jutka Kelemen - group leader caregiver at Lóczy
Jutka Kelemen started work at the Pikler Infants’ Home as a caregiver in 1986. She went on to lead Parent-Child groups and played an active role in establishing the Lóczy Street Daycare Center as a manager. Now, based on her own request, she works as a caregiver again, and participates in the Pikler Trainings.
L
Zsuzsa Libertiny - Pikler pedagogue
Executive pedagogue of the Pikler Nursery
Originally a high-school teacher, Zsuzsa Libertiny became closely acquainted with the Piklerian ideas with the birth of her first child (c1997). Libertiny became an employee of the Pikler Institute in 2002, responsible for programs for the families and Parent-Child groups. She left Lóczy for a few years to work in Canada supporting newly-immigrated parents with young children. After her return to the Lóczy team, she resumed her previous role, as well as joining the Day-Care Center as a pedagogue. Since 2009 Libertiny regularly participates as a lecturer in programmes both in Hungary and abroad. Her topics encompass the everyday work with children, the support for the families, and support for day-care and residential institutions.
Executive pedagogue of the Pikler Nursery
Originally a high-school teacher, Zsuzsa Libertiny became closely acquainted with the Piklerian ideas with the birth of her first child (c1997). Libertiny became an employee of the Pikler Institute in 2002, responsible for programs for the families and Parent-Child groups. She left Lóczy for a few years to work in Canada supporting newly-immigrated parents with young children. After her return to the Lóczy team, she resumed her previous role, as well as joining the Day-Care Center as a pedagogue. Since 2009 Libertiny regularly participates as a lecturer in programmes both in Hungary and abroad. Her topics encompass the everyday work with children, the support for the families, and support for day-care and residential institutions.
M
Dr. Mária Majoros - pediatrician
Dr. Mária Majoros’ first job was at the Pikler Infants’ Home where she worked for nineteen years. In 1996, she became the director of another Infants’ Home in Budapest for seventeen years, all the while still keeping in touch with Lóczy, and continuing on as chair for the board of the Pikler Public Foundation. For many years now Dr. Mária Majoros has published articles in magazines about childcare and early childhood education, and answered readers’ questions.
Eszter Mózes - clinical child psychologist
Director of the Lóczy Foundation for Children
Eszter Mózes has been working together with the Lóczy team since 1988 in one role or another, including working with children living in the Infants’ Home and participating in research and in Caregivers’ Training. She is involved in the Pikler Trainings in Hungarian, French, and Spanish, and is currently responsible for the training in the Lóczy Foundation. Mózes has also been working at the Early Intervention Center in Budapest since 1999.
Dr. Mária Majoros’ first job was at the Pikler Infants’ Home where she worked for nineteen years. In 1996, she became the director of another Infants’ Home in Budapest for seventeen years, all the while still keeping in touch with Lóczy, and continuing on as chair for the board of the Pikler Public Foundation. For many years now Dr. Mária Majoros has published articles in magazines about childcare and early childhood education, and answered readers’ questions.
Eszter Mózes - clinical child psychologist
Director of the Lóczy Foundation for Children
Eszter Mózes has been working together with the Lóczy team since 1988 in one role or another, including working with children living in the Infants’ Home and participating in research and in Caregivers’ Training. She is involved in the Pikler Trainings in Hungarian, French, and Spanish, and is currently responsible for the training in the Lóczy Foundation. Mózes has also been working at the Early Intervention Center in Budapest since 1999.
P
Klara Pap - illustrator
Klara Paps illustrations of young babies and infants have become well known with Pikler's work. Pap worked closely with Emmi Pikler recording movement sequences, naturally found positions, and illustrating care moments at the residential home. While her illustrations feature in several books and posters today, the book 'Unfolding of Infants' Natural Gross Motor Development' shows the most complete collection of illustrations in one place.
Szilvi Papp - special therapist, district nurse, Pikler pedagogue
Qualificated as a special therapist and a district nurse, Szilvi Papp became a member of the Lóczy team in 1999. She worked in the Infants’ Home with young children in need of special development, and later as a group pedagogue as well. In 2001, alongside Dr Anna Tardos, she became the leader of the first Hungarian Pikler Parent-Child group, working with families and providing them with support. In the Day-Care Center she works as a pedagogue, and she also lecturers in Pikler Trainings.
