Level of education: I graduated in 2016 with my Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Florida State University.

Additional skills or certifications: I have a substitute teaching certificate from Arizona and have been certified in CPR and First Aid multiple times (which are both currently up to date). I have worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. As part of my Early Childhood Education (ECE) degree, I took an Educational Assessment for Students with Disabilities course which has greatly helped me to create lessons that can accommodate special needs learners. I am naturally gifted in working with children with special needs and I am able to see the greatest potential in my charges!

Experience: I have over 5 full years of professional nannying experience which includes many household management duties such as cleaning, laundry, organizing, shopping, meal prep, errands, etc. I have been working with children in a professional setting since 2010. My professional experiences began at a wonderful learning center for children (infant to PreK). This included educating and caring for children with autism. It was my greatest joy to work with these children at their own pace, providing appropriate accommodations to help them succeed. In total, I spent 3-4 years caring for and educating children at this specific school. During my employment, I was studying to become an Early Childhood Educator. For my degree, I was required to have a very specific amount of time working with different age groups. I served my internships and practicums in four different classrooms (two kindergarten classes, 2nd grade and 3rd grade). For my final internship in the 3rd grade classroom, I was required to develop and implement daily lessons. I also provided daily differentiated instruction for learners with disabilities in the classroom and charted these students' improvement. I am comfortable constructing IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) for students with disabilities or developmental delays. All children are capable of amazing things and I love watching their eyes light up when they realize what they’re capable of! After graduating, I worked as a substitute teacher at public schools. Shortly after, I began working as a nanny in Florida in 2017 and then moved to Colorado in 2021 where I have been working as a nanny for three wonderful children (ages 1, 3, and 7). Between these two nanny positions, my duties have included but are not limited to: developing daily schedules that include fun-filled and educational activities, art projects that include accommodations for limited fine motor skills, trips to the park, and fun exercise activities. These exercise activities include working alongside therapists (OTs and PTs) to improve gross and fine motor skills. In addition to these child-related duties, I spend part of my time doing anything that the family needs. This includes laundry, cleaning, pet care, errands, scheduling, gardening, harvesting, painting, staining, and even masonry and edging; I am not afraid to roll up my sleeves! I have even helped set up and host formal, private events.

Experience with the following age groups: I have worked with a wide range of ages (infant to 5th grade). I also have 3.5+ years of experience with children with disabilities.

Interests and hobbies:I have a strong appreciation for beauty in the outdoors: mountains, lakes, waterfalls, autumn leaves- I absolutely love nature. You can often find me hiking, camping, exploring, playing in the snow, or driving off road in a red manual Jeep Wrangler! I love animals and have even worked as a kennel tech at an animal hospital. I love weekend markets in small/intimate downtowns and strolling through the many booths that are selling art, vegetables, hand made soaps, etc. I am a talented artist and amateur photographer who has done some professional gigs. On a rare occasion (when I have enough time), you may find me bent over a piece of realistic artwork that you may mistake it for being a B&W photograph! I love to use my artistic talents to gift family and friends with handmade cards, portraits drawings, flower arrangements, family photo shoots, etc. Pre-Covid, I was often involved in a variety of different volunteer programs such as feeding the homeless, Thanksgiving turkey drives, and even traveling to places like Jamaica and Thailand to rebuild homes.

Describe your childcare style:Knowing that children are eager to explore and are always learning, I like to consider each day and activity as an opportunity for a child to expand their knowledge. Whether we are doing homework, arts and crafts, taking a stroll around the lake, or making lunch, there is always something for them to learn! I understand that every child is different, so I naturally adapt to fit their learning styles, interests, and needs. I am very patient and even insightful in understanding children, their behavior, and why they do what they do. This helps me to relate to them and help them find their way! As far as discipline, I believe children should be rewarded for outstanding behavior. This encourages children naturally because they like being praised! Likewise, they should see that there are consequences for wrong behavior such as lying, stealing, or hurting others. I always consider the culture of the family and am respectful of the views and beliefs of the parents. I appreciate parents that will collaborate with me to lovingly teach their child right from wrong.

What activities do you like to do with children:To develop gross motor skills with an infant, I like to incorporate early development activities such as tummy time (to develop neck and back muscles), and at 4 months, activities that encourage crawling and, with assistance, standing up! Fine motor skills are also important for young children, so I give them specific and differentiated activities that will help them according to their age and skill level. Some of these activities include using safety scissors to cut along a single line on paper, buttoning and zipping, or using creative ways to practice recognizing and writing letters and numbers. It is also almost never too early to introduce phonics; choosing a "letter of the day" is a great way to practice learning sounds and recognizing letters. Reading is another daily activity I like to do with kids, and I love to use flash cards to help young children learn three letter sight words. Soft, textured books are great for babies, as they can grasp the pages themselves, feel different textures, and explore books for the very first time. Most children age 1 and older love to do art, and I love to develop age appropriate art lessons. Art allows children freedom to express themselves and explore their abilities. It also builds self-esteem when children get to share or display their creations! Outings are a great way to incorporate hands-on learning, as children can practice all subject areas in markets, in the park, at the library, etc. (Covid considered). I love the outdoors and this is the main reason I relocated to Colorado. I love taking kids outdoors and allowing them to explore, hike, play at the park, or play a sport. Additionally, I look forward to applying my knowledge and expertise as a teacher and constructively helping children with their homework, school projects, and in reading and writing. I like to keep in mind that children are still children, so lots of fun is very important! I look forward to planning fun activities designed to the specific interests of your child (soccer, dance, art, outer space, reading, exploring, etc.). As far as watching TV, with me, there is too much fun to be had for screen time!

Why are you interested in working as a Nanny or Babysitter? While I had originally planned to work as a teacher, I find nannying to be far more rewarding for both my family as well as the children I work with and want to pursue it as my long term career. As a teacher, there are expectations of the district to instill a particular curriculum in the classroom and this greatly limits my creativity as an educator. While some structure is helpful, I believe too much can take away from the child's ability to explore what they love in their learning. As a teacher, I also had limited time with each student and prefer to invest my time with just a few children at a time. Being a nanny is a wonderful way to use my skills in a way that can greatly impact a child. I look forward to being able to invest my time in individual children and their families.

What qualities are important in a Nanny or Babysitter?Nannies are assets to families that make life easier for both parents and children. Therefore, nannies should be flexible and considerate of the needs of the family and be willing and able to quickly adapt as needs change and grow. Nannies should hold a good understanding of child development. This is obtained by education and experience with a variety of ages. A nanny should be punctual, dependable, and even predictable. Families need to be able to depend on their nanny to maintain a seamless, fluent schedule with work, school, and activities. Nannies are not babysitters! Families should be able to have peace knowing that their child is not staring at a screen during the day. Rather, it is the nanny's job to ensure the kids days are filled with fun and educational activities that are suited to each child. Parents deserve to hear their kids bursting at the seams with fun information about what their day entailed! Nannies must consider the safety of the child(ren) to be of the utmost importance. This involves not only being current and up to date in CPR and First AID certification, but nannies must be able to demonstrate that they are ready and able to put these skills into practice. Being alert and aware of surroundings, practicing basic safety precautions, and driving cellphone-free are all expectations that a parent should have when hiring a nanny. Even better if the nanny has experience as a lifeguard!

Additional comments:Please feel free to ask me any questions; I want you to be able to find just the right nanny who fits you and your family’s needs! I look forward to meeting you through Nannies of the Rockies!