Hi, I am Kumiko and a mom of two children. I was born and raised in Japan, have studied and lived in India, USA and China. I recently moved to Ottawa, Canada to celebrate diversity and nature with my family in 2023! I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with Early Childhood Education Certificate. I am a RIE® (Resources for Infant Educarers®) Associate and a Founder of Polé Polé Parenting. 

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While growing up in Tokyo, a fast-paced city, my father, who studied Swahili, often reminded me to slow down, based on a popular proverb “pole pole ndio mwendo - slowly is the way.” Whenever I was stressed and rushing to get my tasks done, he told me “Polé Polé,” to pause and slow down. This always helped me to relax, focus on the present moment, and see the bigger picture of learning in life.

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This is probably the reason why I immediately connected with RIE® and Magda Gerber’s Educaring® Approach, as she consistently reminds us the value of slowing down in parenting.  I have learned to take a breath, observe more, and tune into infants’ needs as well as my own. I found an inner peace and healthy balance in my parenting journey. 

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If you are a parent who feel overwhelmed and stressed with daily chores or simply looking to find a deeper bond with your baby, I will be honored to be part of your parenting journey.