György Péter (1903 - 1969)
Péter (originally György Pikler) was a pedagogue, mathematician, economist, statistician, university professor, doctor of economics and the husband of Emmi Pikler. It was while living in Vienna and teaching high school mathematics that he met Emmi. They married in 1930 and moved to Trieste in Italy in 1931, the year their first child was born.
In his pedagogy Péter emphasised that children should go at their own pace of development during their studies. Sharing an interest in child development with Emmi, the two decided to do everything they could to enable the healthy development of their first-born child. As parents, they decided not to force their daughter's development. Instead they allowed plenty of space and time for her physical development to unfold naturally through freedom of movement, independent play, and grounded in a secure, kind and respectful relationship.
In 1932 the family moved to Budapest. There Péter became a member of the Workers' Movement and in 1935 joined the Hungarian Party of Communists. The following year he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He served 9 years in prison, a sentence which ended when he and a friend escaped as prisoners being taken on foot to Germany. These two friends were the only ones in their group to keep their lives.
After the war Péter became the Deputy Mayor and City Councilor in Szeged (1945), then the General Director of the National Social Insurance Institute in Budapest and President of the Hungarian Statistical Office (1948-1968). In 1950, he was appointed Head of Department at the Marx Károly University of Economics in Budapest.
Péter is known for his work in the Hungarian Statistical Office: reorganising the statistical approach and practice, implementing the 1949 census, leading the preparation and implementation of the 1960 census, developing the statistical basis of the central planning management and planning command system… and much more.
Prof. Clemens von Pirquet (1874 – 1929)
Pirquet was a scientist and paediatrician. He trained at the University Children’s Clinic in Vienna under Theodor Escherich, the first physician of Paediatric Infectious Diseases. In 1909 Pirquet was elected the first Professor and Chair of Paediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, USA. In 1911 on the death of his mentor Escherich he was recalled to Vienna, to fill the position of Professor and Chair of Paediatrics at the University Children’s Clinic. Pirquet held this position until his death in 1929.
Pirquet became well known for his pioneering contributions to the fields of bacteriology and immunology, providing the foundations for modern "immunology". He invented and introduced the "tuberculin skin test" at a time when tuberculosis was prolific. He initiated a study of the social, nutritional, and public health aspects of paediatrics, introduced progressive reforms and nursing procedures into hospitals, required trainee doctors in his clinic to undergo a practical course in nursing, established an open-air ward for children suffering from tuberculosis on the roof.
As a paediatrician-scientist, Pirquet was able to translate his scientific discoveries directly into improved care of children.
As well as placing great emphasis on the practical training of his students at the University Children’s Clinic, Pirquet took a great interest in the children's everyday existence in the hospital. Great importance was placed on the child's health rather than the illness, children were to be outside in the fresh air and to play a lot. Nutrition was also covered, with specific instructions around meal preparation, and it was forbidden to make a child eat one single spoonful more than the child wanted.
In the 1920s in Vienna, Emmi Pikler went to medical school and received her medical training under Prof. Clemens von Pirquet at the University Hospital. Pirquet's emphasis on salutogenesis (the relationship between health, stress, and coping), strongly influenced Emmi Pikler's own professional approach. Dr. Pikler always referred to Prof. von Pirquet as one of her first teachers, one whose views came to greatly influence her later professional activity.
At age 54, Pirquet and his ill wife died in a double suicide.
Dr. Gabriella Püspöky - pediatrician
Gabriella Püspöky began work as a paediatrician at the Infants’ Home in 1966 as part of the professional team made up of pedagogues and psychologists. She attended to the regular medical check-ups of the children, and to the treatment of occasional diseases. She was also continuously observing and analyzing the children’s development, organizing their everyday life, and took part in taking the protocols of the observations of gross motor development. Püspöky is currently the pediatrician of the Lóczy Street Daycare Center, participates in the data processing of the Pikler archives, presents at the Piker trainings, and she has travelled to share the Approach, including in New Zealand.
