These are the formative years. Babies and toddlers learn about play, how to use their body, communication, and social interaction in diverse and unique ways. Abbie respects that they are whole people starting from birth and shares her early childhood knowledge about their development with parents. She honors the ways infants and toddlers explore by creating a learning environment tailored to their needs. The classes allow babies and toddlers to practice play in a social setting with others their age. The classes also provide toys and play structures that meet them where they are physically and allows them to practice and eventually master new skills. Communication is focused, intentional, and respectful. We practice seeing things through their eyes to understand them better and to communicate at their level. We support play and peer interactions with selective intervention, creating the building blocks of respect and healthy attachment.

In the Toddler + Me class, there is a break in play to connect with the teacher in a group setting to practice self-regulation in a group activity, and then the exploration resumes.

More about the Parent Curriculum:

For parents, the curriculum focuses on observation and practicing parenting skills that foster strong connections and attachments. Abbie’s background in early childhood development allows her to share her knowledge and even demonstrate different ways to communicate with understanding and respect.

Participants will deepen their understanding of the 7 RIE® Principles and how to apply them during the class and in everyday life with their baby:

1. Basic trust in the child to be an initiator, explorer, and self-learner
2. An environment that is physically safe, cognitively challenging, and emotionally nurturing
3. Time for uninterrupted play
4. Freedom to explore and interact with other infants and toddlers
5. Involvement of the child in all caregiving activities to allow them to become active participants rather than passive recipients
6. Sensitive observation of the child to understand their needs
7. Consistency with clearly defined limits and expectations to develop discipline

Magda Gerber famously advised, “Slow Down. Do Less. Observe More.”

In our calm classroom environment, equipped with age-appropriate toys and play structures, we slow down to meet your baby’s play needs and desires. The space has ample open-ended objects that encourage free exploration, create opportunities for development to unfold, and promote engagement with other babies. We respect that each child’s development occurs at their own pace, valuing their autonomy and prioritizing their authenticity. Communication is approached by seeing things from the infant’s perspective, fostering a strong parent-child connection. Parents and caregivers also benefit from the community of others who share similar parenting goals, with opportunities to discuss parenting topics while the babies explore.

We do less by allowing babies to lead their developmental play according to their needs at the moment. We selectively intervene during times of struggle and actively involve the infant in caregiving activities as they arise. We resist the impulse to entertain or direct play from an adult perspective, allowing skills to develop naturally when the baby is ready.

We observe more by practicing sensitive observation. This allows us to notice what interests the infants, what they choose to play with, what they want to explore, and what they begin to communicate. They are capable of engaging in play activities without our instruction, and when we observe the natural learning that unfolds, we feel less need to teach.