Your Journey

This course is the course that I NEEDED as a new mum.

  • This initial journey is 5 one and a half hour sessions. Saturday mornings 9.30-11am starting Minimum numbers required to start class on this date.

  • Each session is tailored to create safety and security as you learn about how your babies unfold with you as their senior dance partners

  • Your child is always at the heart of the matter. As I gently guide you through some powerful topics of movement, play, attachment theory and the development of the nervous system

  • This is an intimate course so VERY limited places. I wanted to create a therapeutic space where parents could talk about real life parenting issues and be held safely and securely

  • This is a unique space for you and your baby to learn together. There isn't a parenting space quite like this

  • Address: 17 Catherine McLean Road Pukekohe 2120

The course

This is a sanctuary space and a time to rest and rejuvenate as you get to learn as your baby becomes your guide. Many a time I have just made a point and one of my little co-hosts shows exactly what I was talking about in real time. Over the 5 weeks you get to understand how important you and your relationship are to your baby's brain, attachment and nervous system development. This course is unique and packed with what baby's really would like you to know.

  • We start with relationships and how although this seems simple, this is the building block to your child's life. Read to the bottom for a full history of my journey to date

  • We move on to connection time. Different ways that this could look and why so important to a secure attachment

  • I show you the amazing journey your baby will take to walking, how you can support them and what to look out for.

  • I let you in to a secret about how your baby with give you more time for you to BE as we discover together the JOY of Play. And helpful hints on what your baby needs

  • We bring it all together as I support you with your own Self-Reg journey. Learning the art of GOOD ENOUGH and working with your own nervous system, to lead the way for your child's healthy development/

Hear what other mums say

Sometimes you need to hear the journey of another.

“Thank you so so much Donna  I feel so blessed to have found your care & support. I wanted to share how much Donna and her Peaceful Beginnings course has helped me. These courses have been the most incredible work I’ve ever done with my baby, but also for myself & healing to my soul. They’ve given me the confidence in myself to be the best mother & woman I can be & inspire my 2 daughters.       I’ve found so much peace, acceptance & ultimately grow in confidence in my parenting & being more in tune with my baby & older child. I wish I’d had Donna walk alongside me when I first became a mother 5 years ago and know my journey with my eldest & myself would have been different.Through my journey of motherhood and my struggles, I’d been searching for something to help my inner self be a more grounded & connected parent.  From the moment I met Donna I felt truly safe, secure and in caring hands to open up with my mum guilt & fears. She weaves so wonderfully the development of our babies & how to support and care for their needs & our own too. But more importantly she comes alongside us mums & helps build our inner confidence, allow us to open up & truly be vulnerable with our fears & anxieties and with the grace & gentleness help us see through it with no shame or judgement at all.Her knowledge is immense coming from an ECE background & her extra studies in Pikler, self reg & circle of security. I’m now doing the circle of security course over zoom, which has been a game changer in how I parent & connect with my children at a deeper level & understanding of their needs & my own. The best investment in myself & my family I’ve ever done.  Having a safe setting has also been special and so important for our group. I wanted to share my gratitude & thanks to The Sharda Centre for opening their very special place for us mothers & babies to come & be held in such a beautiful environment to learn, share & flourish under Donna’s care & guidance. Coming from a place of the well-being of mother & baby I truly believe the amazing work that Donna does to create a safe place to grow as a person & mother, having the child at the heart of it is a beautiful way to come together for the benefit of so many mothers & their children.  What Donna provides is so special for mums and is the start of an impactful & important path to change for the better of mothers & children for generations to come. The ripple effect would be incredible  Thank you again for the incredible work you are doing for us, I’m a better person for because of finding Donna and Peaceful Beginnings ”

