Hi , my name is Heather B🐝!
I’m proud to have been an Educator since 2001. I started this journey when my own son was just one, wanting him to have friends to learn and grow alongside in our own warm environment. When my daughter came along, she too got to be part of this special space, and now, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
My home at Heather B's House is a safe, nurturing, and stimulating place - a real home-away-from-home. We're a pet friendly home too! I take pride in the wide range of play resources we have. These keep our little people busy, fostering their growing minds, encouraging play, and learning with and alongside each other.
I love getting our team out into the community—playgroups, nature walks, the library, and gym groups. Every child has a voice when we plan our adventures, helping to shape our days and making sure everyone has the chance to discover the wider world. Mornings are filled with activity, and we’re always home for lunch. Afternoons are calm and restful, meeting each child’s sleeping needs.
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’m passionate about children learning through play. I truly believe every activity a child engages in has learning woven into it. For me, life is all about exploration—especially in these early years. The more exploration, the more knowledge our tamariki gain.
Heather B is a longstanding Educator and has been fully safety screened including a face to face interview, police vetting, identity verification and is fully inducted. A full risk assessment has been undertaken to ensure she is safe and suitable to work with young children.
Heather holds:
* 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
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
My daughter has been in Heather’s care since she was just 14 months old, and next year she will be turning 5. It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for everything Heather has done for our family, and it will be an incredibly emotional and sad day when my daughter’s time with her comes to an end. From the very beginning, Heather has been so much more than an in-home carer. She has been a constant source of love, support, and guidance. She is dedicated, kind, genuine, and nurturing, and she creates an environment where children feel safe, valued, and truly loved. The bond she has formed with my daughter is so special, and it’s something we will both treasure forever. Over the years, i have watched my little girl grow and thrive under Heather’s care. She has encouraged her learning, celebrated her milestones, and comforted her through challenges. Heather treats every child as if they were her own, and that is a gift not many people have. Because of this, i don’t just see her as my child’s carer— I now consider Heather part of our family. I honestly cannot sing her praises enough. Any child who has the opportunity to be welcomed into Heather’s home is not only lucky but will be surrounded by love, laughter, and the most genuine care imaginable. I will always be thankful for the role she has played in my daughter’s life, and the positive impact she has had will stay with her forever. ❤️❤️
— Courtney Harper, Kindergarten teacher.
“Where we belong”
We chose this artwork for you Heather from the kids, as to us, it represents the relationship you have with our family.
The silver eye or wax eye “ Tahou” name means “ new arrivals”- like Max and Esther fresh off the farm. Their name symbolises joy and playfulness. They are birds known for their lively and light- hearted antics. They flit from tree to tree energetically, using their excellent observation skills to savour every aspect of their environment.
We felt you took our little” wax eyes” into your home and heart, recreated their comfort zones and allowed them to flourish. It was obvious you adored them, as their love for you sparkled from their faces every week. You quickly and genuinely became a family member and a second home for our kids. The learning, creativity, trust and team spurt you foster in your home is just beautiful, and your home just oozed with love. We are just so grateful we met you. “Thank you” will never quite cut it for all you have done for our family. We have no intention of saying goodbye, we instead just have to learn to depend on you less, yet keep in contact to allow our special friendship to remain. We are excited for the next little young lives that will be so lucky to meet “ Our Heather.”
— From the Heale family, Ben Carrie, Max and Esther.
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.
— - 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.
— - De’ja’s family
Heather, I didn't respond when I first read this (Learning Story written by Heather for Aubrey) because my eyes had welled up and I was struggling to see! Aubrey is so blessed to have you in her life to nurture her through these important years. I was trying to think of the work that describes the role you play in her lie and there isn't one. You are teacher, carer, friend, mentor, role model, whanau, inspiration and so much more. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do for Aubrey, you are amazing! Happy New Year Heather!
— Aubrey's Nana Karen
