RIE® (Resources for Infant Educarers) is the heartbeat of Yalla’s infant and young toddler program. Developed by infant specialist Magda Gerber, the RIE approach is grounded in a simple but profound belief: infants are whole, competent human beings from birth. They deserve our respect, our presence, and our trust. Rather than viewing babies as passive or fragile, RIE invites us to slow down, observe deeply, and build caregiving routines that strengthen security, autonomy, and authentic connection.

We chose RIE as a foundational pillar of our program because it mirrors our values as a community-centered space. RIE honors the relationship between caregiver and child as the core of quality care—something that aligns directly with Yalla’s commitment to attunement, responsiveness, and emotional safety. It also supports secure attachment, confidence, motor development, and early communication—all essential building blocks for healthy development and future learning.

In practice, this means our classrooms are calm, predictable environments rich with open-ended materials, unhurried routines, and meaningful one-on-one interactions. Caregivers narrate, invite rather than insist, observe rather than interrupt, and respond rather than react. Babies are offered time for uninterrupted play, opportunities to struggle and problem-solve, and a respectful partnership during every diaper change, bottle, and transition.

By integrating RIE into our foundation, Yalla offers infants and toddlers more than care—we offer relationship-based learning that nurtures their emerging independence, honors their perspectives, and supports their development with intention and respect.