Magda Gerber was an early childhood educator.
She raised three kids and in the need for a pediatrician she was suggested to call Emmi Pikler who then came and when Gerber was about to tell what was wrong with her son Emmi Pikler just held out her hand to quiet Magda Gerber and started questioning the child herself.
After this first encounter Magda Gerber was so moved by Pikler’s way with children that she started to study it herself, she became intensely interested in the Lóczy and worked as Pikler’s assistant for several years.
In 1957 she emigrated to the United States where she started teaching parent / infant classes in 1973 and founded the RIE centre in 1980. Although her approach has been influenced by Pikler it is fair to say that she has developed and studied it further during her work in parent / infant classes and the RIE centre. She has closely worked with whole families, has educated RIE teachers and influenced many parents and caregivers.
more on her approach:
PARENT iNFANT CLASSES
RiE
