Breaking Down the Stigmas: Home-Based Educators Don’t ‘Just Babysit’!

Welcome to the real story behind Home-Based Early Learning (childcare). It’s time to break the myths and show you why this option could be the best choice for your child’s early years. Let’s explore what makes home-based care unique and why more and more families are discovering it’s amazing benefits!

The Truth About Home-Based Early Learning

In Aotearoa, home-based early learning is still a relatively new childcare option. While other, more traditional forms of care have been around longer, many families are just beginning to consider the benefits of a home-based approach. Unfortunately, there are still some misconceptions and stigmas that can cloud people’s understanding of this option.

At its core, home-based care offers a personalised, nurturing environment where children receive quality care and education. But there are a few myths we’d like to address head-on to help families make the most informed decision for their children.

Myth #1: Home-Based Educators ‘Just Babysit’

One of the most common misconceptions we encounter is the idea that home-based childcare is just babysitting. This is absolutely not the case.

Home-based Educators aren’t just looking after children – they are highly skilled, qualified professionals who provide individualised, high-quality early childhood education. Each child’s learning and development is actively nurtured through a tailored program that focuses on their unique needs, interests, and learning style. Educators plan and document learning activities through learning stories, progress notes, and personalised learning plans, just like other childcare providers.

Children in home-based care benefit from small group settings (no more than 4 children to 1 Educator), allowing for one-on-one attention that fosters growth in key areas like communication, problem-solving, and emotional development. It’s far from passive – it’s an engaging, stimulating, and active learning environment.

Myth #2: It’s Not as Safe or Well-Regulated as Other Childcare Options

It’s easy to assume that home-based childcare isn’t subject to the same health and safety regulations as larger, more traditional childcare providers. That’s simply not true.

Home-based childcare providers are required to meet the same health and safety standards as any other licensed early childhood education service. Our Educators’ homes are thoroughly inspected to ensure they’re safe and suitable for children.

Plus, every Educator undergoes a 7-step safety check, including police vetting, identity verification, reference checks, and more. Educators are also required to hold a current child first aid certificate and participate in ongoing professional development.

You can trust that your child will be cared for in a secure and welcoming environment that meets the highest standards.

Myth #3: If the Educator Is Sick, You’ll Be Left Without Care

Another concern we hear from parents is the possibility of unplanned disruptions, such as when an Educator falls ill. While we can’t guarantee there won’t be occasional hiccups, we work hard to ensure families are never left without support.

Our Leadership Team helps ensure that when an Educator is unavailable, another team member can step in to provide relief care, often within the same network of Educators that already know your child. We take pride in being a reliable, flexible service that minimises disruptions and puts families’ needs first.

Myth #4: Children Need to Be in Larger Groups to Socialize Effectively

It’s common to think that children need to be surrounded by lots of other kids in order to learn how to socialize. Quality trumps quantity in those early years.

Research shows that small group sizes (such as a 1:4 ratio in home-based care) help children develop stronger social and emotional skills. With more one-on-one time, Educators can focus on teaching problem-solving, collaboration, and communication skills. This results in a much deeper learning experience for your child.

At home-based care, your child gets the chance to learn at their own pace, while still engaging in community activities like NatureFocus and Playschool sessions, where they can socialise with other children in a less overwhelming environment and for smaller amounts of time.

Myth #5: Mixed-Age Groups Aren’t Suitable for Learning

Some people worry that mixed-age groups are not ideal for early childhood development. In fact, mixed-age learning provides some amazing benefits!

At home-based care, children are often grouped together in a tuakana / teina (older/younger) learning structure. This means children of different ages can learn from one another, with the older children helping guide and mentor the younger ones. This fosters empathy, collaboration, and leadership skills.

Additionally, the smaller group size means that older children enjoy more time with their Educator in the afternoons, which allows for focused, quality learning. This approach mirrors real-life experiences, where people of different ages often work together in schools, workplaces, and beyond.

Myth #6: Home-Based Care Doesn’t Offer 20 Hours ECE

Many parents are concerned that home-based childcare doesn’t offer the same access to subsidies as other services. Good news – it absolutely does!

As a licensed and registered early learning service, we proudly offer the 20 Hours ECE funding for children over the age of 3, so you can access up to 20 Hours ECE each week. We also offer WINZ childcare subsidies and can provide FamilyBoost statements for families who qualify. This makes home-based care an affordable, high-quality option for families who want the best for their child.

Why Choose Home-Based Care?

At the end of the day, the decision about where to send your child for early learning is a personal one. What matters most is finding the right fit for your child’s needs and your family’s lifestyle.