Klara Paps illustrations of young babies and infants have become well known with Pikler's work. Pap worked closely with Emmi Pikler recording movement sequences, naturally found positions, and illustrating care moments at the residential home. While her illustrations feature in several books and posters today, the book 'Unfolding of Infants' Natural Gross Motor Development' shows the most complete collection of illustrations in one place.
Szilvi Papp - special therapist, district nurse, Pikler pedagogue
Qualificated as a special therapist and a district nurse, Szilvi Papp became a member of the Lóczy team in 1999. She worked in the Infants’ Home with young children in need of special development, and later as a group pedagogue as well. In 2001, alongside Dr Anna Tardos, she became the leader of the first Hungarian Pikler Parent-Child group, working with families and providing them with support. In the Day-Care Center she works as a pedagogue, and she also lecturers in Pikler Trainings.
György Péter (1903 - 1969)
Péter (originally György Pikler) was a pedagogue, mathematician, economist, statistician, university professor, doctor of economics and the husband of Emmi Pikler. It was while living in Vienna and teaching high school mathematics that he met Emmi. They married in 1930 and moved to Trieste in Italy in 1931, the year their first child was born.
In his pedagogy Péter emphasised that children should go at their own pace of development during their studies. Sharing an interest in child development with Emmi, the two decided to do everything they could to enable the healthy development of their first-born child. As parents, they decided not to force their daughter's development. Instead they allowed plenty of space and time for her physical development to unfold naturally through freedom of movement, independent play, and grounded in a secure, kind and respectful relationship.
In 1932 the family moved to Budapest. There Péter became a member of the Workers' Movement and in 1935 joined the Hungarian Party of Communists. The following year he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He served 9 years in prison, a sentence which ended when he and a friend escaped as prisoners being taken on foot to Germany. These two friends were the only ones in their group to keep their lives.
After the war Péter became the Deputy Mayor and City Councilor in Szeged (1945), then the General Director of the National Social Insurance Institute in Budapest and President of the Hungarian Statistical Office (1948-1968). In 1950, he was appointed Head of Department at the Marx Károly University of Economics in Budapest.
Péter is known for his work in the Hungarian Statistical Office: reorganising the statistical approach and practice, implementing the 1949 census, leading the preparation and implementation of the 1960 census, developing the statistical basis of the central planning management and planning command system… and much more.
Prof. Clemens von Pirquet (1874 – 1929)
Pirquet was a scientist and paediatrician. He trained at the University Children’s Clinic in Vienna under Theodor Escherich, the first physician of Paediatric Infectious Diseases. In 1909 Pirquet was elected the first Professor and Chair of Paediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, USA. In 1911 on the death of his mentor Escherich he was recalled to Vienna, to fill the position of Professor and Chair of Paediatrics at the University Children’s Clinic. Pirquet held this position until his death in 1929.
Pirquet became well known for his pioneering contributions to the fields of bacteriology and immunology, providing the foundations for modern "immunology". He invented and introduced the "tuberculin skin test" at a time when tuberculosis was prolific. He initiated a study of the social, nutritional, and public health aspects of paediatrics, introduced progressive reforms and nursing procedures into hospitals, required trainee doctors in his clinic to undergo a practical course in nursing, established an open-air ward for children suffering from tuberculosis on the roof.
As a paediatrician-scientist, Pirquet was able to translate his scientific discoveries directly into improved care of children.
As well as placing great emphasis on the practical training of his students at the University Children’s Clinic, Pirquet took a great interest in the children's everyday existence in the hospital. Great importance was placed on the child's health rather than the illness, children were to be outside in the fresh air and to play a lot. Nutrition was also covered, with specific instructions around meal preparation, and it was forbidden to make a child eat one single spoonful more than the child wanted.
In the 1920s in Vienna, Emmi Pikler went to medical school and received her medical training under Prof. Clemens von Pirquet at the University Hospital. Pirquet's emphasis on salutogenesis (the relationship between health, stress, and coping), strongly influenced Emmi Pikler's own professional approach. Dr. Pikler always referred to Prof. von Pirquet as one of her first teachers, one whose views came to greatly influence her later professional activity.
