What if We Respected Toddlers as Whole People?
About this episode
Parenting educator Janet Lansbury, a leading popularizer of Magda Gerber's RIE approach, argues that toddlers should be treated as whole people — competent, deserving of respect, and capable of far more than adults assume. She explains core principles: observe more and intervene less, set clear boundaries without punishment, acknowledge children's feelings rather than distracting from them, and give even small babies uninterrupted independent play. Lansbury discusses why modern parenting has become so anxious and intensive, how to handle tantrums and sibling conflict, and the difference between being a child's leader and their servant. Klein, a new father, connects the philosophy to adult relationships, finding in it a broader ethic of respecting other people's agency.