Come and join us at the beautiful Fairfield House in Nelson for
Sacred Urge to Play
The Play Conference of 2025
With Kimberley Crisp • David Spraggs • Lisa McKimm • Natasha Kibble
The 9th Sacred Urge to Play Conference
The Sacred Urge to Play conference began when Kimberley Crisp, David Spraggs, Lisa McKimm, Natasha Kibble and Pennie Brownlee came together to host a conference and share their passion for children’s play. All five, inspired by this Land, and by our responsibility to make sure our children are educated as grounded responsible Earthlings.
Timed to nest us into the Autumn calendar, the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. The Play Conference returns to the South Island for the second time. This gathering will envelop you in powerful, exciting, peaceful ponderings and the lessons of vital un-adult-erated play. We have planned our exciting programme to be experiential - unforgettably "hands on and hearts in". We will be there - and out there - doing it, so be prepared with your warm layers and wet weather gear in case Ranginui blesses us with rain.
We will celebrate children and look at ways to foster their innate wisdom and curiosity in the 'natural classroom' with the seasons and elements of this Earth. As befits responsible Earthlings, there will be a focus on beauty and sustainability – and how to practice that in our lives and workplaces.
Our venue, the beautiful and historic Fairfield House in Nelson, nestled in seven acres of beautiful woodlands and gardens. All spaces and rooms at Fairfield House have wheelchair access. Delicious food will be provided by Nourish Catering.
We will celebrate children and look at ways to foster their innate wisdom and curiosity in the 'natural classroom' with the seasons and elements of this Earth. As befits responsible Earthlings, there will be a focus on beauty and sustainability – and how to practice that in our lives and workplaces.
Our venue, the beautiful and historic Fairfield House in Nelson, nestled in seven acres of beautiful woodlands and gardens. All spaces and rooms at Fairfield House have wheelchair access. Delicious food will be provided by Nourish Catering.
Meet the Team
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Kimberley Crisp
Kimberley has a bachelor's degree in Education (ECE), visited the Pikler Institute in Hungary for advanced training many times, and is well known for being the co-founder and creator of The Nest Private Kindergarten. The 'birth' of The Nest model, which reconstructed the curriculum, quickly became the new 'teaching ground' for herself and hundreds of other professionals who would visit, see, feel, and hear a different 'way of being'. Kimberley's creativity continued with The Haven, establishing a model 'outside the system' - with no strings - and is set outside in nature for home-schooled children between 5-13 years of age. She dovetails being with the children at The Haven and delivering innovative Professional/Personal Development around NZ, and most recently partnering with Dr. Kate Anderson in her work with Poly Vagal/Nervous System Nourishment. Kimberley enjoys sharing a banquet of tools for teachers, teams and parents. |
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David Spraggs
David is a trained ECE teacher who has worked in this profession for over 40 years. He comes from rural Waikato but calls Gisborne/Turanganui a Kiwa home, with his wife and children. He is passionate about nature education and sustainability being placed back into the hands of children. As a play advocate, David supports educators to maintain child led play to enhance learning. He believes learning comes from the processes of learning rather than from outcomes. He is currently the Professional Leader for Gisborne Kindergarten Association. In his spare time, David and his wife run a disability trust in Gisborne called Te Hapori Disability Trust, for the support of people who have finished schooling and have “very high” needs. One of their children attends this trust during the week, engaging in a day programme. David has a passion for working and connecting with like-minded spirits. |
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Lisa McKimm
Lisa has coached parents and teachers in building respectful atmospheres and relationships for over thirty years. Lisa now runs her private practice through ParentingWorx, which she started in 2000, and works 1:1 with Oranga Tamariki clients for part of her working week. Humour has always been embraced to help bring a light hand to her work - even when the subject may be heavy. She says what brings her joy is being the tour guide for the journey where people reconnect with their own wisdom. She has consulted and presented internationally in conference and University settings. Her newest delight is that she has become a practitioner of Havening, which she now includes in her work to assist those with their journey out of trauma. Feedback on her work always includes, “It’s so obvious, really, but for some reason, it never occurred to me to try it that way!”. Check her out at www.parentingworx.co.nz |
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Natasha Kibble
Tash is an Early Childhood Teacher and Professional Development Facilitator living with her husband and two sons in Nelson, New Zealand. Over the years, Tash has developed her pedagogical approach based on a strong philosophy of relationship-based practice, with a passion for creating conditions for peaceful and playful learning, discovery, curiosity and care. Her work is supported by her degree in Early Childhood Education, advanced training at the Pikler Institute in Hungary, The MEHRIT Centre for Self-Reg and the myriad of roles over the years as a teacher, researcher, facilitator, consultant, lecturer and mum. She is the owner and creator of The Children's Garden in Nelson, a small blended age ECE setting for children aged 0-6 years. At The Children's Garden, the majority of the day is lavishly spent in the natural outdoors of their beautiful nature-inspired setting, where weekly visits to local bush, streams, historic gardens and the local beach are an essential part of their programme. |
Play Conference Itinerary
Friday 2nd May
Story, Fire & Light
Arrive at Fairfield House at 4.00pm for registration, and the programme begins at 5.00pm. There will be a celebratory meal at 7.15 pm, then an evening session from 8.15 - 9.15pm.
Saturday 3rd May
Sacred, Urge, Play & Creativity
Beginning at 8.30am, the day’s sessions concentrate on the unfolding of the human child and the absolute primacy of play in that process. We will explore how the play choreography unfolds so that our children are able to grow their Spirit and unfold all of their intelligences. The day finishes at 7pm. Click here for Saturday evening restaurant recommendations.
Sunday 4th May
Play & Teachers, Ritual & Circles
This focus for Sunday is on our role as advocates for children’s play as Earthlings. We will explore the ‘safe container’ that all children need in their infancy and early childhood, and look at considerations and ways to create beautiful fecund environments. The conference will close at 1.15pm. Optional group tour of The Children’s Garden at 2pm.
Story, Fire & Light
Arrive at Fairfield House at 4.00pm for registration, and the programme begins at 5.00pm. There will be a celebratory meal at 7.15 pm, then an evening session from 8.15 - 9.15pm.
Saturday 3rd May
Sacred, Urge, Play & Creativity
Beginning at 8.30am, the day’s sessions concentrate on the unfolding of the human child and the absolute primacy of play in that process. We will explore how the play choreography unfolds so that our children are able to grow their Spirit and unfold all of their intelligences. The day finishes at 7pm. Click here for Saturday evening restaurant recommendations.
Sunday 4th May
Play & Teachers, Ritual & Circles
This focus for Sunday is on our role as advocates for children’s play as Earthlings. We will explore the ‘safe container’ that all children need in their infancy and early childhood, and look at considerations and ways to create beautiful fecund environments. The conference will close at 1.15pm. Optional group tour of The Children’s Garden at 2pm.
