| Jennifer |
My name is Jennifer Dahl and I am the Licensee and owner of Kowhai Kids Educare. I am married to Bryce and we have 2 children - Jake who is nearly 9 and Katie who is 6. We've lived at Puhoi for 5 years and before that were on the Hibiscus Coast.
My background was banking and investment but having my own children ignited an interest in early childhood education and when Warkworth Childcare came up for sale in 2006 it seemed meant to be! I love being involved in Kowhai Kids. It is humbling to be entrusted with the care and preschool education of these precious children, and I am very proud of the awesome job my wonderful team of teachers do each and every day. Their energy and passion for children's learning makes it a fun place for staff and children alike. I look forward to meeting your family at Kowhai Kids Educare. |
| Carolyn |
Carolyn Atkinson - ECE Registered Teacher Hi my name is Carolyn Atkinson I have worked in the childcare industry for sixteen years and hold my diploma in childcare and education. I am the mother of one boy aged six. Throughout my career I have worked in preschool centres and with special needs having worked as a therapist for a severely autistic child and in a school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Since moving to New Zealand in 2003 I have worked as the supervisor in the baby’s room in an early childhood centre and then worked as a visiting teacher for a Home Based Child Care company. I enjoy working for Kowhai Kids In-Home Care and Education and love the fact it is a family operated company which gives it that personal feeling. The best part of my job is being out in the community and meeting new people. I love to visit the children in their educarer’s homes and see all the activities and learning happening, we have a lovely network of educarer’s and meet weekly for playgroups or trips. The children are looked after in a safe nurturing environment and are lucky to experience going to the beach, parks, mainly music and library time all the things a Mum or Dad would do.
Kowhai Kids philosophy is that children are seen as individuals and that they grow and develop to be competent and capable learners, having the small group of a ratio of one to four enables the children to have one on one interaction so that they can achieve their goals and milestones. |
| Mandy |
Mandy Dobson – ECE Registered Teacher Kiaora my name is Mandy and I am a coordinator for Kowhai Kids In-Home Care. I hold a diploma in early childhood education. I have been involved in early childhood education for the past 9 years. I am a mother of two boys aged 7 and 10. I first became involved in early childhood after the birth of my eldest son. Whilst I was a stay home mum I became involved with play centre. I also attended mainly music sessions, story and rhyme times at the library and various play groups. It was during this time in my life that evoked in me a passion for early childhood care and education. I have extensive experience working with children and their families. I have worked in centres and kindergartens and had experience working with both under twos and over two children. I am constantly looking for ways to extend my own knowledge and have attended many professional development courses and recently an early childhood conference focusing on infant care. I believe that the preschool years lay the foundation for lifelong learning .What a child learns in these formative years is the basis of later success and achievement. Kowhai Kids In-Home Care provides children with quality care and education. This allows children to flourish in a safe, secure and stimulating homely environment with small ratios which allow for quality one on one interactions. I am enjoying working as a coordinator as this gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience and to work alongside educarers and families to provide children with an optimal learning experience. |
| Introducting Our Educarers |
| Christine |
Hi my name is Christine Legge. I believe every child should be given the opportunity to
develop their creative and cognitive skills to the best of their abilities in a
friendly, nurturing environment where a sense of belonging can be enjoyed. It is
my aim to provide this to the children entrusted in my care. The low ratio of children
to educarer in home-based care ensures this aim is achievable. I provide very well-resourced
indoor and outdoor educational play areas, including over an acre of fenced lawn
with swings, a slide, a sandpit and a climbing wall. We enjoy painting, playdough
and plenty of other creative activities, including music and movement, and also
attend a local playgroup. Each child receives regular visits from the coordinator
and has a portfolio created for them which is regularly updated and includes photos,
paintings and drawings. I have had over twenty years experience in childcare and
education and love every minute of it.
|
| Chrissy |
 Hi my name is
Chrissy Rogers, I have lived in the Wellsford area over 30 years. We were dairy
farmers in Whangaripo whilst our family was growing up, but now live on ten acres
in Silverhill Road 5kn north of Wellsford, I have been looking after children in
home based care for 20 years. I am a mother of five and grandmother of ten delightful
grandchildren. Our home has always been a busy household buzzing with lots of children
! Looking after children in a home based environment is very rewarding and has always
been a great passion of mine. My home is well set up with lots of play areas both
inside and out, and a very safe outdoor environment I am a lover of books, and the
children love the stories, poems, nursery rhythms, art crafts, music and movement
we add to our everyday programme, together with outdoor adventures on our ten acre
block. I get lots of support from our Kowhai Kids coordinators. We have a play group
each week, visit the book library, beaches, parks, zoo, have shared lunches and
bike-a-thons to name a few. Each child is unique, and all children have many wonderful
attributes. Many of the children I have had in care come back to visit with their
families which means such a lot to me. Watching these children grow is very rewarding. |
| Robyn |
 Hi my name is Robyn Penning and i am a mother of two boys. I can offer your child home style
learning within a safe and nurturing environment. I believe it is important to listen
and encourage children with their ideas, praise their work which helps build self
confidence. |
| Cindy |
 Hi my name is Cindy Camwell.
I have been working as an early childhood educator for two and half years. I am
married with two school age children. When my children started school I was ready
to return back to the workforce after staying home with them during their preschool
years. We get out and about often going to the Library and Mainly Music, and meet for weekly playgroups with the other educarers and children. There are lots of opportunities for the children to socialise play with and among other children, make friends and increase their social and communication skills. In summer we have playdates at the parks and beach and fabulous trips out to places like the zoo. When we are home I provide a home from home experience with time for both structured and unstructured activities. We do lots of activities such as play doh, baking, arts and crafts, reading books etc. I work very closely with the families of the children I care for to gain knowledge about their child’s likes, dislikes, needs and interests. I then use this information to plan the best possible learning activities for them. I feel working in partnership this way enhances and contributes to the homebased experience for their child. I have lots of support from Kowhai Kids and see and speak regularly to my co-ordinators who provide me with support, resources ideas and activities. We have a great network of caregivers and I have made lots of friends since I started as an educarer. This is a very fulfilling career and if you love children or are a big kid at heart like me I would highly recommend it. |