At age 54, Pirquet and his ill wife died in a double suicide.
Dr. Gabriella Püspöky - pediatrician
Gabriella Püspöky began work as a paediatrician at the Infants’ Home in 1966 as part of the professional team made up of pedagogues and psychologists. She attended to the regular medical check-ups of the children, and to the treatment of occasional diseases. She was also continuously observing and analyzing the children’s development, organizing their everyday life, and took part in taking the protocols of the observations of gross motor development. Püspöky is currently the pediatrician of the Lóczy Street Daycare Center, participates in the data processing of the Pikler archives, presents at the Piker trainings, and she has travelled to share the Approach, including in New Zealand.
R
Maria Reinitz, Head Nurse
Maria Reinitz (Márika) had completed her nursing training and was working as a kindergarten teacher when she first met Dr. Emmi Pikler in the 1930's. The two began a professional working partnership. Reinitz worked as a visitor-nurse alongside Dr. Pikler and the families served by Dr. Pikler’s paediatric practice, assisting Pikler in teaching the mothers to care for their babies. Their work together was interrupted by the outbreak of WW2 in Hungary.
In 1946 Dr. Emmi Pikler was asked by the local authority to set up a residential nursery in Budapest. Her condition for taking the role, was that Márika Reinitz joined her, helping Pikler to set up and run the project. As head nurse, Reinitz began with a team of qualified nurses. It became apparent that these medically trained nurses had been trained to 'do their job' differently from what Pikler and Reinitz believed was required for the healthy development of children in residential care. In the 3rd month after the opening of Lóczy Street Residential Nursery, Reinitz and Pikler dismissed the nursing staff and replaced them with young people who did not have a specialist professional education, but who did have a special interest in caring for children. Pikler and Reinitz then set up their own training regime and trained new staff in a new way.
Reinitz held the position of Head Nurse at Loczy right up to her death in 1963. Her death was an enormous loss for Dr Pikler, and for the whole Institute.
Marian Reismann - photographer (1911-1991)
Marian Reismann and her brother Janos were both photographers. Following in the steps of her brother, she enrolled in a Munich photo school in 1929. When she returned to Budapest in the 1930s she opened a shop called "Foto Marian." Through her business Reismann trained and influenced a handful of young women who went on to become photographic artists. It was in her shop that Reismann first met Dr Emmi Pikler. Pikler visited Reismann's shop seeking a photographer to take photos of her young patients whom she saw as a family paediatrician in Budapest. The two worked together. When Dr Pikler set up the residential nursery on Loczy street after WW2, she asked Reismann to take photos of the children of there. Over the decades they worked together and became close friends.
Reismann produced a lot of photographic work from the 1930s-1950s, she was recognised by exhibiting at the influential "International Photographic Exhibition, Budapest: Centenary of Daguerre, 1837-1937", is mentioned in the book by Kincses, Karoly, "Photographs Made in Hungary" and more recently was part of the 2001 exhibition at the National Museum in Washington (USA) "Picturing Progress: Hungarian Women Photographers 1900-1945".
Maria Reinitz (Márika) had completed her nursing training and was working as a kindergarten teacher when she first met Dr. Emmi Pikler in the 1930's. The two began a professional working partnership. Reinitz worked as a visitor-nurse alongside Dr. Pikler and the families served by Dr. Pikler’s paediatric practice, assisting Pikler in teaching the mothers to care for their babies. Their work together was interrupted by the outbreak of WW2 in Hungary.
In 1946 Dr. Emmi Pikler was asked by the local authority to set up a residential nursery in Budapest. Her condition for taking the role, was that Márika Reinitz joined her, helping Pikler to set up and run the project. As head nurse, Reinitz began with a team of qualified nurses. It became apparent that these medically trained nurses had been trained to 'do their job' differently from what Pikler and Reinitz believed was required for the healthy development of children in residential care. In the 3rd month after the opening of Lóczy Street Residential Nursery, Reinitz and Pikler dismissed the nursing staff and replaced them with young people who did not have a specialist professional education, but who did have a special interest in caring for children. Pikler and Reinitz then set up their own training regime and trained new staff in a new way.
