Heather
Dinsdale, Hamilton
Hi, my name is Heather! I am proud to say I have been an educator since 2001. I chose to be an educator when my own son was one, as I valued the idea of him having friends to play alongside and learn with, within our own nurturing environment, and when our daughter came along she also got to enjoy the same environment.
I am passionate about children learning through their play and strongly believe everything a child takes part in, has learning attached. I believe life is all about exploration and the more exploration we have especially in those early years, the more knowledge we gain.
My home offers a lot of room to play and explore. I pride myself on a safe, nurturing, stimulating home-away-from-home with a wide range of play resources. These help keep my little people busy and developing their young minds while learning through play, and they have the added opportunity to learn with and alongside others.
I enjoy getting out and about and exploring our community giving all children equal opportunities to make discoveries and explore the wider world around them. Our days consist of morning activities, ranging from Monday playgroup, Tuesdays community music, Wednesday and Fridays can be home days or maybe an exploring day, I let the children have a voice in those decisions, for their thoughts for the day, Thursday is gym group day. With being busy in the mornings we are always home for lunch, then we enjoy a more relaxed afternoon, allowing children’s sleeping needs to be met. I pride myself on my profile books which tell the story of children’s individual learning and adventures we have had. I enjoy seeing my little people reflecting back through their journals and seeing the memories they have made.
With Kids at Home, we are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend regular play and gym groups at no extra cost to parents and we attend community music groups. We have organized nature walks and Kids’ days out to attend. By attending groups such as these my little people learn to navigate larger groups and they are learning to communicate with their peers and develop and extend their friendships.
I am available to work Monday through to Friday so if you would like to come and meet me and my little friends and explore home-based as a learning option for the precious little one, I would love to discuss your childcare needs and your aspirations for your child, please feel free to contact the Kids at Home team today!
Qualifications
- First Aid Certificate
- Over 20 years experience as a Home-based Educator
- Orientation and introduction into family daycare
- Attendance of professional development opportunities offered by Kids at Home: Te Whariki and Be School Ready
- Early Childhood Education Level 4
Testimonials
Heather was highly recommended to us by a friend and when we first met her we could see why. She genuinely cares for each child as if they were her own. Our son has been with Heather for three years now and our daughter has just recently started. Both our kids love going to Heather’s where they have a fantastic environment. Each day is filled with activities and there are regular outings where the kids get to socialise with other children and learn life skills. We can’t recommend Heather enough, she is amazing! – G + O Armstrong
I was first introduced to Heather in 2010 through a close friend who highly recommended Heather’s services. There is something special about word of mouth as a reference when choosing services such as midwives, doctors, and childcare. My two children, now aged three and a half and five years old, have been attending home-based childcare at Heather’s since aged ten and eight months respectively. If I were to choose one word to describe Heather in her role as a home-based childcare provider, it would be ‘expert’. That encompasses several key qualities in her personality in the optimal balance, coupled with years of experience which together results in an admirable presence amongst children. She has a calm and nurturing personality, has an abundance of patience and love, and connects with every child in her care. My observation of Heather’s core beliefs about childcare for preschoolers is that she promotes learning through fun and play while she nurtures security, emotional attachment, and social interactions. She is a firm believer in the concept of ‘age and stage’ and seeks to find the right balance between routine and flexibility. Heather’s home provides a safe and stimulating learning environment for children. She is a baker and has a number of pets. She is a creative, artistic individual supported by a practical another half which is a bonus for bringing her larger ideas to life. Her teenage children really embrace her occupation through their interactions with the children. Heather is at ease with children of different backgrounds. Children are not limited to the home environment, they enjoy gym sessions, music sessions, and several outdoor walks where they get in touch with nature. There are also visits to the library, playground, and the occasional bus trip. They, therefore, have plenty of opportunities to be active participants within larger groups. At Heather’s house, successfully transitioning to school is facilitated in a variety of ways. Literacy and numeracy, although definitely encouraged and nurtured are second place to ensuring that preschoolers develop positive emotions about the school, are able to communicate with peers and adults, can navigate larger groups and form friendships, and become as independent as they can be with eating, toileting, getting dressed and looking after their belongings. Heather extends her care and communication to the parents. She seeks to appreciate life at home and to understand the parent’s expectations so that she can contribute positively towards outcomes for the children she cares for. She celebrates all of the children’s achievements and she enables them through their challenges and disappointments. A sincere thank you to Heather and her family for sharing our journey so far with our two children. Somewhere along the way, we have become whanau – Natalie
After we had our son and returned to work we soon realized that only 7 months old daycare wasn’t the place for us. That is when we looked into in home childcare and by word of mouth Heather came highly recommended to us by a colleague.
