Radiant Babies in Motion

Created by a movement educator with 40 years of experience working with children and families worldwide.

See Bio Below

Many parents are told to “stimulate” their baby—but very few are shown how to support development without overwhelming the nervous system.  True Authentic Development is the what will make a long term positive difference.

Rushed development = unstable development

You may find yourself wondering:

• Am I doing enough tummy time?
• Is my baby developing “on track”?
• Why does my baby seem uncomfortable or overstimulated so easily?
• What actually supports healthy movement development?

Radiant Babies in Motion offers a different lens:
Not more stimulation—but smarter environments, better observation, and respectful developmental support.

Radiant Babies in Motion is a 2-part experiential workshop series that helps parents understand:

• How babies naturally develop movement patterns
• How primitive reflexes shape early development
• How the nervous system is regulated through sensory input
• How environment, rhythm, and parental interaction shape growth

Most importantly:
You will not just learn this—you will experience it in your own body.

The Core Philosophy of Radiant Babies in Motion

Babies do not need to be rushed.

They need:

• Time
• Safety
• Movement variety
• A regulated environment
• And parents who understand what they are seeing

Development is not something to accelerate—it is something to support unfolding correctly.

When we respect developmental timing, we support:

• Stronger motor skills later in life
• Better emotional regulation
• Healthier attention and learning capacity
• Reduced compensatory movement patterns

 ** Most interference from parents/care givers is simply due to lack of knowledge and an abundance of love

The environment of today is not what it used to be.  Parents of today need to understand development in order to be sure to not into the common traps of interference that society of today promotes

What We Explore

🧠 Developmental Foundations

• Reflex development (including Moro + FPR)
• Developmental movement patterns
• Eye movement and early visual development
• Hand dominance (and why NOT to interfere early)

🌿 Nervous System Regulation

Understanding how a baby’s system is shaped by:

• Light exposure
• Sound and rhythm
• Temperature and comfort
• Overstimulation vs under-stimulation

🌀 Movement Environment Design (Laban-inspired spatial awareness)

• Encouraging movement into all spatial directions
• Creating environments that invite exploration
• Toy placement as a movement invitation system

👩‍👶 Parental Modelling (This is a major pillar)

Parents will explore how babies learn through observation:

• Voice variation (soft/loud, fast/slow)
• Movement quality (quick vs slow, tense vs fluid)
• Emotional neutrality vs emotional projection
• Why variety matters more than “perfect parenting”

🧦 Physical Environment & Daily Life Factors

• Clothing choices (freedom in global joints)
• Bare feet, grounding, and sensory feedback
• Baby seats and containment devices (“bucket culture”)
• Jolly jumpers and movement restriction awareness
• Toy gifting and reducing passive over-stimulation

🎵 Rhythm, Music & Sensory Input

• Music as a developmental tool (not background noise)
• Rhythm exposure through body-based interaction (tap/drum, movement)
• Frequency awareness in environment

🛏️ Early Support Considerations

• Tummy time (quality over quantity)
• Gaseous discomfort and body tension patterns
• Gentle structural support (e.g., chiropractic awareness)
• Birth-related tension patterns and early integration awareness

The 2-Part Structure 

Part 1: Understanding & Experiencing

You will:

• Learn key developmental principles
• Observe babies through a new lens
• Experience movement patterns in your own body
• Understand what regulation feels like (not just what it looks like)

Part 2: Application in Real Life

You will:

• Learn how to design your home environment for development
• Adjust daily routines with ease (not overwhelm)
• Understand what to stop doing (just as important as what to do)
• Build confidence in reading your baby’s cues
• Create a sustainable developmental support rhythm at home

Meet Mariah-Jane Thies

For nearly 40 years, I have worked with children as a dance and movement educator, helping young people build confidence, coordination, creativity, and a positive relationship with their bodies.

My journey into developmental movement began more than 27 years ago when I discovered how profoundly early movement patterns influence learning, coordination, balance, emotional regulation, and physical skills later in life. Since then, I have dedicated thousands of hours to studying developmental movement, primitive reflexes, and the foundations of healthy motor development.

I hold certifications in reflex development and integration and have spent decades integrating this knowledge into my work with children, dancers, teachers, and families. My approach combines evidence-informed developmental movement principles with playful, joyful experiences that support the whole child.

As an internationally recognized dance educator, I have travelled and taught dance teachers around the world about the importance of mastering developmental movement patterns as the foundation for efficient movement, skill acquisition, injury prevention, and lifelong physical confidence. I have also shared this work in schools, helping educators understand how movement can support learning, attention, regulation, and overall well-being.

While most of my professional life has focused on working with children, teachers, and dancers, I have also had the opportunity to teach workshops for parents, helping them better understand their child's development through movement.

Radiant Babies was born from a simple belief: every baby deserves the opportunity to develop through movement in a way that honours their unique timeline, supports their natural curiosity, and builds strong foundations for life. My goal is to empower parents with practical knowledge, confidence, and playful activities that help babies thrive while strengthening the connection between parent and child.

I believe development is not something we force—it is something we nurture. When babies are given the right opportunities to move, explore, and connect, remarkable growth naturally follows.