Larissa Neilson, RIE Associate

10/08/2026

No estás simplemente pasando el día!
Estás participando en la formación de un ser humano✨
Después de 25 años en la educación de la primera infancia, una verdad resalta: lo que forma a un niño no es cuánto hacemos por ellos, sino cómo nos relacionamos con ellos. Cuando cambias el enfoque del entretenimiento constante hacia la observación respetuosa, tu trabajo se vuelve más tranquilo, significativo y profundamente sostenible.

¡Estoy muy feliz de anunciar que llevaré esta filosofía de forma presencial por primera vez a Novato, California! Junto a mi querida colega Jennifer Curtis, abriremos las puertas de su hermoso espacio en Heartful Birth para el curso certificado Cuidadoras Cariñosas!

Será una experiencia íntima diseñada para transformar tu carrera. Mantendremos un grupo pequeño y exclusivo, y actualmente ya contamos con casi la mitad del espacio reservado. Puedes ver todos los detalles de fechas, horarios e inversión deslizando en las imágenes de este carrusel

🔗 Haz clic aquí para llenar el formulario de Google de pre-registro y asegurar tu lugar:

https://forms.gle/awUs9iKVk3KBziKj7

Una vez que completes tu pre-registro, te enviaré un mensaje directo o correo con los pasos detallados para realizar el pago. ¡No dejes pasar esta oportunidad única de capacitarte en persona y elevar tu autoridad profesional!

10/05/2026

You are not just getting through the day. You are participating in the making of a human being. ✨

After 25 years in early childhood education, one truth stands out: what shapes a child isn’t how much we do for them, but how we relate to them.

When you shift your approach from constant entertainment to respectful observation, your work becomes calmer, more meaningful, and deeply sustainable.

📖 This post is an excerpt from my latest blog post: “Stop Entertainer, Start Shaping: The Nurturing Nanny Shift.”

If you are ready to stop the exhaustion, step into your authority as an infant-toddler specialist, and confidently stand behind your practice, join me inside my upcoming online course:

💻 Nurturing Nanny™ Course (Online)
* Dates: October 17, 18, and 24
🔗 Click the link in my bio to read the full blog post and reserve your spot on our Professional Development page!

DM if you have any questions! 🤍

10/02/2026

The truth about childhood disappointment... 👇

Think about this: the world will eventually tell your children “no.” They will experience a boss turning down a promotion, a college rejection letter, or a crush breaking their heart. If we never allow them to practice moving through small disappointments today, they won’t have the tools to handle the heavy ones tomorrow.

So when you say, “No cookie before dinner,” and your child cries, it might feel hard for you in that moment to see your child cry. But you can absolutely hold that boundary while still offering deep comfort, stepping into their space and saying calmly, “You are upset. I am here.”

As a parent, sometimes it’s hard to follow through or to hold our limits and boundaries. But take comfort knowing that leaning into that temporary discomfort right now is exactly how we help them build true emotional resilience.

Loving your child doesn’t mean removing every disappointment. It means helping them through the hard feelings without giving up on a necessary limit.

Which boundary is hardest for you to hold? Let’s talk about it in the comments✨



**er

10/02/2026

Thank you so much for the feature! 🤍 Finding Magda Ge**er’s work over 25 years ago completely transformed my journey with infants and toddlers. It is an absolute privilege to be part of this community. Proud to be a RIE Associate and deeply grateful for this beautiful organization and the incredible network of educators carrying this legacy forward!

A caregiver at heart, Larissa is an author, infant and toddler specialist, and Founder of Riesers™. Pikler® and RIE® are at the center of all her training. Larissa has practiced the Pikler and RIE principles for over 20 years while helping parents raise their children peacefully and respectfully. Today she is a childcare consultant and certified RIE teacher. She has provided countless hours of training parents, professional caregivers, and childcare center providers in English and Spanish. She lives in Santa Barbara and when she’s not working, she can be found hiking, beach walking and spending time with her daughter Esther.




**er

09/30/2026

What Does RIE® Actually Teach? — Part 2

A baby smiles, and you smile back. They coo, and you answer, then pause to give them a turn.
Science describes these responsive, back-and-forth exchanges as “serve and return.” They help build and strengthen connections in the developing brain, supporting early language and social skills.
Long before “serve and return” became a familiar term, RIE® encouraged adults to slow down, connect face-to-face, and give babies time to respond. The language of science helps explain the value of these interactions that have long been part of respectful caregiving.
Babies watch our faces, listen to our voices, and notice how we respond to their signals. Learning happens in these exchanges, in familiar caregiving routines, and through movement, observation, and repeated opportunities to explore.
A look. A sound. A pause. A response. There is so much learning in these ordinary moments.

