About PEKiP

JUNE 2008

Thank you so much for teaching your wonderful class! I've learned so much about Max and his wonderful personality from your creative exercises and baby massage time. Your classes have been one of the main reasons why I'm glad we moved to Hong Kong! Max, Tod and I will miss you and look forward to do PEKIP again with our next baby!

Sandra, Tod and Max

PEKiP (Prague Eltern Kind Program or the Prague Parent-Infant Program) is a highly effective child development course run by Anne Knetch-Boyer for babies from 6-8 weeks to a year old, including those with special needs.

Under guidance from our caring instructors, a group of mums and caregivers meet regularly with their babies for interaction, support and fun. Limited to 8 babies and 8 mothers, a PEKiP program consists of 8 to 12 sessions, each lasting 75 minutes, throughout the year from September to August (See our schedules).

Classes are based on baby age groups:

- 6 weeks to 3 months
- 4 to 6 months

- 7 to12 months

PEKiP : History & Concept

Developed in Prague a few decades ago, PEKiP is a child development program aimed at facilitating the development of babies in the first year, through play and movement. It is based on Czech psychologist Jaroslav Koch’s observation that children in modern societies are too restricted in their prams, cribs and clothes. His research showed that children from primitive civilizations had more freedom to develop naturally, slept better, got sick less and were more pleasant to be around with.

As a follow-up to Koch`s findings and on the basis of the idea of preventive and pedagogical work with parents and their children, Professors Christa and Hans Ruppelt created in cooperation with a child nurse, social workers and psychologists a program of group work with babies and their children in 1972. In 1979, the program was officially named PEKiP (Prague Eltern Kind Program or the Prague Program for Parents and Children). Since then, the PEKiP programme has been widely embraced and practiced by parents throughout Germany and gradually, in other European countries.

The group work with parents begins in the sixth week after the child’s birth. Then it continues without interruption to the end of the child’s first year, when he or she learns to walk.

Part of the PEKiP program is made up of plays, exercises and massages for the babies to stimulate the development of their psychomotor skills, but involving their parents in order to establish a healthy and intimate parent- child bond. At the PEKiP centre in Hong Kong, there are over 100 of such fun-filled activities to be carried out under the professional guidance of Anne Knecht-Boyer.

Why A PEKiP Class is Best For Your Baby

Research shows that your baby’s first year is really important for brain development and future health and well being. For optimum development, a baby needs a stimulating environment to play and learn.

In our PEKiP classes, parents can learn how to stimulate and speed up the development of their children’s psychomotor skills, through play and other activities. This can help prevent the learning difficulties experienced by some older children in school.

Here, your child will interact with other babies in a fun and relaxed environment, enabling them to pick up social and personal skills and gain self-confidence.

Our groups also aim to promote parent-infant intimacy with massages and interactive games. At PEKiP, parent and baby are led through a variety of games and activities, specially designed for every stage of child development.

To join a PEKIP class, call Anne at (852) 2573-6623 or