RIE Magda Gerber Baby Toddler
I was thrilled to find an approach to working with babies and toddlers which supported the philosophy I’d developed after years of caring for babies and toddlers, and counseling families.
“Your Self Confident Baby” by Magda Gerber helped me immensely in my first year of parenting and with helping families in caring for their children.
In the RIE method, they focus on:
- Caring with respect for the baby or toddler as a whole, aware individual.
- Trust in the child’s competence. This is a big one because it is so different than many parenting philosophies. RIE believes children should be allowed to freely explore their home or safe environment with very little “hovering” or “wearing/carrying” by the parent. The child or children should be trusted to play and resolve conflicts or struggles on their own with minimal parent involvement, only involving themselves if a child is hurt or to prevent them hurting each other.
- Observe the child. This means watching your child during the day. Getting a sense for his interests, communications, and personality by watching instead of directing. As they say, “We teach less and provide an environment for learning instead.”
- A safe, predictable environment. This reflects my observation for years that children thrive with a consistent rhythm for their day. Children are more relaxed and calm when their day is predictable.
If you are interested in how to implement the RIE philosophy in your home, contact me for a free consultation.
