Kia ora, I’m Alex Weehuizen
I am an early years specialist, educator, and the person in your corner through the first five years.
I help parents and teachers make sense of children’s behaviour, emotions and development, and turn that understanding into practical, realistic ways to respond.
My work is grounded in child development and attachment science, and shaped by more than fifteen years alongside children and the people who love them.
But here’s what I want you to know first: I’ve been in the hard moments too.
My Story
My journey began as a qualified nanny, and later as an early childhood teacher, after graduating with a Bachelor of Education (ECE) from Victoria University. Those years gave me something you can’t learn from a textbook: real relationships with children and their whānau, and a front row seat to how differently every family works.
Along the way I became fascinated by infant and childhood development, and that curiosity slowly pulled me toward supporting families more directly.
Then I became a mother myself. Even with a background in education and care, the early years humbled me. And I watched the parents around me, my own friends included, quietly struggling with the same things: the sleep, the big emotions, the separation, the strong little personalities. I realised that understanding child development is one thing, but feeling supported in the thick of it is another. That’s why I founded First Five Years in late 2020 (formerly Nurtured Postpartum & Beyond).
Today, I help parents and educators understand the developmental reasons behind children’s behaviour, and respond with confidence.
My sessions aren’t about judgement or “perfect” parenting. They’re about helping you feel calmer in the hard moments, strengthen your connection with your child, and support their wellbeing now and for years to come.