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ATHLETIC TRAINING FOR BABIES
Give your new little one an athletic jumpstart. You can develop your baby’s future balance, coordination and focus with RIE principles.
I just got confirmation from my 3 year old son’s coaches that I spent the first two years of his life doing the right thing for his future athleticism. In order to support the development of body awareness, balance, control and motivation…I kept my hands off of him.
I followed Magda Gerber’s Resources for Infant Educators (RIE) Educaring (TM) approach and my now three year old boy is astounding his activity teachers with unusually solid balance, coordination and focus. Here’s how we did it and how simple it is for you to give your new little one an athletic jumpstart.
COACH SAID SO
“Have you done other classes with him before or something?” asked one of my son’s sport coaches. “I have been working with children for years and I have never seen a 3 year old child with better balance, coordination and control.” he said.
“Well sort of” I replied and explained that I followed a philosophy for the first two years of his life which was the exact opposite of a class. I essentially followed a hands off, observe only approach. In contrast to classes and programs to develop strength, balance, and movement skills I held off from absolutely any activity that even resembled ‘training’.
I STUDY HUMAN MOVEMENT
Human movement has always been a fascinating topic for me. Hence my degree in human kinetics followed by 20 years of work in the fitness industry. Having a newborn ‘client’ has been an exciting experiment for me over the last 3 years. I never would have thought that a hands-off approach would be the best developmental strategy but I am so thankful that I was exposed to RIE and it’s approach to the ‘natural unfolding of motor development.’
WHAT IS RIE?
Resources for Infant Educators (RIE) is an organization founded in Los Angeles in the 70’s by early childhood educator Magda Gerber. The goal of Magda’s work is to give parents and early childhood caregivers a philosophy and tools for caring for infants.
Magda Gerber’s Educaring Approach encourages infants and adults to trust each other, learn to problem solve, and embrace their ability for self-discovery. When allowed to unfold in their own way and in their own time, children discover and inspire the best in themselves and in others. -RIE website
You can read the full set of RIE principles here, in this post I focus on the principles around motor development.
RIE ROOTS
Magda Gerber developed her Educaring principles after studying under hungarian Pediatrician Dr. Emmi Pikler (1902-1984) who is known for her work on the natural unfolding of motor development.
“She mapped out the way in which children’s motor development unfolds naturally, and documented these universal, natural developmental patterns with decades of detailed research” Pikler website
NATURAL PROGRESSION
My son did not walk early. At 14 months he was on the relative late side. But the comments started coming in shortly after he started walking. ‘What great balance he has’, ‘he is sure-footed’, ‘he moves so well’, ‘he has such confidence and control of his body’.
Emmi Pikler contends that infants left to natural development begin walking in the first half of the second year of life.
“The strong, mobile, flexible trunk – which takes part in all movements of an infant, which moves together with the head and limbs often even guiding a movement – is only the result of months of practice.” “All this takes several months, during which time the child practices countless variation of these movements.”–
HOW I DISCOVERED RIE
I initially learned about RIE and Gerber’s Educaring philosophy from Janet Lansbury. Lansbury is a Los Angeles RIE instructor, author and very popular RIE blogger. I received a copy of Janet’s first book Elevating Childcare while I was pregnant. Her message resonated powerfully with me. I started to follow her blog and signed up for RIE classes starting when my son was 4 months old. We attended weekly classes for almost year.
JUST OBSERVE
Years before becoming a mom I already knew that I loved getting down on the floor and just being with children. I loved to engage and entertain them and to become part of their world. I loved to lead and to teach. RIE principles encouraged me to step back slightly and to just observe. By doing this I was able to witness the pure fascination an infant has with their own skills development. I learned that they don’t need to be entertained. I learned that with young infants I don’t have to lead, entertain or teach any skills.
“If one does not interfere, an infant will learn to turn, roll, creep on the belly, go on all fours, stand, sit, and walk with no trouble. This will not happen under pressure, but out of her own initiative – independently, with joy, and pride in her achievement – even though she may sometimes get angry, and cry impatiently.” Emmi Pikler website
MY UN-TRAINING STRATEGY
I had to embrace a new way of thinking in order to allow my son the opportunity to direct his own learning and progress, to develop problem solving, tenacity and resiliency. I had to strategically permit him opportunities to discover new movements and to provide the weeks and even months for him to practice and refine all these new movements. In order to let him delight in his own problem solving, his mastery of skills and overcoming of obstacles, this is what I had to do:
- Provide a safe, pleasant and open space for him to just be.
- Just observe
- Help only when needed.
In order to prevent him from being overwhelmed by sounds or objects, for him to be present with himself and to be able to tune into his movements. In order for him to feel and know little movement successes each day, and to challenge his self I really had to disown how I was parented in infancy. For him to develop and master those tiny movements with hundreds of repetitions so he could develop smooth and controlled and coordinated movements I had to forego a lot of baby gadgets and gear. This is what I did:
1. I never placed him any position but supine (on his back) and in spaces where he could move freely and naturally. There were no rockers or seats which alter the natural resting posture of the shoulder girdle, spine and hips since smooth and full movement cannot develop from faulty alignment and with restricted range of motion. We often just had a big firm gym mat on the floor.
2. I didn’t place him in any position that he was not able to to get into by using his own natural musculature and motor development. This meant no propping with pillows, no Boppy seats, no highchairs, no walkers, no jumpers. He sat up when he was able to sit on his own accord and with his own strength and motor sequencing. We let tummy time happen organically and look at the joy on his face (Check out the main image above).
3. I rarely intervened when there was struggle. When learning to roll over, my son had a very distinctive battle cry.Listen for it in your child! When he groaned, grunted, squirmed and even yelled while attempting to roll over, I knew the struggle was intentional and desired. And oh the delight on his face when he succeeded!
“An infant’s own movements, the development of these movements and every detail of this development are a constant source of joy to him.” -The Pikler Collection
4. I avoided holding his hands overhead while he learned to walk, or using walking devices. Although loving family and friends delighted in holding his hands and walking him around the house and yard, and I never resisted this for the joy it brought everyone. We really minimized his supported walking.
ATHLETIC BABIES
Developing an athletic baby didn’t take extra work or added stress. There was no uncertainty. Simply observing and letting it all unfold naturally was just plain easy and delightful for both the baby and our family. Let’s see where this little athlete takes his skills.
I started pumping iron and drinking green smoothies in my teens. Now a 40+ mama with 25 years of experience working in the fitness industry, I do things differently. What I discovered during my personal healing journey made me pivot in my approach as a personal fitness and wellness coach. Now I teach people how to sweat, nourish and glow from an entirely new perspective.