An overview: Emmi Pikler, Magda Gerber and the basic principles of the RIE approach
Magda Gerber and Emmi Pikler
Emmi Pikler was a Vienna-trained physician whose insights on how to interact with babies were first published in the 1930s, put in practice in the orphanage at Locozy, Budapest in the 1950s, and gradually but widely embraced by researchers around the world in the last few decades. In 1965, Dr. Pikler’s protégée, Magda Gerber, emigrated to Los Angeles, where she founded RIE, an influential method of child-led observation/demonstration classes for parents. (I was fortunate to have had as a teacher Magda’s student, Elizabeth Memel.)
This infant-care approach is essentially a method for teaching parents habits of mindful interaction that will help them create a good environment for physical, cognitive and social/emotional growth, resulting in a confident, competent and curious kid.
Keep in mind – we don’t “teach” babies and toddlers anything – they learn from their environment. Caregiver behavior and communication are the main creator and framing agent of the child’s environment. RIE.org is a small organization with a huge influence: what were once fringe theories have been proven out by neuroscience are now widely recommended.
The principles of RIE in the words of Magda Gerber:
In order to foster quality care, RIE encourages:
Basic Trust in the infant to be an initiator, an explorer and a self-learner.
An environment for the child that is physically safe, cognitively challenging and emotionally nurturing.
Time for uninterrupted play
Freedom to explore and interact with other infants
Involvement of the child in all care activities to allow the child to become an active participant rather than a passive recipient
Sensitive Observation of the child in order to understand the child’s needs.
Consistency, clearly defined limits and expectations to develop self-discipline.
From the introduction of “Dear Parent:”
We believe care givers should ‘Enjoy More, and Work Less’ or “Do Less, Enjoy More. We urge care givers to relax, observe and enjoy what their babies are doing, noticing and enjoying new skills as they develop naturally. A care giver’s role is providing a secure and predictable environment. You do have to be sensitive to your infant’s changing needs; the infant has to feel your caring presence. … you don’t have to teach. You don’t have to buy gadgets. You and your infant can just exist and enjoy each other as your relationship develops.”
Thus the following simple rules:
Go slowly, step-by-step, in a consistent order. Share your intentions in advance, and always allow space for a response to develop partnership in care activities.
Give Information, not direction
Show up and pay attention/Shut up and pay attention
Embrace failure and frustration as valuable teachers – don’t rescue
Don’t teach, let them learn
As Magda says – “By respectfully reflecting and reinforcing the simple truths of your child’s experience, you allow for the self-learning and natural development that result in a confident and competent child.”
