In collaboration with BeginningWell.org. A warm dialogue and exchange with parenting experts: Janet Lansbury, Lisa Sunbury Gerber, Ute Strub, Pia Dögl, and Elsa Chahin

About our expert panelists:

Janet Lansbury’s respectful parenting advice (janetlansbury.com) is quoted and shared by millions of readers worldwide. A protégée of Magda Gerber, Janet is the author of two bestselling books, Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting and No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame. Janet is also the creator and host of “Janet Lansbury Unruffled,” one of the most downloaded parenting podcasts on the web and recommended listening by The Washington Post. She also enjoys facilitating parent-child classes, consulting with parents and professionals, and spending time with her three children, ages 27, 23, and 18.

Lisa Sunbury Gerber is an Infant Toddler Specialist and RIE® Associate who studied with Magda Gerber at the original home of RIE in Silver Lake, CA. She is the founder of Regarding Baby regardingbaby.org and Respect From Birth respectfrombirth.mn.co. Lisa brings over 25 years of experience to her current roles as a parent/ infant class teacher, parent consultant, and ECE college instructor. When she's not teaching, she enjoys reading, writing, hiking and homeschooling her seven year old RIE raised daughter in Santa Cruz, CA.

Pia Dögl is a parenting counselor, author, and social entrepreneur. Pia has focused her work on fostering the precious potential of children and the empathetic well being of the whole family. Pia founded the organization Beginning Well, which offers parents and caregivers practical support for mindful care. beginningwell.org/en Her book, Beginning Well - Empathy From The Very Beginning, was published in autumn 2018 in English and will soon be available in Mandarin. Pia works internationally with groups and organizations on self-awareness and the unfolding of unique capacities, that's what her new company dailyempathy.com is about.

Ute Strub, Master Pikler® Trainer and physiotherapist, worked for 12 years at University Hospital in Freiburg, Germany with very sick patients. Since 1950, Ms. Strub worked closely with Elfriede Hengstenberg, who named her as successor of her work and commissioned her in writing Hengstenberg’s published biography. In the 70’s, she worked closely with Dr. Emmi Pikler, including on various publications. As Master Teacher of their pedagogies, Ms. Strub became co-initiator of the Pikler-Playroom movement in Austria, Germany and Switzerland in 1996. In 2007 she founded the Emmi Pikler House for abandoned children, and in 2010, Strandgut, a unique playroom in Berlin for both adults and children. At 86, she is still a dynamic and active presenter worldwide.

Elsa Chahin, President and CEO of Pikler USA is an in-demand speaker, writer, teacher, infant-toddler consultant, and is one of only two Pikler® certified and accredited trainers of the Pikler® Pedagogy in North America. In addition, Chahin, a RIE® Associate, has served as a keynote speaker and presenter at over 125 national and international conferences and seminars on the topic of caring for babies with respect. She recently co-authored the book, In Loving Hands: How the Rights for Young Children Living in Children’s Homes Offer Hope and Happiness In Today’s World, with Anna Tardos, Dr. Pikler’s daughter. Chahin, who has been mentored by Ute Strub since 2004 and named as her successor, is a working group leader for World Forum Foundation™, a PITC Trainer and a UCLA Certified Lactation Educator. Chahin, a rare leader who not only brings passion and commitment to her work, but also a deep knowledge coupled with both insight and generosity, was a professional ballerina and has practiced yoga, meditation and mindfulness for 25 years. Above all, she is a joyous mom.