If you want to move beyond parenting trends and deepen your understanding of the RIE® Educaring® Approach, I invite you to explore my offerings for parents, nannies, and early childhood professionals.

Visit the link in my bio to learn more about upcoming courses and opportunities to learn with me.🤍

09/27/2026

5 Things I Tell New Mothers

The moment you decide to have a child, you send a silent, permanent signal to the world: I am capable.✨
Becoming a mother isn’t about just trying to survive the day or parenting from a place of fear.
It is human nature unfolding. Mothers have navigated this with immense power for generations, and you are part of that lineage.
Your intuition and your gut are already there they just need a little quiet space to be heard.

Let’s change the narrative. New mothers do not need pity, and they do not need to be talked down to. You do not need a guru, a book, or an app to tell you how to connect with your child. The industry wants you to believe you are missing something, but you already have everything you need right inside of you.

You are fully able to handle the sleepless nights, the endless wondering, the fierce love, and the quiet insecurities. This isn’t a crisis; it’s simply a natural part of being a mom.
You can navigate this rollercoaster beautifully, even in the moments that nobody else completely understands.

The foundation of your relationship with your child starts right now, in these early days, and it is a connection that will last for the rest of your life.
Believe in your capability. You are built for this lifelong relationship, and you and your baby are finding your way together with strength.

Take a breath. You are fully equipped for this journey. 🤍

✨ Follow for daily encouragement and real parenting truths. You don’t need a manual, but a trusted guide makes the walk easier.

Click the link in my profile to explore my coaching and support options. 🔗

09/25/2026

A gentle reminder for all of us who have the privilege of raising and caring for children. 🤍

The greatest childhood memories are usually the simplest ones.
The places we return to, the traditions we create, the adventures we share, and the simple things we love doing together become part of a child’s story.
One day, they may say, “We used to come here when I was little.”
“We did this every summer.”
“Someone I loved taught me how to do this.”
We can’t know which moments they’ll remember. But we can be here for them now walking beside them, noticing what catches their eye, and sharing the day as it unfolds.
Perhaps years from now, they’ll return to a familiar place with children in their own lives, carrying a little piece of their childhood with them.

What memories are we helping children carry? 🤍

09/21/2026

Today, we know more than ever about how children develop, how relationships shape the brain, and what children genuinely need from the adults who care for them. The knowledge is fully available.
What we need are more caregivers who understand the extraordinary responsibility of putting that knowledge into practice.
We need caregivers who:
* Genuinely feel drawn to children
* Know how to build authentic relationships
* Remain curious and willing to learn
* Bring commitment, emotional maturity, integrity, and gratitude to their work
This is not about being perfect. There is no perfect nanny, parent, teacher, or caregiver. It is about understanding that when a child is placed in your care, your presence matters, your words matter, and your character matters. The relationship you build may remain with that child long after your work together has ended.

This is what more than 25 years alongside children and families has taught me. A caregiver’s creed—not a set of rules, but a responsibility worth reflecting on.

💬 What would you add? Let’s continue learning together.

Follow along for honest conversations about child development, respectful caregiving, and strengthening the adults who care for children.

✨Because better-supported, better-prepared adults create better outcomes for children.

09/18/2026

What Does RIE® Actually Teach? — Part 1

We have confused early learning with early performance.
A baby who can identify a color, repeat a sound, or sit when placed in position may appear “advanced.” But displaying a skill is not the same as organizing the body, attention, emotions, and thinking from within.
RIE® does not reject learning. It rejects the assumption that adult-directed performance is the most important form of learning.

The infant is already learning:
How does my body move?
Does my signal receive a response?
Is frustration survivable?
Can I initiate an action?
Does the adult trust my process?

These are not lesser lessons. They are the foundations upon which later learning depends.

If you want to move beyond parenting trends and deepen your understanding of the RIE® Educaring® Approach, I invite you to explore my upcoming webinars and courses for parents, nannies, and early-childhood professionals.

Visit the link in my bio to learn more and register.

Follow along for Part 2: How the Brain Actually Learns.





EarlyChildhoodEducation NannyEducation

09/15/2026

As we approach National Nanny Recognition Week, September 20–26, I’ve been thinking about what recognition truly looks like.

In more than 25 years as a professional nanny, these are some of the words I wish I had heard more often.

Because recognition should never be limited to one week. It lives in the everyday moments; in appreciation, communication, consideration, and respect.

And respect must always go both ways. As nannies, we must offer families the same consideration we ask to receive: honoring our commitments, communicating honestly, being punctual, and respecting their time and trust.

The strongest nanny–family relationships are built through mutual respect, open communication, and appreciation for one another.

If these words resonate with you, consider sharing this gentle reminder with the family you work with.

Sometimes one thoughtful post can open an important conversation. 🤍