Yinan Lu

My name is Yinan Lu, and I am the facilitator of the Slow & Steady Caregiver–Child Class.

My journey with RIE began in 2016, when I joined a parent–child class with my older son. I was deeply moved by the simplicity, respect, and clarity of the approach, and it changed the way I saw children—and myself as a parent. I began formal RIE training in 2018, completed Foundations with Deborah Carlisle Solomon, and graduated from the RIE Practicum in 2024 under the guidance of Dr. Christina Cohen.

I studied Early Childhood Education and Special Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and hold a master’s degree in Environmental Conservation Education from NYU. 

Before moving upstate, I worked with children ages 2–6 in a Forest School program at Queens Botanical Garden. Since 2021, I’ve taught in the Fawns classroom at The Middle Way School. I’m currently taking time away from classroom teaching to raise my one-year-old and to support families through RIE-inspired work.

My approach is rooted in respectful care, sensitive observation, and the belief that children develop best in simple, unhurried environments. I draw from RIE, simplicity parenting, mindfulness, trauma-informed practices, nature education, and the idea of meeting each child with a beginner’s mind. I love helping caregivers slow down, build confidence, and enjoy their child’s unfolding development in real time.

Outside of work, I enjoy growing food, tending the land, and making things with my hands.