Organic Kids Christchurch

Hello there, my name is Francesca. Meeting my husband Dayne and having our two children has been an amazing adventure and my biggest accomplishment.

Earlier in my career I worked within the creative industries but after having my two children I discovered my strength and passion for Early Childhood Education and made the decision become an At home Educator in 2015. I have since completed my Certificate in Early Childhood education and Care. I chose to be an educator at home, rather than working in a centre because I believe wholeheartedly that it is best for children under three to be in a home setting, and I know that it is not always possible or desirable for many parents in our modern world. I regularly engage in professional development to strengthen and improve my practice. I consider myself to be a reflective person, and have committed to being a life long learner.

In my free time I enjoy being creative, reading, drawing, sewing and working on up-cycling projects. You may find me scouring the op shops for all sorts of treasures that will brighten our play space and ignite the imaginations of the children I educate and care for.

Located in the lovely suburb of Spreydon, my home provides a family environment with a secure foundation of calm, kindness and quality care that embraces and follows the child’s first years of life. My warm and inviting indoor environment is prepared with care and aesthetic sensibility to encourage wonder and possibilities in young children. I offer quality materials that are ordered and balanced and that encourage gross motor skills, sensory experimentation and heuristic play. Open-ended and unstructured materials such as loose parts enhance creativity, because the child can experiment with each object in an infinite amount of compositions and connections. 

My personal philosophy as an educator is a “Heart-Centred” approach inspired by the amazing work of New Zealanders….  Kimberley Crisp, Bernadette Raiche and Pennie Brownlee and of course guided by Te Whariki. Internationally I am inspired in particular by the Pikler and Waldorf philosophy. My personal teaching philosophy is such a huge topic to try and condense into a paragraph, but one I love, so I am happy to provide you with further detail if you are interested.

For me, there are so many parts of each approach that resonate but my practice is always based in respectful caregiving. It consists of building a solid relationship with all tamariki and offering them a “shelter”, while allowing them to discover the world through their play.

I provide

• Predominantly natural and sustainable sourced resources for play
• Time and space
• Respectful, reciprocal relationships both with children and families
• A simplified pace for childhood
• A peaceful environment

I use Story park to create accessible ePortfolio records so each family can maintain contact with their children’s experiences through photos, stories and learning outcomes.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Ngā mihi nui