The RIE approach is centered around Respect. 

We not only respect our students, 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.

The goal is to foster 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 students competence. We have basic trust in the child 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 students competence, is observation. We observe carefully to understand the child’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.

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 students to learn.

TIME FOR UNINTERRUPTED PLAY AND FREEDOM TO EXPLORE

We give the students plenty of time for uninterrupted play. Instead of trying to teach children new skills, we appreciate and admire what they are actually doing.

CONSISTENCY

We establish clearly defined limits and communicate our expectations to develop discipline.