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About

“All feelings are permissible not all behaviour is permissible.”

John Gottman PH.D

An intentional parenting philosophy, which is relationship focused, will ensure children’s optimal development and greater family harmony. Combining research on the developing brain with parenting programs, that support emotionally intelligent parenting (Tuning in to Kids ™ / Tuning in to Teens ™), is the focus of Raising Family Matters.

At its core is the belief that parents know their children best and already have what it takes to raise emotionally intelligent children. It is a matter of listening carefully to parents. It is about focusing on the integral relationship between parent and child and using difficult moments in children’s behaviour to improve and foster closer connection.

Saying yes to children’s feelings while maintaining firm limits on behaviour allows children to develop from a secure base. In doing so they become emotionally resilient and maximally receptive to learning effectively.

kids

Cognitive, emotional, and social capacities are inextricably intertwined throughout the life course. The brain is a highly integrated organ and its multiple functions operate in coordination with one another. Emotional well-being and social competence provide a strong foundation for emerging cognitive abilities, and together they are the bricks and mortar of brain architecture. The emotional and physical health, social skills, and cognitive-linguistic capacities that emerge in the early years are all important for success in school, the workplace, and in the larger community.

Harvard University
Centre on the Developing Child 2021.

Liz Kelly

Profile

I am an educator with over 30 years’ experience of working with parents and children. My lifetime’s work has allowed me to understand the critical intersection between one’s intelligence quotient (IQ) and one’s emotional intelligence (EQ).

I understand how rewarding parenting can be but also how challenging. I understand children’s learning needs and how complex their emotional lives can be. This is particularly so for children of high ability whose view of the world is so different from the average child.

I understand how difficult it can be to access practical help with everyday parenting. I strive to promote understanding of what it takes to help children, of all ages, to thrive in life.

I believe that emotionally intelligent parenting is the key to children’s optimal development; raising people who understand themselves and others-who can cope with the distractions and demands of a fast-changing world.

Qualifications

  • M.Ed. (Gifted) Monash University
  • Graduate Diploma of Educational Studies University of Melbourne
  • B.A (Hons) University of Melbourne
  • Dip. Ed University of Melbourne
  • Child, Adolescent and Family Therapies (C.A.F.T.) University of Melbourne
  • Developmental Psychiatry Course (DPC) University of Melbourne
  • Tuning into Kids; Tuning in to Teens Practitioner – University of Melbourne

“The key to successful parenting is not found in complex theories, elaborate family rules, or convoluted formulas for behaviour.
It is based on your deepest feelings of love and affection for your child and is demonstrated simply through empathy and understanding. Good parenting begins in your heart and then continues on a moment-to-moment basis by engaging your children when feelings run high, when they are sad, angry, or scared. The heart of parenting is being there in a particular way when it really counts.”

John Gottman PH.D.
Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child

“The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.”

Peggy O’Mara