Village for Kids is a lovingly held, nature-based nanny share for little ones from confident walking age through to school age.
Our space is rooted in connection—connection to self, to one another, and to the natural world around us. We swap screens for sun-dappled play, and busy schedules for slow, sensory exploration of the Earth, the seasons, animals, and cycles of nature.
Our heart centred and holistic approach to caring for children is an invitation to engage through play, imagination and wonderment. All our carers follow the four main pillars of:
Presence, Patience, Positivity & Play!
At Village for Kids, we believe childhood is sacred. It is a time for wonderment, deep connection, and playful exploration—not overstimulation, rushing, or rigid routines.
Our philosophy is rooted in these values:
✨ Children deserve to be truly seen and met.
🌱 Carers should be present, not distracted.
🌈 Emotional safety, nature connection, and creative expression are at the core.
🌸 And care should feel like an extension of family.
This is more than care.
This is a village.
What Makes Us Special
Education Rooted in the Earth
Instead of indoor classrooms and plastic toys, we learn in the fresh air and muddy feet - on 120 acres of bushland with gardens, chickens, mud kitchens, and wide-open spaces. Every day is an invitation to connect with the land, explore seasonal changes, and discover magic in the simple things.
A Gentle Approach to Growing Up
We slow down and listen. We meet children where they’re at emotionally and developmentally, helping them regulate big feelings and build resilience with love, curiosity, and gentle guidance.
Where Connection Comes First
Unlike large childcare centres, our group sizes are intentionally small (4–8 children), allowing us to create deeper connections and personalised care. Every child feels seen, heard, and valued.
What We Do At Village For Kids
Each day includes a story aligned with the theme we’re exploring. These stories naturally flow into mindfulness and creative movement. We celebrate with daily dance parties, singing, and music-making.
With 120 acres of open space, our outdoor adventures build both confidence and exploration skills. We compost, feed the chickens, and co-create fairy gardens, learning to tend to the land as it tends to us. We honour this connection with seasonal rituals following the wheel of the year. Children are encouraged to embrace the rain, mud, wind, and sunshine allowing them to experience all weather in its fullness.
Play is at the heart of everything we do. Whether children are building cubbies, balancing on logs, or mixing mud pies, play is how they develop creativity, problem-solving, social skills, and gross motor development.
We embrace risky play—within safe boundaries—to nurture resilience and confidence with mindful guidance.
The children forage and use recycled materials to create eco-friendly projects that invite curiosity and develop fine motor skills. Clay sculptures, leaf printing, flower crowns, and weaving are all examples of how we use the natural world in our everyday craft.
We see big emotions as teachers. Through modelling, playful tools, and group reflection, children learn how to identify and express feelings. Social skills—sharing, teamwork, and empathy - are nurtured through collaborative projects, role modelling, and gentle guidance.
Outdoor Adventure & Exploration
Storytelling, Music & Movement
Eco-Crafts & Creative Arts
Emotional Regulation & Social Skills
Play-Based & Risky Play Learning
Essential Details
Full Day of Care - Nanny Share
When: Thursdays, 8:00am–4:00pm
Where: Northern Rivers Location
Cost: $120 per child per day - Afternoon fruit platter included
Discount: $110 per child for families with multiple siblings
Age: Confident walking age to your chosen school age
Enrollment: Ongoing enrollment - we run term time and school holidays
Who Runs This Village?
Tara and her team of trained carers are the loving support you can expect to meet at Village for Kids.
Tara Heather
Founder of Rugrats Helping Hands & Village for Kids
Hi, I’m Tara - a heart-led early childhood educator, space holder, nature lover and proud eldest sister of five. I have a deep passion for caring for children and have personally trained any of our carers that are supporting the children out at the village in our unique approach.
Enrolment & Orientation
We believe in slow, supported transitions. Upon enrolment, you're invited to begin with two weeks of half-day orientation sessions to gently ease your child into the rhythm of our village space.
We currently have spaces open for our next intake. Enroll now, spaces filling fast!
Ready To Join Our Village?
If your heart is saying yes and you feel Village for Kids could be a beautiful fit for your little one, we’d love to hear from you!
