Organic Kids Ltd

You Never Know What Words Might Stay With You

An educator sent me a message this morning that made me stop and smile.

Her tamariki were pretending to give each other chiropractic adjustments using toy activators. One child lay on the floor while the others carefully “adjusted” him. Mr J, who is nearly five, explained to his educator that an activator “helps you breathe and helps your heart feel better.”

I found myself smiling instantly at his description.

Then, just a little later, I opened an email from the Ministry of Education and, almost as if the timing had been planned, there was a link to ERO’s recent work around oral language.

It reminded me that oral language takes many different forms in our homes. It’s there when educators read stories, sing songs, share waiata, and have conversations around the lunch table. It’s there during gardening, baking, forest adventures, and all of the little everyday rituals that make up a child’s world. And it’s also there in moments like this – when a child is deeply engaged in play, drawing on a real experience and finding the words to explain it. Whether Mr J was responding to a question or simply sharing his thinking, he was making sense of something that mattered to him and using language to connect his experiences with the world around him.

One of the things I love most about our educators is that they notice these moments. They pause. They listen. They get curious. And because of that, children feel that their ideas are worth sharing.

So I wanted to share this with you – not because we need to add another thing to our to-do list, but because I think it’s a lovely reminder that some of the most important learning happens in the ordinary moments of everyday life.

Maybe today, when a child tells you a story, explains a strange idea, or asks a question that seems to come out of nowhere, you could pause for just a little longer.

You never know what words might stay with you.

📸 - photo taken today as the play continues to evolve, this time with the educator receiving an adjustment.

— Bec

We’re looking for someone special to join our Organic Kids team 💚

Administration Support (with potential to grow into a Visiting Teacher role)
Work from home | 8 hours per week (4 hours Wednesday + 4 hours Thursday)

We’re looking for a warm, organised, and detail-focused person to join our small team in a flexible part-time administration role.

This role could be a great fit for a parent returning to work or someone looking for meaningful work that fits around family life.

A big part of the role involves working with Excel spreadsheets and our internal systems.

We’d love to hear from someone who is:

* Organised and reliable
* Confident using Excel
* Comfortable working independently from home
* A great communicator

If you’re a registered early childhood teacher, that’s a bonus. As Organic Kids continues to grow, there may be opportunities for this role to develop into a dual Administration Support / Visiting Teacher position.

About us

Organic Kids is a home-based early childhood education service based in Christchurch. We’re passionate about providing nurturing, relationship-based care where children can learn through play, connect with nature, and enjoy a calm, unhurried childhood.

If this sounds like you (or someone you know), we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Please send your CV and a brief cover letter telling us a little about yourself and why this role interests you to [email protected]

We’d really appreciate you sharing this post if someone comes to mind who might be a great fit.

🌿 Sometimes the most meaningful learning starts with a simple question: “I wonder if we could make one?”

These two boys, alongside their home educator, spent a long time designing and creating their very own rainmaker. They explored different ideas, carefully pushed nails into a cardboard tube, filled with beads and then used cardboard and duraseal to seal the ends and sides before putting their creation to the test.

There was planning, experimenting, problem-solving, perseverance, and so much collaboration throughout the process. Every step was driven by curiosity and a willingness to keep trying until they achieved the sound they were hoping for.

And the result? The most beautiful, gentle sound of falling rain. 🌧️

It’s moments like these that remind us that some of the richest learning happens when children are given the time, space, and encouragement to create, wonder, and discover. These are the experiences that nurture confident, capable learners. 💚

✨ Honouring Matariki through authentic experiences ✨

Over the past month, a small group of our educators and tamariki have been exploring the stories and meaning of all seven whetū of Matariki through experiences that have been hands-on, meaningful, and deeply connected to te taiao.

Rather than simply learning about Matariki, the children have experienced it.

They have prepared and shared nourishing soup, wandered through forests and natural spaces, explored the beach and freshwater environments, flown kites beneath winter skies, noticed the joyful presence of pīwakawaka, created beautiful clay pieces to honour remembrance, and embraced countless moments of curiosity, conversation and wonder along the way.

