The basis of Magda's Gerber's RIE philosophy is respect for, and trust in the baby to be an initiator, an explorer, and a self learner. Magda encouraged parents and caregivers to provide:
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.
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 his or her needs.
Consistency, clearly defined limits and expectations to develop discipline.
Interested in learning more? Please visit RIE's web site. With thanks to David Vigliotti of Little Learners Lodge in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, for permission to use the first three and the fifth photos to illustrate the basic principles. Little Learners Lodge is a RIE Certified Childcare Center.