Kia ora
My name is LeeAnne, I am 56 years young with an adult family and have just welcomed the arrival of our third grandchild. I started childcare 24 years ago after trying and failing miserably to return to the workforce after maternity leave, realising that home was the best place for my son to thrive in a loving environment. I knew then that being available for other parents who felt the same way was my calling and still is today.
From that life-changing moment, I have continued developing and broadening my knowledge and understanding of the development of a child’s needs, physically, emotionally and mentally. I like to keep up to date with all teachings PORSE offers and completed my Level 4 of Early childhood education and care in the first intake of participants. Over the years, I have had children of varied ethnic groups and have always supported them and their families in their cultural beliefs and needs.
We live down a long driveway off the main road on a property many call a Hidden Oasis. Over time we have made it a child wonderland with many areas that catch both adults and children’s interest and imaginations, such as life size wild animals amongst the punga garden, the dwarf’s that work in the fairy village or the many tin plates that tell stories of past that adorn a side fence. Our many fruit trees and vegetable gardens that the children help to plant and harvest to be enjoyed through summer. We have a menagerie of animals for children to help take care of, chickens, birds in an aviary, cat, dogs, and fish. Collecting eggs and feeding the fish meat from a skewer are favourites.
I like to keep children active and engaged in learning, so we often go on outings to visit local parks, wetlands, woodlands, nature walks, collecting or exploring. Willowbank Reserve and Orana Park to see animals from around the world, the Christchurch Gondola, which traverses the slopes of Mount Cavendish in the Port Hills, Tram rides through the city, music group, Porse outings, and a weekly playgroup with another Educator at her home to name a few. I set up different play areas indoors for the children to engage in and change to fit current interests. Outdoors we have a range of physical structures, a large covered sandpit and water area, ride on/in vehicles, covered spaces, grassed areas, all with lots of space.
Children settle into care quickly and soon treat our home as their own, leaving parents minds at ease about their care choice.