--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What infants need is the opportunity and…" description: "\"What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in and figure out the world around them.\" — Magda Gerber" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/magda-gerber-17618_figures_what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and_513315.png" --- # What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in… ![“What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in and figure out the world around them.” quote by Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/magda-gerber-17618_figures_what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and_513315.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/magda-gerber-17618_figures_what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and_513315.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/magda-gerber-17618_figures_what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and_513315.png) > “What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in and figure out the world around them.” [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Infants need time and opportunities to explore, allowing them to understand their environment. **In simple terms:** Kids learn by exploring. Key Takeaway Provide space for discovery. Themes development exploration learning Mood nurturing patient Type advice educational When to use this quote - parenting - early education curricula - play-based learning Key Concepts early childhood education developmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - What environments best support infant curiosity? - How can caregivers balance safety and exploration? A Different Perspective Too much structure can hinder curiosity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Infants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/infants/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Infants need the most sleep, and, what is more, get it. Stunning them with a soft, padded hammer is the best way to insure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/infants-need-the-most-sleep-and-what-is-more-get-it-stunning-them/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [In the beginning of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive. And at the end of life, we need others to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/in-the-beginning-of-life-when-we-are-infants-we-need-others-to/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [If infants are ready to do something, they will do it. In fact, when they are ready, they have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/if-infants-are-ready-to-do-something-they-will-do-it-in-fact-when/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [RIE emphasizes the benefits of infants spending peaceful, uninterrupted time following their biological rhythms of falling asleep when sleepy and eating when hungry, rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/rie-emphasizes-the-benefits-of-infants-spending-peaceful/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [I have learned that newborn infants roll their eyes around and move their heads and their arms in short jerky spasms. And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hodgman/i-have-learned-that-newborn-infants-roll-their-eyes-around-and-move/) [John Hodgman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hodgman/) > [Most infants are geniuses. They're indomitable, fearless, and completely in harmony with a cosmic proclivity for growth. They're heroes because they walk directly through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gillies/most-infants-are-geniuses-they-re-indomitable-fearless-and-completely/) [Daniel Gillies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gillies/) > [Hell is paved with infants skulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/hell-is-paved-with-infants-skulls/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“Millions of deaths would not have happened if it weren’t for the consumption of alcohol. The same can be said about millions of births.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/millions-of-deaths-would-not-have-happened-if-it-weren-t-for-the/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [It didn't take elaborate experiments to deduce that an infant would die from want of food. 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Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-j-kaplan/) > [The smiles of infants are said to be the first fruits of human reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-norman-hudson/the-smiles-of-infants-are-said-to-be-the-first-fruits-of-human-reason/) Henry Norman Hudson > [It is well-known that those who have charge of young infants, that it is difficult to feel sure when certain movements about their mouths…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/it-is-well-known-that-those-who-have-charge-of-young-infants-that-it/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) > [Nobody agrees with anybody else anyhow, but adults conceal it and infants show it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogden-nash/nobody-agrees-with-anybody-else-anyhow-but-adults-conceal-it-and/) [Ogden Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ogden-nash/) > [“There are no people more peaceful than infants.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/there-are-no-people-more-peaceful-than-infants/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) > [There is no more important issue than restoring the protection of the law to pre-natal infants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-j-humphrey/there-is-no-more-important-issue-than-restoring-the-protection-of-the/) Gordon J. Humphrey > [It always grieves me to contemplate the initiation of children into the ways of life when they are scarcely more than infants. It checks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/it-always-grieves-me-to-contemplate-the-initiation-of-children-into/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More by Magda Gerber > [I wish children could grow according to their natural pace: sleep when sleepy, wake up when rested, eat when hungry, cry when upset, play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/i-wish-children-could-grow-according-to-their-natural-pace-sleep-when/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write and count. It is a small window of time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/childhood-is-not-a-race-to-see-how-quickly-a-child-can-read-write-and/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [An infant always learns. The less we interfere with the natural process of learning, the more we can observe how much infants learn all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/an-infant-always-learns-the-less-we-interfere-with-the-natural/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [By closely supervising our infants, by allowing them to do what they are capable of, by restraining ourselves from rescuing them too often, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/by-closely-supervising-our-infants-by-allowing-them-to-do-what-they/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [All children accomplish milestones in their own way, in their own time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/all-children-accomplish-milestones-in-their-own-way-in-their-own-time/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Every baby moves with more ease and efficiency if allowed to do it at his own time and in his own way, without our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/every-baby-moves-with-more-ease-and-efficiency-if-allowed-to-do-it-at/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [When you approach your baby with an attitude of respect, you let him know what you intend to do and give him a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/when-you-approach-your-baby-with-an-attitude-of-respect-you-let-him/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [When you hold an infant, hold him not just with your body, but with your mind and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/when-you-hold-an-infant-hold-him-not-just-with-your-body-but-with/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Much harm has been done in the name of love, but no harm can be done in the name of respect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/much-harm-has-been-done-in-the-name-of-love-but-no-harm-can-be-done/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Remember, nobody can make another person fall asleep. 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Respecting a child means treating even the youngest infant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/we-not-only-respect-babies-we-demonstrate-our-respect-every-time-we/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [Allow the child to be authentic, to move, to feel the way they move, appreciating them for what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/allow-the-child-to-be-authentic-to-move-to-feel-the-way-they-move/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) > [I have spent my adult life trying to figure out why parents and society put themselves into a race -- what's the hurry? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/i-have-spent-my-adult-life-trying-to-figure-out-why-parents-and/) [Magda Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) [Explore all 36 Magda Gerber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/) ## More Figures quotes > [The tough thing about radio is I've met a lot of people in it who like my music. But it's hard for them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-isaak/the-tough-thing-about-radio-is-i-ve-met-a-lot-of-people-in-it-who/) [Chris Isaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-isaak/) > [I was always anti-marriage. I didn't understand monogamy. I couldn't figure out how that could last. 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Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-h-lapham/) Browse all 4,696 Figures quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in and figure out the world around them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Magda Gerber" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and-time-to-take-in-and-figure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Figures" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and-time-to-take-in-and-figure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/magda-gerber-17618_figures_what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and_513315.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/magda-gerber-17618_figures_what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and_513315.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/377/magda-gerber-17618_figures_what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and_513315.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What infants need is the opportunity and time to take in and figure out the world around them.” — Magda Gerber", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Magda Gerber", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magda-gerber/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What infants need is the opportunity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and-time-to-take-in-and-figure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magda-gerber/what-infants-need-is-the-opportunity-and-time-to-take-in-and-figure/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```