Meet our Founder
Erika Chaires
Educare Nannies was founded by Erika Chaires, an Early Childhood Specialist and huge advocate of the RIE Educaring Approach. Erika holds an Internationally Recognised Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and has always been very passionate about making a positive impact in children’s lives. Educare Nannies allows her to bring that passion to life and to bring the RIE Educaring Approach to even more families across Australia.
Her experience comes from nearly 20 years as an Early Childhood Teacher and Nanny in many countries across the world, including the UK, New Zealand, Australia and Mexico.
“I first learned about the RIE Educaring Approach in 2008 while I was working in London as a Preschool Teacher. I fell in love with its values as they aligned so closely with my own and I’ve witnessed the positive impact it has on so many children. It’s been a major part of my daily approach ever since.”
Erika Chaires
She’s continued to add to her qualifications, including completing the RIE Foundations: Theory & Observation Course. This deep dive into the Educaring Approach provides instruction, observation, and self-study, increasing her ability to help others seeking a nurturing start for their families.
As a Preschool Teacher in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Erika takes great pride in forming positive and respectful relationships with children, parents, and other professionals. Through these relationships, she’s connected many families with experienced nannies and babysitters, leading her to set up her own Boutique Nanny Agency rooted in the RIE principles.
Through Educare Nannies, she is determined to elevate the Nanny profession. She understands the challenges a Nanny can face and wants to make sure they get the recognition they deserve to enhance their skills and qualifications.
Erika also holds a Diploma in Interior Design and combines this with her passion for Early Childhood Education to create beautiful learning environments for children and their families. It’s another way she brings the RIE Educaring Approach to life and into the homes of others so they can experience the benefits in multiple ways.
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Our Boutique Nanny Agency is founded on the principles of the RIE Educaring Approach…
…a philosophy that emphasises respectful and authentic relationships between caregivers, children and their family.
The basic RIE principles were created by Magda Gerber in 1978 and they continue to guide our gentle nannies in their daily care routines with your child in the following ways:
Basic trust in the child to be an initiator, an explorer, and a self-learner.”
Trusting in your child’s own natural instincts allows them to lead and explore in their own way. When they’re allowed to choose their own activities, without specific direction from a caregiver, they’re being shown trust in their choice. Our Educare Nannies encourage your child’s own interests and desires to help them feel confident and connected with themselves.
“An environment for the child that is physically safe, cognitively challenging, and emotionally nurturing.”
Through their training and extensive experience, our nannies know exactly how to create a supportive environment that’s also appropriate for your child’s abilities, whilst also being cognitively challenging enough for them to develop at their own pace. To create your own nurturing space, you’ll find plenty of guidance and suggestions in our blog “The Nurturing Connection” from our Educaring experts. Or get in touch with our Interior Design team for truly personalised assistance.
“Time for uninterrupted play.”
With the right environment, your child gets the playtime they need, doing what intrinsically motivates them, without adult interruptions. This gives them valuable opportunities to practise focus, attention and their own sense of problem-solving.
“Freedom to explore and interact with other infants.”
When we respect a child’s own abilities to play and learn, we strengthen their confidence by giving them the opportunity to explore and interact with other children. Instead of directing their activities, we give them the freedom to develop their own natural curiosity.
“Involvement of the child in all caregiving activities to allow the child to become an active participant rather than a passive recipient.”
Including the child in all their personal care activities, encouraging them to be an active participant rather than a passive recipient. It could be with simple tasks, such as asking for permission to wipe their face and waiting for their approval which could be a look such as a smile. For more involved tasks such as changing your baby’s nappy, our nannies talk through what’s going to happen with your child before they start and continue to explain what’s happening while they carry out what’s needed. They may say “I’m going to lift your bottom so I can take the dirty nappy away. Ok, ready? I’m lifting your legs up so I can take the nappy away.” When the child is able, they’ll be asked to take part in the process, showing they understand what’s happening, such as “can you lift your bottom for me so I can take the dirty nappy away.”
“Sensitive observation of the child in order to understand their needs.”
When understanding your child’s individual competencies, our nannies respond appropriately to your child’s needs and interests by watching and active listening. Crying is an infant’s form of communication, so our nannies use their skills and expertise to uncover what needs your child is trying to communicate, making sure their basic needs are met, and providing comfort when needed rather than as an immediate reaction. We recognise how important it is to acknowledge all the human spectrum of feelings and to calmly and respectfully guide them, providing the emotional support they need.
“Consistency and clearly defined limits and expectations to develop discipline.”
An Educare Nanny aims to establish reliable daily routines with clearly defined limits and expectations, creating self-discipline and a sense of security for your child. We help them understand situations such as being allowed to run around at the park knowing that’s what parks and playtime is for, whilst also knowing crossing the road is not the time or place for running.
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