Comments on: The Glorious Freedom of a Capable Child

By: Eleanor

Eleanor — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 03:28:15 +0000

Thank you Jacki, for articulating so well what I struggle to put into words. This is a really useful to help explain to our friends what we’re doing and why.
And thank you, Janet, for everything you do.

By: Ruth Mason

Ruth Mason — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 20:21:11 +0000

Beautiful. This one is going into my list of great articles for new parents.

By: rick ackerly

rick ackerly — Mon, 04 Jul 2016 16:56:17 +0000

I love these articles!!! I love the work you are doing. I love how your book cover looks like a sister to mine. Keep it up.

By: janet

janet — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 22:35:51 +0000

In reply to Joanna. How great to be such a natural! Thanks for sharing your story

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sun, 05 Jul 2015 15:01:55 +0000

I stumbled across you blog on a wet day and was facinated, how things have changed since ours were small. My children are now 22, 19 and 15. We were fairly young parents but in a secure marriage and 25 years later still very much together. We lived abroad and around Britain often far from family and friends. My husband travelled abroad for work and I was often alone making the parenting decisions. I parented from the heart, I had no one to tell me I was doing it wrong (or right!). I never used a gate across the door, or blocked up the stairs. My children learned to navigate, walk and climb in their own time. I never used baby language to communicate, they were just small people and why make them learn English twice?!I could never understand having to explain “moo-cow” meaning cow, or the word “Ta” when thank you or thanks worked very well. All our children are fiercely independent and a complete joy to be with. The eldest teaches in China to underprivileged children, the next one found a job within a week of leaving 6th Form and my youngest is a complete computer whiz deciding to build his own at the age of 14. They are not perfect by any means but they have a strong appreciation of risk assesment which we believe will serve them well in the future, a skill sometimes lost in a world where every waking moment seems to be filled with organised activities for babies and children. Learning to be happy entertaining yourself and making your own decisions is, to us, priceless. If you choose this way of parenting there will be disbelievers but stick with it. Our children are proud and brave…we could not wish for anything else.

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 06:57:29 +0000

In reply to Randi. I guess one would help ask first would you like some help, then wait a few seconds and lower him back to the ground, babies and children still need to know that we are there to help if needed, they need to know we will respond to their cues and trust that we are there for them.

By: Randi

Randi — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:04:48 +0000

Hi Janet,
Thank you for all that you do. Your website is a my greatest resource when I get stuck.

I just had my second baby 5 months ago. A boy. He has mastered crawling on all fours, sitting up, and is now pulling himself up to standing using anything he can. He is getting ready to cruise. We have not been encouraging his development in any way. I was not prepared for such an early mover.

My question is: When he is pulling himself up to a standing position- he has yet to learn how to get himself back down. He stays up for very long periods of time, sometimes 15 minutes. He then starts to get so tired that his muscles start to shake and he starts to cry. I usually wait a bit before I help him back to the floor, but I wondering what the RIE response would be? Do I just leave him or help him?

Thanks!

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 08:06:29 +0000

This is such a wonderful post that I can relate to 100%. It’s sometimes quite challenging when people around you just ‘don’t get it’. Great work!

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 13:44:05 +0000

I love this, and it’s reassuring as a soon-to-be first time mom who has spent the past 3 years really digging into all of the different child rearing/development “philosophies” out there. I know we will face resistance from family and friends with kids (and probably some without kids) to the approach we plan to take, but stories like these are great reminders that my husband and I just need to stick to our guns and let others observe the potential in believing children are capable.

By: Buffy Owens

Buffy Owens — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:28:56 +0000

What a wonderful awakening to the process of allowing development to unfold and joy of loving observation!