Mum of a gorgeous girl

Teressa

“I can't express enough how transformative Peaceful Beginnings at the Sharda Centre has been for me. As a parent to a baby girl, this course has provided me with a fresh and beautiful perspective on parenting that I hadn't encountered before. The safe and nurturing environment created here has been instrumental in helping me explore diverse opportunities for my daughter's development.  Donna, the course leader, embodies an exceptional approach to guiding and supporting us mothers on this enlightening journey. Her profound dedication and availability make her a pillar of strength and wisdom. Her insights, deeply rooted in research, have been invaluable, offering a wealth of ideas, love, and support that resonate with every parent attending the course.  What sets Donna apart is her genuine passion for what she does. It's palpable in every interaction, infectious in its sincerity. Her love for her work not only motivates but also inspires us to embrace the journey of parenthood with a newfound sense of confidence and understanding.   The Sharda Centre itself is more than just a venue; it's a warm, welcoming space that feels like home. Its tranquil atmosphere contributes significantly to the course's effectiveness, ensuring that both the babies and parents feel secure and comfortable throughout the sessions.   In summary, the peaceful beginnings has been an eye-opening experience. It's a testament to the exceptional leadership of Donna and the nurturing environment provided by Sharda that has truly enriched my perspective on parenting.   Regardless of whether you're a first-time mum, on your second journey, or beyond, I highly recommend this course to any parent seeking a deeper understanding of their child's growth and development. This course is not just a collection of sessions; it's an invitation to embrace a newfound sense of calmness and understanding in supporting your baby throughout their lifelong journey. Imagine the peace of mind that comes with gaining fresh perspectives on your child's development and learning how to provide the best possible support.   For first-time mums, this course will serve as a guiding light, offering invaluable insights into the complexities of your baby's growth. It's an opportunity to start this beautiful journey on solid ground, armed with knowledge and a sense of confidence that can truly make a difference.   If you're on your second journey like I am or beyond, you already know the joys and challenges of parenting. However, this course isn't just a repetition of what you've learned before; it's a chance to enhance your existing knowledge and have a refreshing and beautiful other perspective and understanding that you may have not already known or thought about.  Finally, I would like to say a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to Donna and the Sharda Centre for this wonderful opportunity and time.”

Mum of a beautiful peaceful girl

Mum S

“I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to attend a number of Donna's courses, including parent-infant, Circle of Security, and Playspace; journeying with Donna since my first child was 6 months old.   Donna's courses are invaluable not just for parents, teachers, and families, but for the wellbeing of babies, children, and our communities. I would love to see these courses more accessible to others, as many parents simply are not aware of the unique teachings and way of being that Donna promotes, and for others there is a financial barrier to attendance. These courses have hugely impacted my parenting journey and enhanced my relationships with my children and beyond, and I wish this for others. Donna teaches the simplicity of what babies truely need, despite the overwhelming messages we constantly receive. She fosters connection and reminds parents that all our children need is a good enough parent - which in turn creates a more confident parent.  The courses encourage slowing down, listening to our children, and appreciating the unique beauty of our child, free from comparison or shame. The classes emphasize the simplicity of play resources our children actually need, promote free movement, and allow children to unfold at their own pace. We learn as we observe. We create connections with other like minded parents and gain knowledge of our own triggers and needs, developing compassion for ourselves and others.   Donna, with her peaceful beauty and supportiveness, has a magical way of walking alongside parents. Her unique blend of knowledge has created something truly special and I hope you will be able to support her to continue to touch lives and promote the wellbeing of children and families. ”

mum of 3

Angela

I'm Donna founder of Peaceful Beginnings

Peaceful Beginnings is my baby created with love

I'll be honest: When I became a parent, I felt lost. There was so much information everywhere, and I didn't know where to turn. I started this journey supporting parents about 8 years ago (read more on my website) because I wanted to create the classes that I needed. This is me from 3 years ago when I managed an early childhood centre in Pukekohe. I had a studio there where I used to support our parents. It was the favourite part of my role.
I still remember this day with this gorgeous boy

I'm a little bit older and greyer BUT still just as passionate about supporting parents

My courses are unique because of my unique education background

Before my own children, I was an intellectual disabilities nurse from the UK. I specialised in working with the most severe challenges working out what people needed in their lives. With the birth of my own children, I became hugely interested in child development. I never thought this would be where my new career would develop as an ECE teacher and then a parent educator. But my thirst for knowledge and supporting people has only grown. I'm at the stage where I'm looking at how I can make Peaceful Beginnings a not-for-profit organisation, as I believe money shouldn't stop people from accessing my classes.

