Locals: Change of scene for Christine

Christine Ryan has spent 43 years in childcare and teaching, but now she is moving on. Photo/Andrew Warner

Christine Ryan has worked in education since she was 17, but now, it's time for a change of scene.

Ryan has sold Daybreak pre-school on Fraser Street, Tauranga, which she bought in 1998, and is excited about getting involved in new things and spending time with her family.

Talking with her in her home in Ohauiti, looking out over the city, it is easy to see she is ready to move on and anticipating the future.

"In two weeks it's mine and Kerry's 40th wedding anniversary. I have three little grandchildren and five adult children in various places. I haven't lost any of the passion or energy, it is just timely," Christine says. "I have been in education since I was 17, so I think it's time for some gardening leave. I love gardening and there is a lot to do here, so it is right.

"I think it will be nice to just do something else and it could be anything; something to do with the volunteer brigade, something with the grandchildren, just enjoying that last 20 summers."

Christine was born and raised in Christchurch, where she started in education and childcare before making her first big move to Whangarei.

"I was in charge of 10 kindergartens (in Whangarei) and it was a massive challenge for a 22-year-old, working in the decile one kindergartens in Northland. At times, I was sometimes the only Pakeha person on a bus, seeing kids going to school with bare feet.

Things like that were such shocks to me."

Christine had her first child in England, where her father is from. Then after moving back to New Zealand, husband Kerry was offered a job in Tauranga, and took it.

"We just thought, 'everyone wants to come to Tauranga for a holiday, why not live there'? We were lucky we got to choose," Christine says.

Since moving to Tauranga and eventually buying Daybreak in 1998, Christine has seen huge changes in pre-school education, both from the perspective of children and parents.

"Teaching and learning, as well as society has changed. It's too politically correct.

Children aren't taking as much responsibility for themselves," Christine says.

I don't think a lot of them are fully prepared for the world. They want everything now, they don't know how to negotiate or bargain for things.

Christine Ryan

"Some children don't have that basic independence. They get everything in an instant. They don't take risks, go for bike rides or climb trees. My approach to pre-schools was to challenge that.

"I have children and they have all broken bones or had injuries from climbing trees and being outside. They're fine for it," says Christine.

Christine says since starting out in education 43 years ago, the way a family operates has also changed. All of Christine's children went to Daybreak, and even in that time the changes seen in childcare are huge.

"Back when I was training it was always dad went to work and mum stayed at home. Then once a fortnight the mums would come together and walk with their kids to the supermarket and do their grocery shopping. It was a lot more neighbours helping neighbours.

Now, however, there are two incomes needed in a family, parents need to work in the school holidays, things have changed.

Christine Ryan

"The regulations have changed. Now you have to be a fully registered teacher and renew that every three years. You need a degree." It is fair to say that over the last 43 years, Christine has been an important figure in the Tauranga community. With her leadership, Daybreak has gone from having a roll of 10 in a small property down a long driveway in Ohauiti, to one of the leading day-care centres in the Bay of Plenty, with a roll of 45 children.

Christine now looks forward to spending time with her family and trying new adventures.