Resources for infant educarers®

RIE (Resources for Infant Educareres) is a childcare philosophy based on respecting the infant as a person from the very first moment. It has guided my work with infants and children for many years and in 2023 I have completed the extensive RIE foundations Course. RIE asks us to allow infants to develop and grow at their own pace, while providing a safe environment, freedom of movement and uninterrupted play. The philosophy supports children to become independent, authentic and resourceful adults.

A brief introduction to the philosophy

The RIE philosophy has developed from the work of Dr. Emmi Pikler, a Hungarian pediatrician from Budapest. The first spark came to her while she was still studying, examining the structure of the body and the process of muscle development. She noticed how children from less affluent families, who were given more time to play unsupervised outdoors and explore on their own, were injured less than the children from higher socioeconomic families. These children were often kept indoors under their governess’ supervision. The children, as Dr Pikler later realised, were assisted by adults to sit, crawl, walk, climb, etc… They were not given opportunities to develop a natural awareness of their body’s capabilities and strengths. She has started developing her theory about the natural development of muscle and bone structure.

Pikler exercised her theory on her first born daughter, Anna. Pikler believed in the role of caregivers as patient and relaxed observant of the infant’s needs, rhythm and capabilities. To allow them to do things when they are ready. To trust them.

She raised the question regarding assisting infants with their physical development - does this communicate to them that what they are doing isn’t good enough? Should they be doing something they are not yet capable of?

Pikler was a beloved pediatrician. After the war at 1946, she was assigned to work at a nursery known as Lóczy, which was established for the orphan babies who were left behind. It was there that she started training the staff to care for the infants in her own unique and respecting way.

Magda Gerber met Dr. Emmi Pikler at her practice with her child. She was taken by Dr Pikler’s special approach to the young ones and started collaborating with her. Magda introduced Dr Pikler’s approach to the English language and later on brought it to America, where she established, with Thomas Forrest M.D., The RIE institution in 1978. They went on writing books, teaching classes and workshops, helping parents and caregivers learn and implement a new way of seeing infants.

The RIE Principles

*taken from the official RIE website.

Respect
Respect is the basis of the Educaring® Approach.
We not only respect babies, we demonstrate our respect every time we interact with them. Respecting a child means treating even the youngest infant as a unique human being, not as an object.
OUR GOAL: AN AUTHENTIC CHILD
An authentic child is one who feels secure, autonomous, competent, and connected.
When we help a child to feel secure, feel appreciated, feel that “somebody is deeply, truly interested in me,” by the way we just look, the way we just listen, we influence that child’s whole personality, the way that child sees life.
TRUST IN THE INFANT’S COMPETENCE
We have basic trust in the infant to be an initiator, to be an explorer eager to learn what he is ready for.
Because of this trust, we provide the infant with only enough help necessary to allow the child to enjoy mastery of her own actions.

SENSITIVE OBSERVATION
Our method, guided by respect for the infant’s competence, is observation. We observe carefully to understand the infant’s communications and his needs.
The more we observe, the more we understand and appreciate the enormous amount and speed of learning that happens during the first two or three years of life. We become more humble, we teach less, and we provide an environment for learning instead.
CAREGIVING TIMES: INVOLVING THE CHILD
During care activities (diapering, feeding, bathing, dressing, etc.), we encourage even the tiniest infant to become an active participant rather than a passive recipient of the activities. Parents create opportunities for interaction, cooperation, intimacy and mutual enjoyment by being wholeheartedly with the infant during the time they spend together anyway.
“Refueled” by such unhurried, pleasurable caring experiences, infants are ready to explore their environment with only minimal intervention by adults.
A SAFE, CHALLENGING, PREDICTABLE ENVIRONMENT
Our role is to create an environment in which the child can best do all the things that the child would do naturally. The more predictable an environment is, the easier it is for babies to learn.
As infants become more mobile, they need safe, appropriate space in which to move. Their natural, inborn desire to move should not be handicapped by the environment.

TIME FOR UNINTERRUPTED PLAY AND FREEDOM TO EXPLORE
We give the infant plenty of time for uninterrupted play. Instead of trying to teach babies new skills, we appreciate and admire what babies are actually doing.
CONSISTENCY
We establish clearly defined limits and communicate our expectations to develop discipline.

To read more about Dr Emmi Pikler, Magda Gerber and RIE, click the buttons below.