We encourage you not to overlook the option of home-based childcare because of myths or misconceptions. Our passionate, dedicated Educators are offering children a rich, nurturing, and personalized learning environment that sets them up for success – and more families are choosing this path every day.

If you’re looking for an option that gives your child the individual attention they need to flourish while being part of a warm, home-like environment, home-based care could be the perfect fit. We’re here to break down the barriers and show you just how amazing this option can be for your child’s early learning journey.

Ready to learn more? Take the next step in exploring whether home-based early learning is right for your child. Let’s give your little one the best start to their lifelong learning adventure!

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Supporting Research and Evidence on Home-Based Early Learning

1. The Benefits of Smaller Group Sizes: Research consistently shows that small group settings allow for individualised attention, which is crucial for a child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. According to a study published in the Journal of Early Childhood Education, small teacher-to-child ratios in early learning environments promote stronger relationships between Educators and children, leading to improved academic and behavioural outcomes (Hattie, 2009). This is a core benefit of home-based care, where children receive that 1:1 or 1:4 ratio of care, which allows Educators to focus on each child’s needs.
2. Personalized Learning Programs: The New Zealand Early Childhood Education Curriculum (Te Whāriki) emphasizes the importance of individualised learning for each child, and home-based childcare provides the ideal environment for this. A report by the Education Review Office (ERO) found that children in home-based childcare benefit from a more personalised and flexible curriculum, tailored specifically to their learning style, interests, and developmental stage. This individualised approach fosters stronger engagement in the learning process (ERO, 2016).
3. The Importance of Social-Emotional Development: Studies have shown that small, home-like settings provide better emotional support and stronger bonds between children and their caregivers. A study by Perry et al. (2007) found that children in smaller, more intimate care settings develop higher levels of empathy, self-regulation, and communication skills. These qualities are fostered in a home-based early learning environment, where children are encouraged to form deep, trusting relationships with their Educators and peers, which supports long-term emotional and social development.
4. Tuakana/Teina (Mixed-Age Learning) Benefits: The tuakana / teina framework, where children of different ages learn from each other, is grounded in Māori educational practices and is supported by research that highlights its value. According to the Te Kōtahitanga Project (Bishop et al., 2003), mixed-age learning enhances leadership skills, mentorship, and problem-solving abilities, as older children naturally take on leadership roles while younger children learn from their peers. This structure has been shown to benefit both younger and older children by fostering collaborative learning and empathy across age groups.
5. Health and Safety Standards: The high standards of regulation in home-based early learning are comparable to traditional early childhood education services. In fact, a study published by the Ministry of Education (2013) states that home-based services must meet the same licensing and quality assurance criteria as larger centres, ensuring that children are in safe, regulated environments. The thorough safety checks and ongoing professional development required for Educators ensure that home-based care is just as reliable and trustworthy as other options.
6. Accessibility of 20 Hours ECE Funding: Many families are unaware that home-based care is eligible for 20 Hours ECE funding, a policy supported by the Ministry of Education. According to a report by the Ministry of Education (2020), access to funding and subsidies has made home-based early learning a more affordable choice for families, ensuring that all children, regardless of background, can benefit from quality early childhood education. This accessibility plays a key role in making home-based care an attractive option for many families.
7. The Positive Transition to School: Home-based care is known for its positive impact on a child’s transition to school. In fact, a study published in The Australian Journal of Early Childhood found that children who attended small, personalised care settings were better prepared for school, exhibiting greater confidence and academic readiness compared to their peers from larger childcare centres (Wood, 2017). As mentioned in the blog, teachers are increasingly noting that children from home-based early learning settings have an easier time adjusting to the school environment due to their strong foundational skills in social interaction and independent learning.

References:

• Hattie, J. (2009). Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. Routledge.
• Education Review Office (ERO). (2016). Early Childhood Education: Promoting Positive Outcomes for Children. New Zealand Ministry of Education.
• Perry, B. D., et al. (2007). Child Development and Trauma: Understanding the Impact of Early Adversity on Brain Development. Child Trauma Academy.
• Bishop, R., et al. (2003). Te Kōtahitanga: A New Approach to Teaching in Aotearoa / New Zealand. The University of Waikato.
• Ministry of Education. (2013). Regulation and Licensing of Home-Based Early Childhood Education Providers. New Zealand Government.
• Ministry of Education. (2020). Early Childhood Education Funding Policies. New Zealand Government.
• Wood, E. (2017). The Impact of Early Childhood Education on Later Academic Success: A Review of Recent Studies. The Australian Journal of Early Childhood.