Playgroup FAQs

I’m Emma Koehler, the founder of Twig and Branch Parenting. I come to this work with a decade of experience as an early childhood educator, working in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms in Portland and Brooklyn. I’m also a parent, RIE Foundations graduate, and a kids’ yoga teacher. My goal is to provide compassionate, developmentally grounded support for both children and parents.

RIE®️ (Resources for Infant Educarers) is a child development approach that emphasizes treating babies and toddlers with respect, allowing them to develop at their own pace, and supporting them as active participants in their world. RIE®️ encourages "freedom within limits," where children are offered a predictable, safe space to explore and develop autonomy. It values uninterrupted play, trusting each child’s unique developmental timeline.

Playgroups are designed to foster community, connection, and focused time between you and your child. They offer a space for children to play freely with age-appropriate materials, interact with peers, and spend time alongside you, learning social skills and emotional regulation. As a parent, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with other parents, share experiences, and learn about child development in a supportive environment.

Before class begins, I set up the space with open-ended, developmentally appropriate toys. Upon arrival, you and your child will greet others, store your belongings, and settle into the space. We’ll start with a quiet observation period where parents sit back and watch their children play. Afterward, we’ll have a discussion about parenting, caregiving, and your observations from the class. For toddlers, a snack of bananas and water is offered mid-session, and we’ll end by inviting children to help clean up the space.

Due to the nature of the group and my small business structure, I cannot offer refunds for missed sessions or cancellations due to illness or personal circumstances.

Of course, I understand that life is unpredictable! If you cancel at least 2 days before the session begins, I’ll offer a full refund. If you cancel within 2 days of the session starting, I’d be happy to apply your tuition as a credit toward a future playgroup session, so you can join when the timing is right for you. If you cancel after the session has started and you’ve attended fewer than 50% of the classes, I’ll provide a $100 credit toward a future session to make it easier for you to return when you're able.

The period of quiet observation allows parents to learn about their child’s play patterns and development. It also helps children engage in uninterrupted play, where they can fully explore and immerse themselves in the activities around them. This time fosters creativity, problem-solving, and social learning, and allows parents to gain deeper insights into their child's behavior and interests.

We want the kids to be as comfortable and unrestricted as possible - less clothing is often best for children to have freedom of movement and to feel the floor beneath them. I recommend removing socks, too! As for adults, you'll be sitting in a floor chair so keep that in mind.

During playgroup, we encourage mindfulness and focus. Please silence your phone and leave it in your bag to help you stay present. If you’d like to take a photo of your child, that’s perfectly fine, but please put your phone away afterward. Smartwatches can be distracting with notifications, so I recommend putting them on “do not disturb” mode or leaving them out of the play space.

Crying is a normal part of any child’s expression. You don’t have to try and quiet them right away; you can get curious about what’s going on for them and try and meet any needs they’re expressing, knowing you’re in a room full of people who get it.

If your child stays close to you, that's okay! Some children need time to adjust to the group environment, and that’s perfectly natural. The goal isn’t for any particular kind of play or interaction, just for children to be in the space in their own way.

Yes! I welcome grandparents, partners, or other special people to join you for a session. Please let me know in advance if you’re bringing a guest, and feel free to remind them that the playgroup environment is one of calm observation. This helps keep the space respectful and supportive for everyone.

No worries! Life happens. Feel free to join the group when you’re able, and we’ll be happy to see you. There’s no need to apologize, just come when you can.

Bottle and breast/chest feeding are always welcome during playgroups. If you'd prefer some privacy, feel free to step outside the play space to feed your baby.

For toddlers, I provide a simple snack of bananas and water midway through class. I ask that no outside snacks be brought into the space.

Please use the changing table outside of the play area to change diapers. This helps maintain cleanliness in the space and respects the privacy of the diaper change.

I follow Oregon’s childcare guidelines for exclusion due to illness (which you can find here). If you or your child are sick or have been exposed to illness, please stay home to ensure everyone’s health and safety. I ask that all adults are vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in playgroups. If you’re uncomfortable with your child handling toys that may have been mouthed by others, I ask that you set that boundary for your child. Toys are sanitized after every session.