Our Story
Over 35 Years of Growing Together
Kids Crafty Clubs began with a simple passion: creating a safe, caring and inspiring place for children to learn, grow and belong.
Since 1988, our journey has grown from a small after-school care programme in a family garage into the KCC whānau families know today. Through every stage, our commitment has remained the same, supporting children and giving families peace of mind.
Kids Crafty Clubs began with a simple passion: creating a safe, caring, and inspiring place for children to learn, grow and belong. Since 1988, our journey has evolved from a small after-school care programme in a family garage into the KCC whānau families know and trust today. Through every stage, our heartfelt commitment has remained unchanged, nurturing children and giving parents complete peace of mind.
Our Journey Through the Years
1988 — Where It All Began
Kids Crafty Clubs was established as an OSCAR programme in the garage of our family home in Pakuranga. We provided after-school care and school holiday programmes for children aged 5–10 years. As our programme grew, we moved between local schools, halls and community venues to continue supporting families.
1995 — Our First Childcare Centre
We opened our first childcare centre at Pakuranga Heights Primary School, with a Ministry of Education licence to care for up to 40 children. This was an exciting new chapter, and we spent many happy years building relationships with children and their families before the centre closed in 2010.
2000 — A New Chapter in Howick
With a vision for the future, Leesa and her husband decided to develop Kids Crafty Clubs in Howick, transforming their family home into the childcare centre that is now Kowhai House.
2016 — Growing Our Learning Spaces
As KCC continued to grow, we expanded our learning environments, including the development of Phoenix House, creating more opportunities for children to explore, discover and prepare for their next learning journey.
2017 — Our Purpose-Built Home
We reached another important milestone when Kids Crafty Clubs moved into its purpose-built premises at 123 Vincent Street, Howick. Our growing centre brought together our passion for early learning, meaningful relationships and supporting local families.
Established in 1988 in Pakuranga, KCC expanded into our first licensed childcare centre at Pakuranga Heights in 1995. In 2000, Leesa and her family developed Kowhai House in Howick, followed by Phoenix House in 2016, and our purpose-built premises at 123 Vincent Street in 2017. Today, we continue to offer loving T.L.C. for your V.I.P., supporting the next generation of tamariki across East Auckland.
Our Passion Has Never Changed
Although Kids Crafty Clubs has grown and evolved over the years, the heart of KCC remains the same.
We believe every child deserves to feel safe, loved, valued and encouraged to become an independent, confident young person. We want children to enjoy their childhood, develop meaningful relationships and discover the world around them through play, exploration and everyday experiences.
Most importantly, we want families to feel confident knowing their children are cared for by people who genuinely value their wellbeing and development.
A Personal Message from Leesa
To every family who has been part of our journey, thank you. Your trust, support and connection have helped shape Kids Crafty Clubs into what it is today.
It has been a privilege to be part of so many children's journeys, watching them grow and develop over the years. We look forward to continuing to welcome new families into our KCC whānau and supporting the next generation of tamariki.
Expect T.L.C. for your V.I.P. at KCC.
With warmest wishes,
Leesa Hill
Kids Crafty Clubs