As well as having three children of her own, the Kanga Kids Family Day Care educator has taken children of just a few months old to four years of age under her wing.
But her dedication to helping young minds grow and learn has not gone unnoticed.
For the past few years Mrs Eldred has been nominated for the Excellence in Family Day Care Educator awards.
And this year is no exception.
“It’s a great feeling to be nominated for the award again this year,” Mrs Eldred said.
“It’s been a really challenging year to be able to continue to offer my services.
“So being recognised for that is really amazing,” she said.
The awards recognise educators who demonstrate a commitment to ongoing quality improvement, innovation and a commitment to quality care and education based on the core values of family day care.
The nominations for the awards are anonymous so Mrs Eldred said she was always left wondering who nominated her for the honour.
“Being nominated just reminds you of how important your work is and how much it means to families,” Mrs Eldred said.
“A number of families have returned to me which is really special.
“At times I have been with families for at least 10 years as I have taught siblings, so you really do develop a strong relationship with them,” she said.
Parent of Kanga Kids Family Day Care students Karen Kelly said her family hit the jackpot when their two daughters got Mrs Eldred as their educator seven years ago. “This stands to be our last year of needing care for our second daughter and it's definitely not a year that we want to finish,” Ms Kelly said. “Karen is a one-in-a-million educator who has such an amazing ability to understand, support and develop the children in her care.
“Not to mention the incredible learning experiences they get at Kanga Kids - ever changing learning spaces, mindfulness activities and the phenomenal cubby castle she is currently building with the help and dedication of her own family,” she said.
The awards are staggered into three stages – regional, state and then the final national winner.
Mrs Eldred will know in October if she has been awarded the regional honour.
“I really take pride in everything I do and ensure our set-up provides a high level of care,” Mrs Eldred said.
“Because I teach a small number of children at a time you can really cater to each child’s needs and interest,” she said.
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