Magda Gerber (November 1, 1910 – April 27, 2007) was an early childhood educator in the United States and is known for teaching parents and caregivers how to understand babies and interact with them respectfully from birth.
Pikler's innovative theories on infant care were successfully tested during the course of her tenure as medical director of Loczy, a state-run orphanage in Budapest.
[3] They were placed at Camp Kilmer, a military base in New Jersey, before moving to Boston for a year where Gerber again worked as an interpreter at Harvard University.
[3] The DIP was a program of preventative mental health based on modeling selective intervention with a group of infants and toddlers to their parents or carers.
[3] Gerber described the purpose of the program "If you can help parents to perceive and accept the child at his own developmental level, and to learn how to understand and respond to his needs, you can prevent problems before they develop, rather than have the difficult job of undoing them later in life.
[5] In 1978, Gerber and Forrest co-founded the non-profit organisation Resources for Infant Educarers® (RIE®) in Los Angeles to further their work with families and child care professionals.
If the child's behaviour will put themselves or another person in danger, or is socially inappropriate, (a red light situation) then the adult will intervene to prevent anyone from getting hurt or to explain why something is not okay.
The Approach has now found its way around the world, with certified RIE Associates™ teaching and practicing in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Central America, uniting many cultures in their appreciation of the rights and integrity of infants and young children.
[2] Mooney states that Gerber "did much to set the tone for quality infant care and parenting programs in the US and around the world".
Gonzalez-Mena, J., and Dianne Widmeyer Eyer, D. Infants, Toddlers, and Caregivers: A Curriculum of Respectful, Responsive Care and Education.