Reinitz held the position of Head Nurse at Loczy right up to her death in 1963. Her death was an enormous loss for Dr Pikler, and for the whole Institute.
Marian Reismann - photographer (1911-1991)
Marian Reismann and her brother Janos were both photographers. Following in the steps of her brother, she enrolled in a Munich photo school in 1929. When she returned to Budapest in the 1930s she opened a shop called "Foto Marian." Through her business Reismann trained and influenced a handful of young women who went on to become photographic artists. It was in her shop that Reismann first met Dr Emmi Pikler. Pikler visited Reismann's shop seeking a photographer to take photos of her young patients whom she saw as a family paediatrician in Budapest. The two worked together. When Dr Pikler set up the residential nursery on Loczy street after WW2, she asked Reismann to take photos of the children of there. Over the decades they worked together and became close friends.
Reismann produced a lot of photographic work from the 1930s-1950s, she was recognised by exhibiting at the influential "International Photographic Exhibition, Budapest: Centenary of Daguerre, 1837-1937", is mentioned in the book by Kincses, Karoly, "Photographs Made in Hungary" and more recently was part of the 2001 exhibition at the National Museum in Washington (USA) "Picturing Progress: Hungarian Women Photographers 1900-1945".
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Prof. Hans Salzer
Professor Hans Salzer was the chief physician of the children's surgery at the Mautner Markhof's children's hospital in Vienna.
Professor Hans Salzer was known for his different approach when consulting, examining and treating children; his focus was on treating the child as a person, rather than on treating an illness. Salzer took the time to establish a relationship with the child, and spoke with the child for as long as was necessary for the child not to be afraid of the examination, nor of him investigating. Examinations and treatments were easier with a patient who was willing to cooperate, and the child became a willing partner in the interactions. With this approach, sick children could feel relaxed in tests and crying was avoided. Professor Salzer also emphasized the prevention of illness and the importance of healthy lifestyles.
In the 1920's Emmi Pikler studied under Professor Hans Salzer while carrying out her medical training in Vienna. Pikler learned from Salzer how very different a medical examination could be. Dr.Pikler always acknowledged Professor Hans Salzer as one of her first teachers, one whose views greatly influenced her own professional approach.
Charlotte Selver – founder of the Sensory Awareness Foundation (1901 - 2003)
Charlotte Selver followed the work of Pikler closely. Selver was a student of Elsa Gindler and Heinrich Jacoby who started the approach which Selver later named Sensory Awareness. Today Sensory Awareness is looked at in Pikler Training, so that each student can arrive at an understanding within his/her body. This personal experience aid in understanding one of the pillars of the Pikler approach, the freedom of movement.
We can read a little of what Selver says about Pikler in excerpts from a talk On Being in Touch with Oneself.
Click here to see an Interview with Selver at 101 years old.
Ute Strub - physiotherapist
Ute Strub was student of Elfriede Hengstenberg and a visiting colleague of Pikler's at Lóczy. Strub helped to translate Pikler's books from Hungarian into German, and currently works alongside Dr Anna Tardos with training and facilitating learning around unassisted motor development. Stub is a physiotherapist, founding member of the association Emmi Pikler Hauses e.V., co-initiator of the Pikler-Playroom movement in Austria, and she offers seminars in Berlin and internationally.
Agnes Szanto - psychologist
Agnes Szanto and Emmi Pikler met early on in Szanto's life, Dr Pikler was her family pediatrician when she was born. In 1956 Szanto moved to France where she received Masters Degree and Doctorate in Psychology in the research of the psychomotor development of young children. She began work as a Psychologist in a nursery and later as Professor of Early Childhood at Universities in France, Belgium, Italy, Argentina. She is a founding-member and Vice-President of the Pikler-Lóczy Association of France, of the International Pikler (Lóczy) Association and a member of the Pikler/Lóczy Fund USA . She has authored several books, and worked with Dr Anna Tardos on the film 'Freedom to Move On One's Own' which is available in English.
Andrea Szőke - day-care manager at Lóczy
Andrea Szőke began working at Lóczy in 1985, first as a caregiver taking care of older children. While working as a group-leader caregiver, she had the opportunity to start a newborn group.
