Resources for Infant Educarers

Resources for Infant Educarers Our Mission: We teach an integrated model for the care and education of infants and the very young using Magda Gerber’s respectful Educaring® Approach.

Jessica Ballenger is an Angeleno who has been working in early childhood education since 2003 as a teacher. She has had ...
09/10/2026

Jessica Ballenger is an Angeleno who has been working in early childhood education since 2003 as a teacher. She has had the pleasure of working with children from 4 months to 5 years of age. It was during her time at her first Reggio-inspired school that she began working with infants and, in turn, was introduced to RIE.

In addition to her experience in early childhood education, Jessica holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, both of which have guided her interactions and work with families. Her passion has always been to support children in developing into individuals who are successful in relationships, have a strong sense of self-worth and efficacy, and act with integrity. RIE has provided her with a meaningful way to communicate these values to the adults who care for children.

Jessica believes that the future can be bright when we interact with even the youngest children with respect.








Mistakes are part of being human.Self-respect is choosing to stay on your own side.
09/08/2026

Mistakes are part of being human.
Self-respect is choosing to stay on your own side.






09/06/2026

Let's watch this little girl at play...

She is exploring open-ended play materials. There is no intervention, no guidance from the facilitator—just time, space, and trust.

What might you notice?

🌿 Exploration

🌿 Intrinsic motivation

🌿 Problem solving

🌿 A unique idea emerging

🌿 The joy of owning the process and the satisfaction of discovering something on her own

📬 Interested or want to learn more?

Contact Melani at [email protected]

RIE Classes for Parents, Babies & Toddlers

• Meets once a week

• 1.5-hour sessions

• Up to 8 families with their infant or toddler

• Facilitated by a RIE Associate trained in Magda Gerber's Educaring Approach

We’d love to welcome you. 💛













Jemina (Jea) Villanueva-Vallée is an Australian early childhood educator with close to 25 years nurturing young children...
09/03/2026

Jemina (Jea) Villanueva-Vallée is an Australian early childhood educator with close to 25 years nurturing young children and mentoring professionals around the world.

A passionate educator, teacher trainer, educational leader and international consultant, she regularly presents on the topics of early childhood education and parenting. Jemina founded an international nursery in Beijing prior to relocating to Hong Kong. She is presently Vice-President at Cosmic Education Group Hong Kong overseeing Montessori program quality at over 20 schools in Asia Pacific. Jemina organizes RIE certification courses in Asia and Europe.








The relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship.Start with kindness inward.✨ Mark you...
09/01/2026

The relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship.
Start with kindness inward.

✨ Mark your calendars! ✨

RIE Foundations: Theory & Observation

🗓Sept 5 – Oct 10 Saturdays with Jill Getto Lee

⏰ 9 am – 4 pm PST

💻 Online






Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do… is nothing at all.When children are given space to play without interrupt...
08/29/2026

Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do… is nothing at all.

When children are given space to play without interruption, they build focus, problem-solving, and confidence from within.

Want to learn how to step back with intention?

✨ Mark your calendars! ✨

RIE Foundations: Theory & Observation

🗓Sept 5 – Oct 10 Saturdays with Jill Getto Lee

⏰ 9 am – 4 pm PST

💻 Online




If you've been curious about RIE not just as a philosophy, but as a practice that invites reflection, growth, and a diff...
08/29/2026

If you've been curious about RIE not just as a philosophy, but as a practice that invites reflection, growth, and a different way of being with children this may be your moment.

🟡 Online RIE® Foundations: Theory & Observation™

Sept 5 – Oct 10

Saturdays

9 am – 4 pm PST

This course is designed for parents, caregivers, and professionals who want to build authentic, respectful relationships with babies and young children. Together, you'll explore the principles of RIE and discover how this approach can transform not only your work with children, but also the way you see yourself.

If you're looking for a thoughtful, grounded, and deeply respectful approach to caring for young children, we'd love to welcome you.













Valorie Cole has been a student and advocate of RIE and the Educaring Approach since 1989, when she attended her first R...
08/27/2026

Valorie Cole has been a student and advocate of RIE and the Educaring Approach since 1989, when she attended her first RIE course. This led to in-depth studies in infant and toddler care and development, including attending PITC and traveling to Budapest to see and experience Loczy.

She was a part of the planning and implementation of Cottage Hospital’s RIE Accreditation in 1991 and later worked with teen parents at two local high schools, teaching parenting skills and caring for their infants and toddlers. Valorie was then hired by Discoveries Learning Center to open and direct Early Discoveries Toddler Center, and later became the Director of both programs.

Her current goals are to spend lots of quality time with her 11 grandchildren; she is currently retired from all active RIE work while caring for her elderly parents.








Can we allow others the freedom to simply be?✨ Mark your calendars! ✨RIE Foundations: Theory & Observation🗓Sept 5 – Oct ...
08/25/2026

Can we allow others the freedom to simply be?

✨ Mark your calendars! ✨

RIE Foundations: Theory & Observation

🗓Sept 5 – Oct 10 Saturdays with Jill Getto Lee

⏰ 9 am – 4 pm PST

💻 Online






In this booklet, RIE® Associate Alexandra Curtis Boyer illustrates “how unstructured play with simple toys is one of the...
08/22/2026

In this booklet, RIE® Associate Alexandra Curtis Boyer illustrates “how unstructured play with simple toys is one of the best gifts you can give to your child; how easy it is to create your baby or toddler’s very own safe play area; and details of the first two years of development, focusing on play skills and the age-appropriate toys that help develop them.” An engaging and easy-to-read guide with wonderful photos and resource list.

Alexandra Curtis has presented nationally and internationally on a variety of “birth to two” topics. Author of Simple Toys Make Active Babies, a book about play spaces for infants and toddlers, Alexandra earned her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies with a Public Health focus at the University of South Florida. Mother to three lovely daughters, Alex was a founding Board Member of the Pikler/Loczy USA Fund and the Hillsborough County Breastfeeding Taskforce. She is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and works at Lane Community College’s Family Connections program, providing training to child care providers.

Address

975 E Green Street
Pasadena, CA
91106

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+16263455210

Website

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