Over a decade ago, Robert and Vinita White embarked on a journey that would change their lives. Inspired by their growing young family, they opened their first before and after-school care programme in West Auckland, New Zealand. What started as a single programme soon blossomed into a thriving business—Carpe Diem Kids—spanning multiple locations and making a lasting impact on the community.
Watch their inspiring story below and read on as we dive into an insightful interview with Vinita. Learn how she and Robert expanded their business from one after-school care programme into a locally-loved childcare powerhouse!
From One to Many: The Growth of Carpe Diem Kids
In just two years, Robert and Vinita launched five before and after school care programmes. For more than 15 years, Carpe Diem Kids (CDK) has provided reliable, engaging care to children across Auckland, and there's no sign of slowing down. Vinita reflects on what it takes to manage multiple locations and how they've grown their business into the success story it is today.
How 'Carpe Diem Kids' Maintains Excellence Across Locations
Q: CDK is known for excellent service. How do you maintain that across all locations?
Previous experience is great, but the main attribute I look for when I'm hiring, is that the person really likes kids. Our extensive training helps our employees develop into the outstanding staff members they are. I want my staff to play with the kids, engage with them and be patient; not moody or snappy. If they enjoy being around kids then they'll go the extra mile. From there, the staff can shape great relationships with the parents too. I have noticed that when there is trust in the relationship, parents are happy with our services.
Vinita also emphasises staff retention:
"I want to retain my staff. So I tend to employ more experienced people, as they're comfortable with the part-time hours and want to stick around longer. Our supervisors at our Flanshaw, Waikowhai, and Chaucer locations have been with us for years, which helps maintain consistency."
Q: Does Each Location Have Its Own Personality?
Absolutely! Each programme is unique, and we’re very dynamic in how we approach them. You actually need to be flexible and have varied curriculums across your locations. This structure means that when un-forseen circumstances; like kids not showing up, or the weather calling off an activity, your staff can deal with this fluidly.
The gender ratios can also determine what activities you do and what resources you are sending to that site. Eg. at one holiday programme you have more boys, so they want more outdoor equipment. Whereas at another, you may have more girls, who love to do crafts or play inside. Our programmes are mindful of this. Also, the location of the hall can define what happens at the location, eg. if the hall is far away from the class buildings then the kids can be loud or play outside more, if they’re close, they have to be a bit more quiet.
Each of my supervisors have their own style around how they run their programmes. One of my CDK leaders is very structure-orientated whereas another CDK leader is more laid-back, which mirrors in their programmes as well. You also need to be aware of the schools culture. In the past 10 years Auckland has become more diverse. My business also reflects this, so I split my employees equally across all locations to give a good mix of cultural and ethnic staffing.
Expanding Boldly: The drive behind opening new locations
Vinita discusses the motivation behind expanding:
After starting with just after school care at Flanshaw, we developed before school care and holiday programmes, offering the full package that the school community needed. Once that was successful, we realised the timing was right to expand. We approached other schools, and after taking some financial risks, we were able to launch at two more locations.
Opening the third school was especially challenging. There wasn’t a previous programme, and the school was small, but we were motivated to help the families in that area. It was a risk we were willing to take, so we did it.
Keeping the Pulse on Multiple Locations
Q: How do you stay on top of everything with multiple locations?
Trust is the foundation. Some of my staff have been with me for nearly a decade. I know that if they need anything, we’re in it together. Even when I haven’t been able to visit a site as frequently, I know things are running smoothly because of the strong relationships we’ve built.
Communication is another big factor. Every Monday, I send a text to all locations outlining the week’s plans; like parties or events and expectations of the programme. I do the shopping for food and crafts. We message and call daily. We also have once a term gatherings where I meet with all the staff, follow-up and plan. If an issue arises, then I visit my supervisors individually.
Challenges and Triumphs: Building Trust with Parents
Q: What challenges did you face when opening new locations?
Building trust with parents was the toughest part because you're starting from scratch. When starting fresh, there’s no prior relationship, so we worked hard to build strong connections with the principals, office staff, and teachers. Open communication is key. I noticed that when we established a close relationship with the school our enrolments would increase because of suggestions from the school. Parents have confidence in the school and trust their recommendations.
Personal Motivations: Why We Do What We Do
Q: What personal influences motivated you to expand Carpe Diem Kids?
Robert and I knew expanding would be a risk, but we were willing to take it. Childcare can be expensive, especially for families in our area. Robert and I wanted to help, particularly solo parents, even though it brought its own challenges but we believe in sowing goodness.
Venita’s tips for Growing Your Childcare Business
- Invest Wisely: Know how much you're willing to invest to get started.
- Understand Your Community: Be mindful that every program is different, and think of the social and economic factors as they play a big role.
- Retain Your Staff: Longevity builds trust with both schools and parents.
"It's not about the money, it's all about the service."
How Enrolmy Supports Before and After School Care Providers
Enrolmy has been a game-changer for before and after school care and holiday programme providers like Carpe Diem Kids. Vinita shares,
The best feature of Enrolmy that I found really useful is the online enrolment part. It’s taken a big load of paperwork off us in terms of ensuring every centre has all the current enrolment forms available. Enrolmy couldn’t have come at a better time for us.
By simplifying day-to-day operations—managing bookings, payments, and communications—Enrolmy allows providers to focus on creating engaging and safe environments for children. As Vinita puts it,
Enrolmy has been so amazing for Carpe Diem Kids. Honestly, as a business, it was the best decision we made.
From their first after school programme to a successful, multi-location operation, Robert and Vinita White’s Carpe Diem Kids has become a trusted and beloved name in childcare. Their story is one of passion, trust, and a deep commitment to the children and families they serve.
How Enrolmy Supports After School Care Providers
Enrolmy has been a game-changer for before and after school care and holiday programme providers like Carpe Diem Kids. Our software simplifies the day-to-day operations, from managing bookings and payments to streamlining communication with parents. By taking care of the admin work, Enrolmy allows providers to focus on what truly matters—creating engaging, safe, and fun environments for children.
