Parent-Child Classes

A slow space to watch your child grow

You love watching your baby discover the world, but it's hard to know how much to step in, how much to step back, or what they actually need from you in any given moment. Parenting books offer rules; your gut sometimes says something different. You're looking for a way to trust yourself more, not a new set of instructions to follow.

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 taught what to do, you'll be invited to watch, reflect, and connect - with your child, and with other families on the same path.

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 gentle discipline

  • Healthy, peaceful relationships between parent and child

First series: Pre-mobile babies

Our first series is designed for babies who are not yet rolling or crawling - typically newborn to around 6 months, though every baby moves at their own pace, so we follow the child rather than a fixed age range.

When: Mondays, 5-26 October, 10:45am-11:45am (4 weeks)

Where: The Red Door Studio, 5 Blackwood Parade, Heidelberg West

Group size: Maximum 8 families

Price: $290

Spaces are limited. Future classes for older babies and toddlers will follow as this first group grows.

What to expect

Classes are held inside, at The Red Door Studio in Heidelberg West. Please bring a small blanket, wrap, or cloth for your baby to lie on. 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 with a clinical focus on parents of young children. 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 illuminating different parts of the same underlying truth: that children flourish on their own when their relational needs are met, and that so much of what we're told to do as parents only gets in the way of that.

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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, life happens, and you won't be excluded for missing a session.

  • A small blanket, wrap, or cloth for your baby to lie on, and comfortable clothing for yourself. Everything else will be provided.

  • 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.

  • Yes. This first series is intentionally small as I begin offering this format. As it grows, classes for older babies and toddlers will follow.