SnailHaus Groups
A place for caregivers and children to grow together
In this unique playgroup, no two sessions are ever the same. Together we observe, discover, move, attune and discuss.
Based on the teachings of Dr. Suzi Tortora, Magda Gerber and Dr. Emmi Pikler, families come away from group sessions feeling a greater sense of calm and connection, and are able to see their children (and themselves) with renewed grace, awareness and confidence.
photo by Nick Kane, 2017
I welcome you into my home studio in Stoke Newington.
Together, we co-create an environment where we can trust and attune to our babies, fostering a sense of community, authenticity and ease.
The space contains gross motor equipment and simple, open-ended play objects that support creativity, movement and intrinsic motivation, inspiring deeply engaged play and deeply connected relationships. You can ask questions, share concerns and enjoy discussion with other families in our community.
Who can join? Parents, co-parents, grandparents, nannies, superstar aunties, LGBTQ+ families, adoptive families and chosen families are all welcome. I also offer several sliding scale scholarship places. Please contact me for details.
The structure of the class is simple. Its effects are profound.
After a brief check-in (which you’re always welcome to skip) adults quietly observe as babies explore. We practice minimal intervention unless we are needed for safety or support (we always attune and respond to our child’s cues around hunger, sleepiness, nappy changes, or emotional refueling). We then discuss what comes up for us. Expect to see your child “with new eyes,” as Magda Gerber, Founding Director of RIE®, once prompted.
In any given class, we’ll explore
• Finding joy and meaning as a caregiver
• The role of touch, tenderness and attention in daily caregiving routines such as feeding, diapering and bathing
• Spending meaningful time together, and meaningful time apart
• Gaining insight through observation
• Creating a safe and nurturing environment that makes life more pleasurable for you and your child
• Why its important to empower babies to move freely, unconstrained, and how to support them as they develop at their own unique pace
• The role of uninterrupted playtime: what it means to the life of the child and how it benefits the adult
• Rhythms of the day and how we can use them to make our lives easier and more peaceful
• The importance of rupture and repair as you and your child grow together
• Healthy, peaceful and connected relationships
Young Infants and their Caregivers
Older Infants and their Caregivers
Crawlers + Young Toddlers and their Caregivers
Older Toddlers and their Caregivers
Caregivers Talking:
A Wednesday Night Zoom Group
Every other Wednesday evening 8:00pm (BST/GMT) to 9:15pm via Zoom.
Join virtually to discuss the highs, lows, and particularities of being a parent or caregiver. This is a facilitated and ongoing opportunity connect with others who look after children ages 0-5.
We will open each week with a short meditation to help us find a grounded and reflective space. We will then shift into a time of reflection, and each participant will have the opportunity to share their wins or challenges, what they’re wondering about, or even their half-formed thoughts. Each session will end with a brief time for intention-setting and a poem.
With focus on healthy familial relationships, attuned and respectful caregiving, and connection to one’s self, we’ll tap into the wisdom of the group, and give voice to what you’re experiencing.
I’m Amber, your facilitator
I attended Pikler and RIE groups with each of my babies, as well as Dr. Tortora’s Dancing Dialogue groups. Because I found these groups so moving and transformational, I decided to train to be able to facilitate relationship-and observation-based groups myself.
I am co-author of Designing Motherhood (MIT Press, 2021) and completed a 2022 Fulbright in Hungary where I researched Emmi Pikler’s life and work. I am mentored by the brilliant dance movement psychotherapist Dr. Suzi Tortora, and am a graduate of her 2025 Ways of Seeing training. I am also pursuing candidacy as a RIE Associate (currently on the Internship phase).
Each of these experiences has deepened my belief in the simple powers of observation, environment, movement and connection.
I wholeheartedly believe by starting with our most fundamental relationships, the care we give can radiate outwards. Together, we can create more conscious and connected families, homes and communities. I’m so excited to share this work with you.
