About Lou
Personal Life
Lou Harvey-Zahra is a mother to two wonderful grown-children, and lives in Melbourne, Australia. She loves walking the beach with her dog, cooking, travelling and helping parents!
Teaching Experience
Lou is a teacher (Primary, Rudolf Steiner, Special Needs) with 30 years' teaching experience within UK and Australia.
International Presenter
Lou facilitates parenting talks and teacher training worldwide each year (UK, USA and Australia). She presents talks and workshops within schools, libraries and for organisations. But how did it all begin…?
Qualifications
Lou obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Liverpool University, a Postgraduate Degree in Education from West Sussex Institute of Higher Education, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs from Kingston University. Twenty-two years ago Lou completed her Rudolf Steiner teacher training.
Other Educational Achievements
Lou was a key presenter at the World Autism Conference, and is a key lecturer for Sydney Rudolf Steiner College for the past 6 years.
Lou pioneered a Saturday Social Skills Club for children with Autism/Asperger’s and their families, which obtained Government funding and still runs today.
Lou is a co-founder of a Steiner Kindergarten, and a successful Steiner-inspired curriculum in a primary school in Melbourne, which has over 250 students and has run for 17 years.
Lou’s Books
Lou’s popular parenting books include:
- Turning Tears into Laughter: Creative Discipline for the Toddler and Preschool Years (Five Mile Press, 2010, now out-of-print)
- Happy Child, Happy Home: Conscious Parenting and Creative Discipline (Floris Books, UK, 2014 and 5 print runs), which has become a bestseller and is translated into three languages
- Creative Discipline, Connected Family: Transforming Tears, Tantrums and Troubles While Staying Close to Your Children (Floris Books, UK, 2015 and 3 print runs)
- Growing Children, Thriving Children: Raising 7 to 12 Year Olds with Confidence and Awareness (Floris Books, UK, 2019 and 3 print runs)
- The Connected Family Handbook: Nurturing Wonder, Warmth and Kindness in Children (Floris Books, UK, 2022)
- Through the Rainbow: A Waldorf Birthday Story for Children (Floris Books, UK, 2018 and 5 print runs)
- Happy Families, Table Talk: 111 Fun Questions (Happy Child, Happy Home Publishing, Australia, 2020, and 2 print runs)
The Future...
Lou will keep writing books and presenting, she is passionate about assisting both parents and teachers to enhance the lives of children, and therefore, the future.
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