Parent-Child Classes

Do you want to deepen the relationship with your baby?

Becoming a parent is one of the greatest changes in a person’s life. We want to give our baby our best! It can be a little surprising to feel so unprepared. At RIE®, we help parents focus on what is essential and give their baby the best possible start. This is what the Educaring®Approach is all about. At RIE, parents learn about and practice the Educaring Approach. They practice being unhurried, sensitive to their babies’ needs, and confident in their ability to provide their baby with natural opportunities for growth. They observe and learn to listen for guidance from within themselves and from their baby. They do less, allowing their baby to learn. Most importantly, they enjoy their babies. They relax. They invest in this time knowing “I will do this now and later reap the benefits.” Parents tell us the Educaring Approach helps them feel more confident, calm, and centered.

  • In this 3-hour introductory course, you’ll receive an overview of the Educaring® Approach, learning how this work encourages adult caregivers to see young children as competent and capable humans from birth. The Approach seeks to help parents and professionals build stable, secure, healthy relationships with infants and toddlers, encouraging the children’s natural abilities from the very start.

  • An introductory course for those expecting, waiting to adopt, or thinking about becoming a parent, Before Baby is designed to start you on your journey with confidence in yourself as a parent and trust in your baby’s unique ability to show you the way. Before Baby will help you to establish healthy patterns from the beginning of life.

  • RIE®’s signature class brings parents and their babies together to learn about and enjoy their baby’s development, and to see the Educaring®Approach in practice. Guided by a RIE Associate, you’ll be invited to relax, develop your respectful parenting style, and build a relationship to carry you and your baby through life. Classes are for parents of babies 3 – 24 months.

  • For parents in areas without in-person classes or those who prefer to learn about the Educaring Approach without their child present, Parent Guidance Classes explore topics of raising infants and toddlers and RIE’s respectful approach in a weekly online group discussion format facilitated by a RIE Associate.

  • A sixty-hour program, thoroughly examining  the Educaring Approach, this course provides 36 hours of in-class shared collaborative learning experiences complemented by extensive outside-of-class observations and self-study.  The course is meant to enable the student to understand and internalize Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach.  For those wishing to apply to enter RIE’s apprenticing pathway to become a credentialed RIE Associate, successful completion of this course is a prerequisite. For Professionals seeking career advancement and parents that desire in-depth training.

Parenting Moments

  • From Entertainment to Wonder

    Before taking the RIE parent class, I was constantly trying to entertain my 8-month-old daughter. The class taught me the beauty of simply observing and allowing her to explore on her own. Now I watch in amazement as she spends 20 minutes just examining a wooden spoon and a small basket. The respect-based approach has completely changed how I interact with her.

    — Hope M., mother of one

  • Seeing 'Difficult' Behavior as Development in Action

    The RIE classes helped me understand that my toddler's 'difficult' behavior was actually him expressing his needs and developing autonomy. Learning to set loving boundaries while acknowledging his feelings has been transformative. Instead of rushing through daily routines, we move slowly and I involve him in getting dressed and preparing meals. The class gave me tools to see my child as a capable person, not just someone to manage."

    — Marcus T., father of two

  • The Power of Doing Less

    I was skeptical about 'doing less' as a parent, but the RIE approach opened my eyes to how much my constant intervention was actually hindering my baby's development. The uninterrupted play time we learned about has been incredible – my son now focuses for much longer periods and seems more content overall. The other parents in class became a wonderful support network too. We still meet monthly to share our observations and challenges.

    — Jennifer L., first-time mother

  • Slowing Down to Speed Up Connection

    What struck me most about RIE was learning to trust my baby's natural rhythms and competence. The class taught me to slow down during care routines like feeding and bathing, making them opportunities for connection rather than tasks to rush through. My daughter now actively participates in getting her arms through shirt sleeves and cooperates during diaper changes. The respectful communication techniques we learned work beautifully with my older child too.

    — David and Maria K., parents of two

  • The Magic of Learning Together

    I initially considered an online parenting course, but I'm so grateful I chose the in-person RIE classes instead. Watching other babies and toddlers in the same space gave me real-time examples of the principles we were learning. Seeing how different children approached the same simple materials helped me understand that there's no 'right' way for development to unfold. The group discussions after observing the children were invaluable – other parents would notice things I missed, and our instructor could address our questions immediately. There's something irreplaceable about being physically present and witnessing these interactions firsthand.

    — Lisa R., mother of twins

  • From Confusion to Confidence

    I thought I just needed tips and tricks, but the parent guidance sessions gave me something much deeper – a whole new understanding of my role. My RIE instructor helped me see that my 15-month-old's meltdowns at transitions weren't defiance, but his way of processing change. Through guided practice, I learned to acknowledge his feelings while maintaining necessary boundaries. The ongoing support was crucial – I could bring real situations from home and get specific guidance on how to apply RIE principles. Now I approach challenges with curiosity instead of frustration, and my confidence as a parent has grown tremendously.

    — Ahmed S., father of one