These experiences have invited children to slow down, observe, ask questions, care for the world around them, reflect on those who came before us, celebrate the present, and look ahead with hope.

At Organic Kids, we believe learning becomes truly meaningful when it is woven into real experiences, relationships, and the places children know and love. Matariki has been a beautiful reminder that some of the richest learning happens not within four walls, but outdoors, together, and at a pace that allows wonder to unfold.

A huge thank you to our incredible educators for creating such thoughtful opportunities, and to our tamariki for embracing each experience with open hearts and curious minds.

Some things never change… and we love that. 💚

This morning at Forest Ed, we were lucky enough to have one of our educators’ daughters join us for the school holidays.

She was just one year old when her mum began her journey with Organic Kids. Now, at 11, she slips straight back into our forest programme as though she never left—exploring, connecting, and embracing the muddy adventures with the younger children.

It’s one of the things I treasure most about home-based education. We don’t just watch children grow through their early years; we often have the privilege of watching them continue to return, year after year, always knowing they belong.

These are the relationships that make Organic Kids so special. Children may outgrow our programme, but they never really outgrow the sense of connection, belonging, and joy that comes from spending time together in nature.

Watching them come back reminds us that the seeds we plant in childhood can stay with them for years to come.

Bundled up. Boots on. Waterproofs on. Earwarmers in place.

Forest days don’t stop because it’s winter—they become even more magical.

Today we’ll be splashing through puddles, noticing the changing season, breathing fresh air, and discovering that nature always has something to teach us. 🌿💚

Some stories simply outgrow their pages. 💚🦖

One learning journal has become so full of adventures, discoveries and treasured memories that it was time for a second volume.

When asked what he would love for his new journal, the answer was easy… dinosaurs! 🦕

His educator happened to have a dinosaur pillowcase tucked away, and instead of letting it go to waste, it has been lovingly transformed into a one-of-a-kind journal cover, handmade especially for him.

It’s a small detail, but it reflects so much of what we value at Organic Kids:
🌿 Following children’s interests.
♻️ Giving materials a second life.
🧵 Creating meaningful resources by hand.
❤️ Celebrating each child’s unique learning journey.

Every learning journal tells a story, and we love that this next chapter begins with something made just for him. We can’t wait to see this new book fill with even more moments of wonder, curiosity and growth.

Today at Forest Playgroup, we celebrated a very special milestone as we farewelled our newest Miss Five. 🌿🍎✨

Together, we prepared and shared kai, peeling, chopping, and stewing apples. The simple act of making food together created space for conversation, laughter, and celebration. It felt like a beautiful way to honour the upcoming season of Matariki, where gathering, sharing, and connecting are held close.

Later, as the winter chill settled around us, we huddled together in a tent with beautiful crocheted blankets draped across our laps and shared Matariki stories.

To our Miss Five, thank you for the joy, curiosity, wonder, and friendship you have shared with us. As you begin your next adventure, may you carry the confidence, connection, and love of nature that has been nurtured here.

Yesterday brought one of those quiet, magical moments that you simply can’t plan for ✨

Tucked gently onto the leg of a well-used children’s chair, one of our educators discovered a delicate monarch butterfly chrysalis. What an incredible surprise — and what followed was a rich unfolding of curiosity, wonder, and connection.

The chair has now been carefully placed up on a shelf, creating a safe and respectful space for this tiny life to continue its transformation.

Moments like these remind us that some of the most powerful learning doesn’t come from planned activities, but from being present, noticing, and following the child’s (and nature’s) lead 🌿

To witness the transformation from chrysalis to butterfly is something truly special — a living example of growth, change, and patience. We feel so grateful that our tamariki get to experience this in real time, right here in their everyday environment.

We’ll be watching closely… 🦋

A gentle and meaningful ANZAC inspired morning in the forest. 🌳
Through stories, songs, and our ANZAC Ted pukapuka, tamariki explored big questions with curiosity — wondering about soldiers, war, and the symbols within the story.

Supported by strong relationships and a deep sense of belonging, these conversations unfolded with honesty, care, and respect.
Lest we forget.