Authentic Hearts

07/08/2025

Let me introduce myself 💕
I'm Jacqui O'Connor the face behind Authentic Hearts.

I'm passionate about all things to do with Health and Wellbeing.
✨️Parent Education Classes
✨️EFT Practitioner & Holistic Counselling
✨️Health Coach

Please feel free to check out my website.

https://www.authentichearts.co.nz/

19/07/2024

10 Week Parent Infant Classes, Invercargill.
Helping the first relationship, get off to a great start.

06/07/2024

Upcoming classes 💕

Tuesday 16th July 10.30 - 12pm (1 spot left)
Or
Monday 2nd September 10.30 - 12pm. (3 spots left)

14/05/2024

Great post regarding 'entertainment'
This is aimed at Early childhood centers but some good take aways for us all on those
"I don't know what else to do days" at home.

It's super easy to go for stuff rather than connection. I'm not talking just with our children, but also with ourselves.

For me it comes back to the quote from Infant Classes
✨️"Only an emotionally satisfied child can be absorbed in play"✨️

Whether it be their emotional state or yours. It's the SAME to them. As Pennie said "Children feel know the world." - they pick it ALL up.

Often we want/need a deserving time for 'us' and it's incredibly frustrating when our children want/need something from us in that moment too.

The clingyness, just when our tank is nearing empty. I remember the days well. 🙄

When our kids are unsettled we often turn straight to what's going on for them.
And if it's obvious then do it. (Nappy, food, an ouch etc)
But sometimes it's not so obvious and that's when we can turn the question towards ourselves.

"I wonder what's going on for me?"

💞Who/what tops up my tank?
A step outside? - physical movement? Dance?
A connection with a friend or family member?
A breath? Or TEN.
A laugh?
Looking at something beautiful?

You never know once you're RESET - a clear pathway might just emerge??

Give it a go.

‘ Hot House Tomatoes NOT Infants’

Love and Care IS the curriculum for infants and toddlers. The concept of setting up ‘ activities’ all day for infants is beyond my comprehension. There would be no parent at home that would be ‘setting ‘ up a day of activities for infants ... a baby ...is a baby... is a baby ...under the roof of their home and under the roof of a child care centre. It amazes me that there is an expectation to provide more ...’artificial activities ‘ rather than reflecting the biology of the infant and providing for their innate needs. ...infants need LOVE through the choreography of care ... infants need to be able to move freely so they can discover their body and learn through their movement ... a natural slow and calm approach is critical so the children can feel their way through the day ...
Love ... care... safety ... nurture... free movement... and having a primary person who is connected to them and fully in tune with the child’s needs IS where our focus should be placed.
The children will initiate their own ‘ activity ‘ when they are emotionally satisfied and feeling comfortable in their known. A few carefully chosen items and objects for infants to explore.. or collect at their impulse is important.
But ‘ extra teacher led activities ‘ are unnecessary. A home with a lounge ... a garden... a bedroom and a predictable rhythm enabling the child to feel safe IS essential. It saddens me that we have become so disconnected to the real biological needs of an infant. A ‘ great ‘ teacher takes their signals from the child not a book.( Joseph Chilton Pearce)
The concept of infants having mat times ... shaving foam... goop /slime or any other ‘ contrived’ activity is an absolute mismatch to their innate wiring. To think there is an expectation of such things is for me as outrageous as rabbits having gym circuit training.
Where has our training led trained teachers to believe infants need such ‘ entertainment and activities ‘???
If we had our infant at home we would be following their cues and rhythms... providing a safe space for them to move and explore ...
Love and Care IS the life for a child... it IS their curriculum ...our whole focus should be around how we can be more in tune with their needs and have as natural environment and unfolding as possible. ....cared by sensitive people who are in tune and aware of the critical role of ‘ the relationship ‘
To think infants and toddlers are literally being raised in childcare’s where love is not the focus and where activities are where the energy is placed ...to me this is just like chickens raised in battery farms. This is not the fault of teachers I believe it reflects an enormous GAP in some training establishments.
Brain Research clearly states what is essential and if each of us listened to our heart and common sense ...LOVE and nurture would be our foundation.

If you have infants and toddlers and you have pressure by ‘ the powers that be’ to create a mini watered down classroom for your children I suggest you have some open and clear discussion around understanding the biological needs of the child and what is appropriate to support their natural unfolding.
The pressure teachers are having to ‘ fill the space’ provide ‘ artificial/table top activities ‘ so it looks educational and professional is not helping anyone and it is going against all the signals from the child.

29/04/2024

Two upcoming classes 💕
Wednesday 22nd May
& Tuesday 18th June
10.30 - 12.00.

03/03/2024

I'm looking forward to the completion of my permanent space for classes, 1:1 sessions and workshops.
So appreciative of all those who are helping to bring my dream alive.

18/02/2024

Great wee article attached, that talks about the adult role in self-directed play.
It's our default to direct, teach etc & there's a time and a place for that great stuff too.

Play grows autonomy

The thing about supporting play and providing the space for their gradual growth in autonomy through play, is that there is no room for the role of the 'teacher'. The Teacher role, where adults direct children and others, has expectations on how the play will go, is looking for 'teaching moments', sets play invitations (or activities) up and will offer helping hands and advice.

Supporting play requires a different adult role, that of the play-ally or the Facilitator.

Check out the Nature Play article on becoming a Play-ally
www.nature-play.co.uk/blog/the-adult-role-in-child-led-play-how-to-become-a-learning-ally

14/02/2024

Looking forward to soaking up the knowledge at this conference in May '24.
Thank you to the Pennie Brownlee Foundation for continuing Penn's fantastic mahi.

31/01/2024

2024 classes begin on the 13th of February 💕.
So excited, and more so after receiving this lovely feedback.
If you or a friend are pregnant or have a bubby under 6mths. I'd love you to come along.

Registrations are open for my waiting list.