After the first week with heather we knew we wouldn’t be turning back, life was so much easier and our baby was happy, well cared for and provided with a great routine, love and extracurricular activities.
We really felt we had hit the jackpot.
Our son happily stayed with heather for 2 years before his baby sister joined him there.
Heather cared for our children up until we left Hamilton and we haven’t found a replacement that could fill Heather’s boots.
Our children miss her very much and Heather still keeps in contact.
If we ever returned to Hamilton we would most definitely be fighting for our spot back.
We as a family highly recommended Heather and her family to care for your children. There is nothing she wouldn’t do to have a safe, happy and loving environment for your child/ren to thrive in.
Kind regards
Nicole and Nigel Rajarentam
Heather was a full time home-based carer for my daughter for four years and also a part-time home-based carer for my son for three years. In total, I have known Heather for 13 years. In that time I observed a natural nurturing nature towards my children and even though my children are older now she (Heather) is still a major part of our family. My children adore her to this day. When seeking care for my daughter I was persistent in looking for a place where my daughter would feel comfortable in a home environment with a kind, loving carer. I found that and more with Heather. Nine years later when I had my second child I was at ease knowing we had Heather to care for him also. Heather was always accommodating to our children and us as their parents, always going above and beyond for us. My husband died tragically whilst my son was in care with Heather. He was three years old at the time. During this particularly difficult time, Heather went above and beyond for him daily and there was not one day that I didn’t pick him up with a smile on his face. It has been over two years since my son has been in care with Heather and we miss seeing her every day. She is more than just a carer to us, she is our family. I cannot recommend Heather enough. There is not a single person that I would 100% trust with my children more than her. She is a complete natural when it comes to children. She truly is the most kind-hearted person, and we are so grateful to have her in our lives. I am sure many future parents and care children will love her just as much too. – Anonymous
It is my greatest pleasure to recommend Heather Booth as a Child Care Provider for my now 4 yrs and 3 months old daughter, Deja.
Since De’ja was 8 months old, on her very first day with Heather, she’s always had that special connection with her and we have nothing but the fondest memories of them together, along with the cool members of “Heather’s gang!”.
Of course, a mother’s biggest worry is that her child may not be fed or dealt with kindness while she is away. But I have never had this fear as Heather has kept my daughter happy and content with her firm but loving, caring and nurturing nature. I am a working mother who had to rely on her solely during the day – she never disappointed me. She responds sensitively to my daughter’s needs may it be physical, mental, or emotional and makes sure we have open and ongoing communication. She applies the same values and virtues we hope and set for De’ja and we always feel that we are treated with respect.
She also takes an active role in enhancing our daughter’s overall well-being. She makes sure the kids regularly participate in indoor, outdoor, exercise activities, and creative play. She encourages De’ja to develop her love for music by attending Music groups and engaging in various social groups like Play gyms and Playgroups with proper precautions. Likewise, with De’ja’s love for nature, she takes them on walks and other educational and fun excursions.
Furthermore, with her 15 years of experience as a childcare provider, Heather is always ready for emergencies, efficient in child CPR and First Aid. She also works hard in making sure she has up-to-date certifications for her professional development credentials.
As my sweet daughter is undergoing school transition, it makes me sad that we have to let Heather go one day.
We have witnessed the positive influence she has on our dear De’ja as we see her growing up to be an independent, resilient, kind-hearted, fun, clever girl, and school-ready.
On the other hand, I do understand that there are many children out there who need and deserve similar care and no one can provide it better than Heather. She is one in a million!🙂
Again, I highly recommend her for a similar position and wish her all the best in her future endeavors. Please feel free to reach me at 0212530700 if you have any further questions you’d like me to answer about Heather.