Whether you’d like more information, want to arrange a visit to see the magic for yourself, or are ready to enrol now, simply fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.
We welcome curious conversations, questions, and connections - because finding the right space for your child is all about trust and alignment.
Come meet us, explore the land, and see if this feels like home for your little one.
Couldn’t recommend enough! Our sitter Kelly was fantastic, she treated our son who was unwell and just wanted to be held while sleeping as if he was her own! She communicated with us beautifully throughout the 5 hours he was in her care! Reasonably priced and easy to communicate with.
Kristin Kuehl
Julia was fantastic! We had contact the day prior and throughout the day and evening when Julia had the girls. I really found the process super easy and I was very comfortable to leave my girls in Julia’s care.
Jessica Da Silva
We had Eryn look after our nine month old while we had a wedding to go to. This was the first time we have left our bub with anyone else. Eryn was very lovely and approachable. She kept our bub to her routine and updated us on how our bub was going throughout the evening. Would definitely recommend her :)
Ali Lelievre
Testimonials
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Co-Created Daily Rhythms & Rituals
Each day begins with our “Good Morning, Dear Earth” welcome song and circle, inviting the children to ground into the day.
Our rhythm is not rigid - it is co-created with the group, flowing in harmony with each child’s needs and curiosities.
Every day, we weave in guided meditation and visualisation, helping children find stillness, connection, and imaginative expansion.
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Eco-Crafts & Creative Arts
Crafts at Village for Kids are deeply inspired by the Earth. We use foraged and recycled materials to create eco-friendly projects that invite curiosity and develop fine motor skills. Clay sculptures, leaf printing, flower crowns, and weaving are all examples of how we turn natural textures into creative storytelling.
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Storytelling, Music & Movement
Each day includes a story aligned with the theme or season we’re exploring. These stories naturally flow into moments of mindfulness, dance, and creative movement.
We celebrate with daily dance parties, singing, and music-making - building joy, rhythm, and connection.
What We Do At Village For Kids
At Village for Kids, our days flow with a gentle rhythm inspired by nature, imagination, and the children themselves. We follow the seasons, the land, and the unique needs of each little one, creating a warm, playful space where curiosity leads the way.
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Nature Connection, Culture & Seasonal Rituals
We immerse children in the beauty and rhythm of the natural world—exploring the bushland, garden beds, chicken coop, mud kitchen, and dam. Each season is celebrated with rituals such as lighting candles, creating nature altars, or foraging treasures for craft.
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Play-Based & Risky Play Learning
Play is at the heart of everything we do. Whether children are building cubbies, balancing on logs, or mixing mud pies, play is how they develop creativity, problem-solving, social skills, and gross motor development.
We embrace risky play - within safe boundaries—to nurture resilience and confidence. Children are encouraged to climb, explore, and test their abilities, while we extend on their ideas and inspirations through mindful guidance.
Our heart centred and holistic approach to caring for children is an invitation to engage through play, imagination and wonderment. All our carers follow the four main pillars of
At Village for Kids, we believe childhood is sacred. It is a time for wonderment, deep connection, and playful exploration—not overstimulation, rushing, or rigid routines.
Our philosophy is rooted in presence, patience, positivity and play.
✨ Children deserve to be truly seen and met.
🌱 Carers should be present, not distracted.
🌈 Emotional safety, nature connection, and creative expression are at the core.
🌸 And care should feel like an extension of family.
This is more than care.
This is a village.
Presence
We leave our outside lives at the door and meet your child with full attention and open-hearted presence. This time is for them. They deserve to be met with our all.
Patience
Big emotions in little bodies need safe guidance. We offer calm curiosity, not correction. We don't expect children to be miniature adults—we honour the learning process and hold space for the unfolding.
Positivity
We focus on celebrating what’s going right. Rather than managing behaviour with rules alone, we use redirection, gentle guidance, and model the way forward with empathy and encouragement.
Play
Play is the language of children. Singing, dancing, make-believe and laughter—this is how we connect. If a child isn’t engaged, we find creative new ways to meet them with joy.
Our Four Pillars
Presence, Patience, Positivity & Play!
