Parent-Child Classes
A slow space to watch your child grow
You love watching your baby discover the world. And yet, parenting a young child can leave you wondering: How much should I step in? How much should I step back? What does my baby actually need from me?
There is so much advice telling us what to do. Sometimes it's hard to hear your own instincts underneath all of it.
I created these classes as a place to slow down, watch, wonder, and get to know your baby (and yourself) a little better.
Parent-child classes at Intentional Arc offer a small, slow, observation-based space for you and your baby - grounded in RIE, Pikler, and the Neufeld Approach.
Rather than being told what to do, you'll be invited to watch, reflect, and connect - with your child, and with other families on the same path. I'll share the principles that inform the way we approach things in class, and explain the thinking behind them. You'll have space to try things out, observe your baby, ask questions, and consider what feels right for your own family.
Often, supporting our children means doing less rather than more
Rather than constantly directing, stimulating or fixing, we can create the conditions for children to explore, develop and communicate in their own way - while staying close enough to notice what they need from us.
These classes are an opportunity to practise that way of being together. We'll slow down enough to really observe your baby, notice what they're communicating, and think together about how you can respond while making space for their own unfolding development.
What happens in a class
Each class follows a gentle, repeating rhythm. Babies are free to lie, move, and explore in a safe, prepared space, while parents sit back together and observe - really observe, not just watch. Over time, this becomes one of the most valuable parts of the experience: learning to notice what's actually happening for your child, without immediately stepping in to direct, entertain, or fix.
There's no script and no syllabus. What we explore together grows out of what's actually present in the room each week - your questions, your child's development, and the small, ordinary moments that turn out to matter more than they seem.
In each class, we explore:
How everyday care (feeding, bathing, dressing) is an opportunity for connection
Learning to observe, and what it teaches us about our child and ourselves
Uninterrupted play, and what it means for your child's development
Letting your baby move and develop at their own pace
Creating a calm, unhurried environment at home
Rhythm, routine, and setting limits with warmth
Healthy, peaceful relationships between parent and child
Current and upcoming classes
Pre-mobile - Now enrolling
For babies who are not yet rolling or crawling.
When: Mondays 5, 12, 19 & 26 October, 10:45-11:45am
Where: The Red Door Studio, 5 Blackwood Parade, Heidelberg West
Group size: Maximum 8 parent–child pairs
Price: $250 per parent–child pair for the 4-week series
Questions before you book?
You're welcome to get in touch - audur@intentionalarc.com or 0432 840 842
Two-nap - Coming soon
For children on two naps.
One-nap - Coming soon
For children on one nap.
What to expect
Classes are held inside, at The Red Door Studio in Heidelberg West. Please bring a small blanket or muslin wrap for your baby to lie on. We provide a soft surface for the group, and having your own cloth on top means you're prepared for any spills. Please wear something comfortable that allows you to sit on the floor.
There's no need to prepare anything in advance, and no homework between sessions. Just bring yourself and your baby, and we'll take it from there.
About Auður
I'm a PACFA-registered psychotherapist and parent. I work primarily with parents of young children, including when a child is experiencing difficulties and a parent is looking for support in understanding and responding to what's happening.
My approach draws on attachment theory, relational psychotherapy, and the developmental frameworks of RIE, Pikler, and Gordon Neufeld - three lenses I see as complementary rather than competing. Each illuminates different aspects of the same underlying truth: children have an innate capacity to develop and flourish, and our role as parents is to create the relational conditions that allow that development to unfold.
I'm currently completing mentorship training in RIE-informed parent-child class facilitation with Hari Grebler, a certified RIE Associate who trained directly with RIE founder Magda Gerber.
Be the first to know
Register your interest below and I'll be in touch when a class opens that suits your child's stage. Any questions? See the FAQs below.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Not at all. Most families come with no prior knowledge of these approaches. You're welcome exactly as you are, with whatever questions or uncertainties you're currently holding.
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That's completely normal, and there's no pressure for your baby to behave a certain way. You're welcome to comfort your baby however feels right to you. Part of what we explore together is exactly this - how to respond to your child's cues with confidence.
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6 weeks to around 6 months, but what matters is whether your baby is rolling or crawling yet rather than their exact age. If you're unsure whether this class is the right fit, feel free to get in touch.
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The classes are designed as a 4-week series, and there's real value in the continuity - both for your baby's sense of familiarity and for the relationships that build within the group. That said, if you miss a session, that's completely fine. Just let me know in advance if you can.
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Not quite. While there's a social and community element, the focus is more specifically on observation, reflection, and understanding your baby's development - alongside the connection with other families.
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Yes. Classes for older babies and toddlers will follow. Groups stay small - a maximum of 8 families - at every stage, as this is part of what makes the format work.
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Classes are paid upfront for the full series. If you need to cancel, a full refund is available up to 7 days before the series begins. After that point, refunds aren't available. If you have any concerns about committing to the full series, please reach out before enrolling and we can talk it through.
Pre-mobile - Now enrolling
For babies who are not yet rolling or crawling.
When: Mondays 5, 12, 19 & 26 October, 10:45-11:45am
Where: The Red Door Studio, 5 Blackwood Parade, Heidelberg West
Group size: Maximum 8 parent–child pairs
Price: $250 per parent–child pair for the 4-week series