I could not have done everything I have achieved without this man's unconditional support

Sam, my husband, knows how important this work is to me. He supported me in giving up my manager's role last year to follow my passion and was often seen on an early Tuesday morning helping me carry in all my equipment and helping me set up. There is no way I could be here with these courses without him. My rock, my anchor and the most amazing dad to our teenage children. We have been together 22 years and our parenting route has had its HIGHS and its LOW LOWS....... I have walked the journey that I will be accompanying you on.

So what makes me unique?

As I meet each new parent I listen to their needs. Over the last 8 years I have developed my theories through my observations of parents. You just have to read my feed back to know that I've been able to capture something unique that parents are searching for. I'll try and show you my journey to where I am now.

  • I'm going to be very vulnerable here. 8 years ago, my nervous system was a wreck. I was constantly in my sympathetic nervous system and I didn't like how I felt or acted. I remember crying out on my front steps to the universe "PLEASE !!! PLEASE help me with my anger. (what I didn't realise was i was asking the wrong question; my anger was gifting me a message of unmet needs that I needed to listen too.)About 2 weeks later I was introduced to Kimberley Crisp and shortly after I was on Pennie Brownlee's Dance with me in the Heart. And my life began to change. I will be forever grateful for those two ladies

  • I lapped up everything that Pennie and Kimberley were teaching from their love of the Pikler approach. I became one of Pennie's Parent/infant and Parent/Toddler facilitators.

  • When I had lapped up everything I could from these amazing ladies I started my Pikler journey. In one year I travelled to Sydney, LA in USA and Budapest. I had never heard such a respectful way of BEing with children. Completing their week long basic courses: Respectful Care, Freedom of movement and freedom to play. Each time I came back from a course I felt a layer of skin had been taking off my eyes that had previously clouded my vision. The children and parents that I was supporting were still the same but what I saw had far more depth. These courses were mindblowing for what I was learning and how I could support my parents.

  • Then COVID hit and the world changed and I took my classes with the Pikler Institute online. (and if I'm honest its probably how I am still able to do them because this time saved me so much money). In these years I learnt Observation, Peace within me (The Pikler Institutes social competence course) and Dialogue with the Infant and toddler, where I found out what you do in the first year of life the child brings into the social and play environments when they are older.

  • It was during these early years of facilitating parent/ toddler classes that I started to see something change in my Play Room that I couldn't place my finger on. I could see that the toddler years was having an impact on my parents that I was accompanying. Parents that had been confident in conscious parenting were now looking for more authoritarian techniques rather than the partnership relationship I was teaching. I could feel there was something that I was missing and so I went in search of something that would support parents to still be in relationship with their child. And I found CIRCLE OF SECURITY and it has been a game changer for me and something that I would guide all parents and teachers to complete.

  • The world opened up and back I went to Budpest and realised how much I had missed being in this environment with many other highly researched based practitioners from around the world. This was my final elective course about supporting caregivers and the first time I could observe the techniques I had spent years learning about.

  • 2023 back home to New Zealand and once again I could see that my studies weren't quite reaching the needs of some parents. I was back working as a manager in ECE. I could feel there was something that wasn't quite working for some parents with CIRCLE OF SECURITY. And that's when I starting to see the links with the nervous system and Self-Reg. I created my own unique courses and started to see huge changes for parents that had struggled before.

  • Still in 2023 I was contacted by a parent I had worked with. She wanted me to look into InterPlay by Donna Berry as she thought it would be a missing puzzle piece of what I was doing. And she was right. I am currently still studying to become a Senior InterPlay facilitator but want to create a space for supporting trauma through play.

  • Gosh 2023 was a busy year. With now relationship knowledge, brain development knowledge, attachment theory and nervous system and Self-Reg knowledge. I wrote my first parent infant programme (the one you are looking at now) I made it 5 weeks to give parents a taster of what I do. I know if they don't come back I have given the very best start that I can.

My learning still continues

  • 2023 I change my parent/toddler classes to The PlaySpace, a child space where the adults learn though experience how to hold a safe/secure space for children to grow. I show the subtles that it is NOT JUST PLAY, so so much more for life long learning.

  • 2024 took my case study of my programme that I had developed back to the Pikler Institute and time to observe their Parent child classes and their ECE centre.

  • Home June 2024 with a new understanding on how this all weaves together. The importance of attachment styles, working system of individuals nervous systems, brain development all weaved together in the beauty of the parent child relationship.

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