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Nurturing, Trauma-Informed, Therapeutic Play, Natural Learning
Spirited Hearts® Natural Learning Haven (a registered Family Day Care) is run by Early Childhood Educators, and husband and wife team, Steph & Lukas. With 2 dedicated, compassionate and caring Educators, we are committed to providing the highest level of support to all children and their families.
We have almost 20 years experience and qualifications in psychology, counselling, trauma, child development, attachment, neuroscience and early childhood education.
We provide the strongest emotionally supportive environment possible and pride ourselves on the forever relationships we build with each child and their family.
We offer something truly unique for each individual child and their family at SHNLH, with a background in psychology, counselling and a passion for child development, we are trauma-informed, and have assisted families and children in working through past experiences that have caused stress, anxiety and overwhelming feeling.
We are not a “traditional childcare” and never have been. We are something more. Something special. Something unique. We are a safe haven for children to grow, learn, thrive, and be celebrated for the beautiful person they are, and if necessary heal from any emotional stresses they may have experienced in their lives.
Our intention is to connect to each child through presence and awareness; show them love, kindness and compassion; bring joy through play; allow their curiosity and wonder to thrive in nature; and inspire them to grow, learn and flourish in an empowering environment.
At Spirited Hearts™ Natural Learning Haven our intention is to provide an inspiring, loving and empowering environment for children to learn, grow and have fun. Our focus is on nurturing each child as the beautiful individual they are born to be.
Spirited Hearts™ Natural Learning is at its core, a home away from home. It is a safe, nurturing and joyful space. It takes a village to raise a child. SHNLH is a village, not a traditional daycare or childcare. Children thrive here because it is an extension of their community, we are a family focused on connections, relationships, diversity and we utilise inter-generational wisdom, knowledge and experience.
We work alongside parents to support each child to grow into compassionate, independent and joyous human beings. Our Natural Learning environment is of the highest quality. Children are given the opportunity everyday to explore and discover themselves and the world around them. Through our approach of constant awareness, empathy, natural learning and play therapies, children will thrive and flourish.
Our program is strongly influenced by nature play, child-led interests, learning through play and place-based education – which focuses on learning about the natural community we live and the First Nations’ land on which we reside.
We draw some of our inspiration from the following approaches to early childhood:
Bush Kindy, Forest Schooling, Wild Schooling
Natural Learning as presented by John Holt and Peter Gray (PhD)
Aware Parenting developed by Developmental Psychologist, Aletha Solter (PhD)
Playful Parenting developed by Psychologist, Lawrence J. Cohen (PhD)
Unconditional Parenting developed by Alfie Kohn
Nonviolent Communication developed by Psychologist, Marshall Rosenberg (PhD)
As a Natural Learning Haven, we cater to children aged 1-10 years old.
We provide community and a sense of belonging for homeschooled children over 5 years old, and we provide a natural learning, play-based environment for younger children to learn about themselves and the world around them.
To read more about our Values please click here.
Spirited Hearts® Natural Learning Haven is a registered
Family Day Care with Inspired EC, CCS is available to eligible families.
— TESTIMONIALS —
"Being a part of Spirited Hearts Natural Learning Haven has been an experience that our family only ever dreamed about. We always wanted to live life in a more connected, aware, and wholesome way and one that advocates for natural learning. The space Steph facilitates for our two kids has been such a positive addition to our life. Our children have high needs and I’ve felt all their needs emotionally and physically are met when they are in her care."
“Meeting Steph and becoming part of the Spirited Hearts community has been such a wonderful blessing for our family. From the minute we walked into the Natural Learning Haven, we knew we had stumbled across something truly unique, something special that you don't encounter often. Spirited Hearts isn't at all like a usual daycare facility, it's like a home away from home. A warm and inviting place of fun and adventure where we feel a sense of belonging. It's not uncommon for us to arrive to find our daughter halfway up a tree, picking wildflowers or collecting eggs from the backyard chickens. Her curiosity and sense of wonder fully energised! Knowing our daughter is safe, and fully supported to be who she genuinely wants to be is an absolute treasure. The bar has now been set so high for us that going anywhere else just isn't an option. Spirited Hearts Natural Learning Haven is a true diamond in the rough.”
“Thank you so much for looking after our beautiful firstborn this past 18 months. He has absolutely adored coming to you and I’m so glad he settled in straight away after our first visit. He will really miss you and coming here. Your kind and loving nature has really helped him feel comfortable and accepted to be himself.”
“We are so grateful that you are close enough to where we live so that our daughter could feel safe and nurtured. We have seen her grow in many ways thanks to your fun guidance. Thank you for being their for us always.”
“Thank you so much for welcoming our child into you care this year. We are so grateful to have found someone who understands our child the way we do, and supports him to fully express who he is as a person.”
“Thank you for a wonderful year of nurturing and supporting our son’s imagination, sense of self and personhood. We will be forever grateful for the space space that “Steph’s” was for him.”
“Thank you for being a wonderful space for our son over the last few years! He has loved it all the friends he has made. Thank you for being so kind, warm, understanding and helpful. We appreciate all you have done for us and we will miss you and your family.”
“A big heartfelt thanks for all the love and care you provided our daughter over the past 12+ months. We always felt very safe and reassured sending her to your home, knowing she would be well looked after. We would love to stay in contact as you’ve been a special part of her early years.”
“Steph came highly recommended as a nurturing Educator and we were blown away. The kindness and outstanding care provided to our daughter exceeded our expectations. Ivy liked having someone sit with her to sleep, Steph and Lukas were able to cater to all of Ivy’s needs and Ivy was always happy to be in care with Steph.”
“My very introverted 3 year old has been attending Spirited Hearts for one year. I was very hesitant to put him into a natural learning program because I wasn’t sure how he would cope. However, after our first visit with Steph, I was confident he would be ok. My son has just thrived so much. I feel confident that his emotional wellbeing is being taken care of. I love that there’s no tv of ipads in sight, and nature is a huge focus.”
"My partner and I have always had trust issues as a result of neglect and abuse that we suffered as children. We have no family support and have largely raised our children by ourselves. So when the opportunity came to place our older boy into a natural learning place with Steph, we didn't hesitate, as we knew that she shared our attachment parenting principles, and patience and support that is so paramount when it comes to raising children. To make matters even harder, my boy had second degree burns only a few months prior to joining her natural learning haven. He was traumatised by the experience and Steph suggested some Aware Parenting techniques to me, which have been an absolute life saver. I will never hesitate to recommend Steph and her husband and I only wish that she lived closer, so we could use her services again"
“Steph is so in tune with the children she looks after. My son always felt safe and confident going to daycare with her. One thing I’ll always remember is how he told her he felt scared going to sleep alone so Steph and Lukas took turns to sit with him and calm him until he fell asleep each day until he was happy and ready to do it on his own. Lots of outdoor and nature play too which is great for the little busy minds! Highly recommend!”
"I used to send my daughter to Steph's daycare back in Canberra. We felt quite comfortable sending our daughter to Steph. She was always excited to go and never wanted to leave! Steph has a very gentle and caring approach. Steph went above and beyond for us whilst my husband was away for work and I was sick, she collected our daughter and dropped her back at the end of the day. I wouldn't hestitate sending any future children to Steph again. Steph based her learning experiences on the children's interest. I had no concerns when Steph took the kids out on little adventures."
“I’m so glad to hear that you’re starting back with your natural learning haven. You were made for it! I remember how much easier it was leaving the girls with you knowing you’d love them as your own! Even wearing Lily so she would sleep and letting me sneakily drop EBM off whenever I needed. The little updates through the day and the adventures meant so much to me as well as the girls!”
