About Riesers™ & Larissa
“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.” ~Maria Montessori
Larissa Neilson
A caregiver at heart. Larissa is an author, infant and toddler specialist, and Founder of Riesers™. Pikler® and RIE® are at the center of all her training. Larissa has practiced the Pikler and RIE principles for over 20 years while helping parents raise their children peacefully and respectfully.
Today she is a childcare consultant and RIE-certified teacher. She has provided countless hours of training parents, professional caregivers, and childcare center providers in English and Spanish.
She lives in Santa Barbara and when she’s not working, she can be found hiking, beach walking and spending time with her daughter Esther.
Pikler Education
The Pikler approach is based on a kind and respectful relationship between an adult and infant through tender care moments, naturally paced motor development, free movement, and uninterrupted play. The work of Dr. Emmi Pikler has become internationally known and recognized for its preventive and therapeutic value.
RIE Education
We are a network of infant-toddler professionals who are passionately dedicated to empowering parents and caregiving professionals to provide the secure and respectful beginnings children need for a healthy life. We do this by teaching Magda Gerber’s approach that affirms that caring educates children about themselves. At the heart of both Gerber’s and Pikler’s work with infants is the quality of respectful and responsive care.
What I Do
I communicate to parents and anyone working with children that the first five years of life are the most important. Children need most to have an adult that directly or indirectly influences their life to understand development. I offer a variety of courses, workshops, and training to help parents, professional caregivers, and childcare center providers enhance their skills and competencies needed in infant and toddler education.
The importance of my training
Early childhood experiences affect lifelong health and learning.
Responsive relationships and positive experiences build strong brain architecture.
The child’s future learning and brain development will depend on the quality of the connection between the caregiver and the child.
“Perhaps it takes courage to raise children.” ― John Steinbeck