Introduction

Meet four dedicated pedagogues who have united through their shared passion for supporting parents! What started as a collaboration at the Van Veldhuizen Stichting in Rotterdam—where they work as trainers for Twinkeltje, delivering (and still offering!) parenting courses—has grown into an inspiring mission: helping parents across the Netherlands and beyond strengthen their parenting skills. Through their joint training sessions, these pedagogues have witnessed the profound value of guiding parents through the challenges of raising children. With the positive feedback from parents and the joy they found in collaborating, the idea arose to combine their strengths and reach a broader audience.

And so, this website was created: a platform designed to inform parents about the invest in play® (iiP) course. This course provides parents with online and offline tools and insights to use play as a learning instrument, helping to build a stronger bond with their children. The aim of iiP is to make parenting more accessible and enjoyable by offering interactive and practical support.

The iiP course offers parenting support for various target groups. We offer the iiP course to:

  • municipalities wanting to offer parenting courses to their residents
  • companies who are interested in supporting their employees with parenting issues
  • institutions that are looking for parenting programs for the parents in their network

Wherever you work and which parents you would like to help – iiP thinks along with you! On this website you will discover our services and you can read how the iiP course can help to empower parents. Together we work on a relaxed and loving upbringing – for every family, wherever they may be.

Facilitators

Ingeborg Dijkstra- Verbeek
Ingeborg Dijkstra- Verbeek
Ingeborg Dijkstra (1970) is an independent pedagogue and counselor for children, teenagers, and adults. Since 2010, she has managed her own practice, where she combines her expertise and warmth to support her clients. Known for her versatility, humor, and commitment, Ingeborg has extensive experience as a classroom teacher in both regular and special primary education, and she has worked as an external supervisor in the Netherlands and abroad. Additionally, she is skilled in family mediation, particularly for blended families post-divorce, and serves as a guest lecturer in secondary, higher professional, and university education. Her practical, reliable approach has positively impacted numerous children, adolescents, and adults.
Cristiana Franco
Cristiana Franco
Cristiana Franco (1992) is a proud mother of three school-age children. Born in Portugal, she has been living in the Netherlands for several years, where she established herself in 2022 as a pedagogue and self-employed parental and child counselor. Her passion is to support families in their development, using a holistic approach grounded in scientific evidence and neuroscience. With years of experience, Cristiana helps parents and children navigate the challenges of parenting, communication, and family dynamics. Whether through individual counseling, workshops, or leading group discussions, her goal is to provide practical tools and emotional support.
Fatima Kersten - Slot
Fatima Kersten - Slot
Fatima Kersten-Slot (1982), a dedicated educator and trainer, lives with her family in rural North Brabant, balancing work and family life. She is passionate about empowering parents, professionals, and businesses to build positive environments for children and young people to thrive. With over 15 years in coaching and training within the care and education sectors, Fatima bridges practical and theoretical knowledge, advocating for “Invest in Play” as a foundation for learning and growth. Her approach is hands-on and people-centered, creating a safe space in every session. Her goal is to inspire participants and provide actionable tools that help children feel valued and heard, fostering both effective communication and supportive parenting.
Astrid Reber
Astrid Reber
Astrid Reber (1974) is a social pedagogue and coach for children, parents and education. She works as a school pedagogue in (special) primary education and has her own practice. Astrid specialises in counselling for grief caused by loss, such as death, divorce or migration. She supports children with social-emotional questions and provides training for professionals on behaviour, parent contact and visual language. Her working style is solution-oriented, with a focus on visual aids and metaphors to make insights and practical tools accessible. Collaboration with parents and professionals is central. Astrid lives in IJsselstein and enjoys time with her three (young) adult children.

invest in play®

The invest in play® (iiP®) parent program is a 12-session course for parents of children ages 2-12 years.

The iiP® program teaches practical and compassionate strategies that are proven to be effective. The strategies consist of six steps that help build a strong foundation for your child’s life.

“The trainers focus on what is important in your parenting, you get great tools for your family and there is a lot of recognition.”

Mother of two children (3 and 4,5 years old)

“The course gives you self-confidence, especially in what you already do well, but also in specific situations how you can approach it differently.”