I love that because of RIE the phrases  "I spend my day chasing after my 2 year old,"  or "I need to  entertain my 2 year old all day," have NEVER come out of my mouth. Those senarios just don't exist in our daily lives together. The amount of freedom I have to get stuff done, because of her ability and NEED to play independently for a lot of the time....it almost feels  like I am cheating!!! Thank you Hari, what you teach is invaluable in so many ways!!!!”

— Joy and Robbie

I’m embarrassed to even write this down, but six months ago my four year old was staying up past midnight every night. I was “following his rhythm” and I was exhausted. I had put on an extra 30 pounds in emotional eating and I was still breastfeeding on demand, which meant to go to sleep and about three times a night. When I talked to Hari I was hopeless, I didn’t think that I could make any changes.  In her gentle, unassuming way, she asked me some questions, pointed out some incongruencies and provided me with some ideas. After our conversation things started changing in me.  A thought took hold that I could do this, and I could do it well. That night I started moving up bedtime, within two weeks it was at a reasonable 8:30. Then I started weaning, gently, persistently, and in another two weeks it was finished. My son was happier and he was sleeping through the night. He made a leap in emotional maturity. I still can’t believe how easy it was. Talking with Hari was magical; she  believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, she empowered me to make the changes that were best for my family and she did it in such a way that it came from within me, organically and congruently.

— Silvia Taub

I don’t know what we would have done without Hari’s RIE Parent-Child classes. We had twins and we attended classes steadily from the time they were 6 months old until they went to preschool.  At times it seemed odd and at times I was resistant because I was overwhelmed. There was so much to learn about our children and ourselves as parents.

Now our daughters are in college and I can honestly say that everything we learned in our RIE classes continues to influence and inform our family relationships.  Most importantly our kids are confident, independent, loving, compassionate, empathetic and intensely creative young adults.  We learned how to really watch, see, hear, feel and know them. We learned how to sensitively observe so that we could know when it was best to step in and when best to allow our children the dignity of figuring things out for themselves. We learned how to set them up for success while allowing space for trial and error, for struggle and success. From dolls and playgrounds, to multivariable calculus and physics, the approach was the same.  

Hari creates an environment that enables parents to learn about themselves in a way that is non-judgmental.

— Marilyn McLaughlin

“RIE HAS TAUGHT ME
to slow down
to be present
to have patience
to observe 
to wait
to trust
to be flexible
to look at needs rather than behavior
to be objective
to see my children as my teachers”

— Leah Forrester Johnson

Hate to sound cliché, but the RIE classes have changed my life! I still go to Hari's class every week (3 kids and almost four years later) and learn something new every week. If you ever wished you had someone to turn to and ask, "What the hell do I do now they are, biting, pulling hair, waking up, throwing food........ " Hari is an amazing resource. She has really had her work cut out with me and my questions!!! 
The RIE approach to babies blows my mind. Hope to see you there.

— Sharon Rizzi

Thanks for coming by and helping us with our triplets.  It was so useful!  I now give them free run of the backyard, we have a water table they are using frequently, I bathe them individually to make it nicer for both of us, and when possible I feed them lunch individually as well.  The hitting, hair pulling, and biting has gone WAY down, pretty much right away after your visit.  Probably the best thing personally for me is just calmly blocking aggression and not expecting any specific results.  Lowering my expectations has helped me not get so frustrated.

— Elizabeth

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Hari and her wonderful classes. I have attended several mommy and me classes with my 17 month old daughter, since she was born. She always clings to me and doesn’t want to participate in the classes. At our first RIE class I was told that it was OK for her to just "be" and to give her the freedom to choose when she was ready to play. Towards the very end of the class she felt brave enough to venture out and had a wonderful time. In the next class I was amazed by what happened; I let her just be herself and didn’t pressure her to go and play or do anything she didn’t want to do. To my amazement she started playing and enjoying herself immensely, every so often she would run back to me and give me a kiss, which she only does when she is really feeling good, happy and confident. This is the only class we have taken where she has behaved like this. I have learned more in only two classes than a whole year of other classes. Slowing down, respecting her feelings and observing rather than pushing or coaxing has made me see her in a whole new light . Knowing that my child is capable and perfect just as she is has given me freedom!

— Hilda Levierge

Hari Grebler was my intro to Magda Gerber's teachings and I'll be forever grateful to her for changing my life. If you believe, as I do, in obtaining wisdom directly from the source, you won't get any closer than Hari. Please take advantage of everything Hari has to offer!

— Janet Lansbury

Hari introduced me to my baby. Yes, my son and I had already met, three months prior at his birth, but it was Hari who shone the light on the extraordinary, capable, independent little soul whom I had been entrusted with. Hari taught me how to parent. Although I thought I had it down (this wasn’t my first child after-all) by no fault of my own, I was missing everything,

In Hari’s classes I found a rhythm with Hugo, that bled into all the relationships I had. A certain respect for other and for self. I found a gentleness that nurtured my baby boy, his sibling, his father, and even myself. I was able to remove my own judgements and baggage and with a fresh slate, was blessed to witness my little boy unfurl.

When my third child was born, our family was well and truly ensconced in the sweetness that Hari taught us with the RIE/Pikler approach. A peacefulness had entered our home, the dynamic between each of us was full of kindness. Once our youngest graduated Hari’s class, I feared that the harshness out there beyond our little utopia would seep into the strong roots of love we had established. I am proud to report that 17 years later, I have extraordinary, whole, successful  children, who practice non-violence, who are respectful and self-respecting and who have the fondest memories of and gratitude for their childhood.

I am indebted to Hari and her classes, and continue to support her incredible work as I sit on the board of Pikler USA.

— Gabrielle Anwar

I can’t think of any teachings that have had such a personal transformative effect on my life than RIE.   I always felt that Motherhood was simply not for me.  Quite frankly, I just didn’t find it interesting.  RIE has led me to see my sons in a way I hadn’t dreamt of before. A sense of wonder has been awakened in me and now I can’t imagine anything more magical and fulfilling than watching my children grow.  The idea and practice of respect for and trust in our children is essential in the way I see and relate to children now.  I’ve learned that it's only through our genuine feelings of empathy that a child can feel understood and, consequently, how that thought underpins the way to communicate effectively with children regardless of their age or language capabilities. In fact, I have learned to communicate better with adults by practicing RIE!

— Monika Wagenberg