These playgroups, offered during the first two years of infancy, are inspired by the Educaring® philosophy of Resources for Infant Educarers®, co-founded in 1978 by author, teacher, and child development specialist Magda Gerber with Stanford professor and pediatric neurologist Tom Forrest, M.D. New Eyes classes are for families with children from birth to age two. Educaring® focuses on relationship-based care, facilitating respectful relationships between infants/toddlers and their caregivers. It promotes trusting infants and toddlers, mindfully observing them and letting them move freely. You can learn more about the Educaring® principles here.
Why is this website called New Eyes?
I named this space New Eyes not because I believe we can—or should—discard the eyes we already have. Our old eyes, shaped by experience, culture, and the stories we’ve lived, are invaluable. But parenting invites us to something extraordinary: the chance to see the world anew, to borrow the fresh, wonder-filled gaze of a child.
New Eyes is about that shift—not replacing, but expanding our vision. It’s about loosening the grip of old assumptions, letting curiosity soften certainty, and allowing ourselves to be surprised. Because when we see with new eyes, the ordinary shimmers, the small becomes vast, and parenting becomes less about control and more about discovery.
Who is the group facilitator?
Marwa Abdelfattah is the group facilitator and RIE® associate Liz Memel is Marwa’s mentor who will be supervising all the sessions remotely and providing weekly feedback.
What is the role of the facilitator?
The facilitator’s role is to create a safe, calm, and engaging environment where infants can explore and interact freely. They observe the infants closely and offer support when needed.
What are the qualifications of the facilitator?
Marwa holds many degrees in early childhood education, anthropology, languages, and parenting from leading institutions around the world. She is currently a RIE Practicum student (on her way to becoming the second RIE associate in Washington DC). Learn more about Marwa here.
What ages are the infants?
There are two groups: one for babies aged 3–6 months and another for babies aged 4–10 months.
How many infants are in each playgroup?
6 infants.
How many parents?
6 parents. But let me know if you need to bring another caregiver with you. I can make space for that.
What is the environment like?
A fenced area overlooking windows, greenery, and natural sunlight with a play mat, some age-appropriate play objects, and gross motor equipment.
What are the activities?
The activities are anything the infants choose to do.
What do parents do during class?
After settling into the space, we spend quiet time observing the infants/toddlers (while you may also be responding to your baby’s caregiving needs). Then, we follow with a discussion of what we’ve been noticing as well as thoughts concerning issues beyond the classroom experience.
Do you offer refunds?
Refunds are generally not offered, as class spaces are limited. However, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise, so we encourage you to contact us directly to discuss any concerns.
Do you offer discounts?
We can offer discounts for early registration, multiple class sign-ups, or if the class fee is outside your budget.