During maternity leave she continued her studies and completed a degree in social pedagogy. She returned to Lóczy to assist the caregivers’ in the Infants’ Home as a pedagogue, taking children on their all-important outside-walks, and for a short period she held the role of head nurse. She joined the Parent-Child groups right at the start, and continues to work with them today. Szőke worked on the Pikler Day-Care Center right from the beginning in 2006, initially as a pedagogue, and now as the manager.
Mária Szűcs - group leader caregiver at Lóczy
Mária Szűcs began work at the Pikler Institute in 1976. As a young girl she trained to be a caregiver, later to became a group leader caregiver, head nurse, pedagogue, and has trained many young caregivers. She continues to work in the Pikler Daycare Center, features in many of the Pikler Training videos as a model of practice, and she also participates in Pikler Trainings both in Hungary and abroad.
Professor Hans Salzer was the chief physician of the children's surgery at the Mautner Markhof's children's hospital in Vienna.
Professor Hans Salzer was known for his different approach when consulting, examining and treating children; his focus was on treating the child as a person, rather than on treating an illness. Salzer took the time to establish a relationship with the child, and spoke with the child for as long as was necessary for the child not to be afraid of the examination, nor of him investigating. Examinations and treatments were easier with a patient who was willing to cooperate, and the child became a willing partner in the interactions. With this approach, sick children could feel relaxed in tests and crying was avoided. Professor Salzer also emphasized the prevention of illness and the importance of healthy lifestyles.
In the 1920's Emmi Pikler studied under Professor Hans Salzer while carrying out her medical training in Vienna. Pikler learned from Salzer how very different a medical examination could be. Dr.Pikler always acknowledged Professor Hans Salzer as one of her first teachers, one whose views greatly influenced her own professional approach.
Charlotte Selver – founder of the Sensory Awareness Foundation (1901 - 2003)
Charlotte Selver followed the work of Pikler closely. Selver was a student of Elsa Gindler and Heinrich Jacoby who started the approach which Selver later named Sensory Awareness. Today Sensory Awareness is looked at in Pikler Training, so that each student can arrive at an understanding within his/her body. This personal experience aid in understanding one of the pillars of the Pikler approach, the freedom of movement.
We can read a little of what Selver says about Pikler in excerpts from a talk On Being in Touch with Oneself.
Click here to see an Interview with Selver at 101 years old.
Ute Strub - physiotherapist
Ute Strub was student of Elfriede Hengstenberg and a visiting colleague of Pikler's at Lóczy. Strub helped to translate Pikler's books from Hungarian into German, and currently works alongside Dr Anna Tardos with training and facilitating learning around unassisted motor development. Stub is a physiotherapist, founding member of the association Emmi Pikler Hauses e.V., co-initiator of the Pikler-Playroom movement in Austria, and she offers seminars in Berlin and internationally.
Agnes Szanto - psychologist
Agnes Szanto and Emmi Pikler met early on in Szanto's life, Dr Pikler was her family pediatrician when she was born. In 1956 Szanto moved to France where she received Masters Degree and Doctorate in Psychology in the research of the psychomotor development of young children. She began work as a Psychologist in a nursery and later as Professor of Early Childhood at Universities in France, Belgium, Italy, Argentina. She is a founding-member and Vice-President of the Pikler-Lóczy Association of France, of the International Pikler (Lóczy) Association and a member of the Pikler/Lóczy Fund USA . She has authored several books, and worked with Dr Anna Tardos on the film 'Freedom to Move On One's Own' which is available in English.
Andrea Szőke - day-care manager at Lóczy
Andrea Szőke began working at Lóczy in 1985, first as a caregiver taking care of older children. While working as a group-leader caregiver, she had the opportunity to start a newborn group.
During maternity leave she continued her studies and completed a degree in social pedagogy. She returned to Lóczy to assist the caregivers’ in the Infants’ Home as a pedagogue, taking children on their all-important outside-walks, and for a short period she held the role of head nurse. She joined the Parent-Child groups right at the start, and continues to work with them today. Szőke worked on the Pikler Day-Care Center right from the beginning in 2006, initially as a pedagogue, and now as the manager.
Mária Szűcs - group leader caregiver at Lóczy
Mária Szűcs began work at the Pikler Institute in 1976. As a young girl she trained to be a caregiver, later to became a group leader caregiver, head nurse, pedagogue, and has trained many young caregivers. She continues to work in the Pikler Daycare Center, features in many of the Pikler Training videos as a model of practice, and she also participates in Pikler Trainings both in Hungary and abroad.
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Anna Tardos - child psychologist
Anna Tardos is a child psychologist by education, but she also used to work as an assistant teacher in a university, and as a high-school teacher after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. It was during this time she started to carry out studies based on regular observations at the Lóczy Infants’ Home. After the birth of her third child she stopped teaching, and in 1961 worked exclusively at Lóczy with Dr Emmi Pikler. Besides her work at the Institute, which included research, pedagogical work, and management, she regularly held lectures and seminars, about the development, care and education of infants and young children not only in Budapest, but also in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Northern Ireland, USA and Switzerland.
In 1998, following on from Dr Emmi Pikler, Dr Judit Falk and Dr Gabriella Püspöki, she became the director of the Institute (that was allied with the Infants’ Home) for the ten years before the government closed the Infants’ Home and dissolved the Institute in 2011. Tardos has carried on the work of her mother Emmi Pikler and has contributed greatly to the English speaking world with the knowledge of Pikler and the Pikler Approach by setting up the English language Pikler trainings, English language talks and articles. She has published over 60 articles in five languages. Tardos is also author, co-author or editor of many hand-books and curricula. She is an honorary member of the French division of the international professional organization, World Association for Infant Mental Health and of the University of Liege.
Angyal Till
Angyal Till finishing high school and began working at Loczy in 1978, where she worked until 1982. Angyal continues to use Pikler pedagogue in her teaching, internationally and in many languages.
Anna Tardos is a child psychologist by education, but she also used to work as an assistant teacher in a university, and as a high-school teacher after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. It was during this time she started to carry out studies based on regular observations at the Lóczy Infants’ Home. After the birth of her third child she stopped teaching, and in 1961 worked exclusively at Lóczy with Dr Emmi Pikler. Besides her work at the Institute, which included research, pedagogical work, and management, she regularly held lectures and seminars, about the development, care and education of infants and young children not only in Budapest, but also in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Northern Ireland, USA and Switzerland.
In 1998, following on from Dr Emmi Pikler, Dr Judit Falk and Dr Gabriella Püspöki, she became the director of the Institute (that was allied with the Infants’ Home) for the ten years before the government closed the Infants’ Home and dissolved the Institute in 2011. Tardos has carried on the work of her mother Emmi Pikler and has contributed greatly to the English speaking world with the knowledge of Pikler and the Pikler Approach by setting up the English language Pikler trainings, English language talks and articles. She has published over 60 articles in five languages. Tardos is also author, co-author or editor of many hand-books and curricula. She is an honorary member of the French division of the international professional organization, World Association for Infant Mental Health and of the University of Liege.
Angyal Till
Angyal Till finishing high school and began working at Loczy in 1978, where she worked until 1982. Angyal continues to use Pikler pedagogue in her teaching, internationally and in many languages.
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Maria Vincze - pediatrician (1925 - 2009)
Maria Vincze joined the team at the Pikler Institute in 1962, first as a pediatrician and later with the role of Assistant Director. During her time there (nearly 30 years) she worked on daily life, the family connections of the children living at Lóczy, and research work. Vincze wrote several texts on the Pikler approach and worked with Genevieve Appell and Judit Falk on the film 'Babies and Children with Each Other'.
Maria Vincze joined the team at the Pikler Institute in 1962, first as a pediatrician and later with the role of Assistant Director. During her time there (nearly 30 years) she worked on daily life, the family connections of the children living at Lóczy, and research work. Vincze wrote several texts on the Pikler approach and worked with Genevieve Appell and Judit Falk on the film 'Babies and Children with Each Other'.
Image - care of the German website Wege der Entfaltung.