Level of education: I have a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Intercultural Studies. I spent over half of my degree living abroad.

Additional skills or certifications: I am fully vaccinated with Covid-19 precautions. I am an artist and I love helping children navigate their creative sparks and endeavors. I love to cook and make living spaces look beautiful. I am in the process of renewing my infant and child First Aid and CPR certifications. I speak bits and pieces of many languages since I am a world traveler that has spent six semesters and many summers living abroad. Languages include: French, Kiswahili, Arabic, Turkish, Nepali, Tamil and Amharic. I have completed certificates on many courses including Infant Safe Sleep Practices, Supporting Breastfeeding in Childcare, Preventing Abusive Head Trauma and Shaken Baby Syndrome, Recognition of Child Abuse and Neglect, Injury Prevention, and Playground Safety, and Standard Precautions, including Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases and Immunizations.

Experience: Nannying: part time and full time, two families, 1 year House Manager: 1 family, 7 months Babysitting: (intensive, 60+ families, all ages), 8 years Summer camp counselor: YMCA and Girls Rock! Chicago (a women's empowerment and music camp for girls), 1 summer respectively. Teaching English to middle school and high school age kids in Ethiopia - 4 months I have experience with autistic and special needs children. I have much younger siblings, aged 5 and 8, and my younger brother has a sensory processing disorder. I have been present along his journey.

Experience with the following age groups: Infant through school age.

Interests and hobbies:I am classically trained in the Visual Arts (sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, fashion design and more). I attended the Chicago High School for the Arts where I had three hours of art instruction per day, and I also attended Marwen, a Chicago youth art school for six years. In my adult life, I love to decorate my spaces with paintings and create table murals. I was professionally trained in belly dancing and Ancient Egyptian pharaonic dancing in Egypt. I am interested in world religion, world culture, Psychology, spirituality, mindfulness practices, music, movement, dance, reading, spending time in nature, healing practices, holistic health, Reiki, folktales and stories, sewing and d.i.y. projects.

Describe your childcare style:I am fun and adventurous and constantly on my feet! In my child care endeavors, I love to carefully balance fine motor activities, gross motor activities, opportunities to encourage little ones to spark curiosity about the world around them, and of course, time for creativity, imaginative play and silliness. I strongly believe in positive encouragement of learning and practicing new artistic and academic skills, leading by example a healthy social-emotional life, and encouraging compassion in the ways that the child relates to oneself and others. I am laid-back yet reliable, responsible, and continuously striving to think a few steps ahead. I believe that every child should be cared for a bit differently in a way that is catered to what suits their personal growth the most. Forming a strong bond with the child and being very hands on in play encourages a child's beautiful developing confidence. I am very outdoor and nature focused.

What activities do you like to do with children:Infant - 0-3 months: Sounds: call and response, "where's (insert name?)," "bicycle legs" to strengthen leg muscles, mirrors, high contrast black and white images to develop eyesight, tummy time, silly faces, introducing toys, singing, walks in carrier, eye contact, smiles, laughter.3-9 months: Music and dance, talking to them a lot to develop language skills, picnics and outside time, practice siting/rolling over depending on developmental age and readiness, age appropriate musical instruments, sensory bottles, exploring textures, stacking blocks, puppets, books, baby sign language, bath time.9 months to a year: Practice crawling/walking, practice first words, waving and sign language, grabbing and dropping, peek-a-boo, baby drums, books, finger painting, teething toys. Toddler: Songs, stories, bubbles, water table, art projects, shape sorting, identification of colors, trucks and animals, Tucker Turtle (character that teaches gentle touches), sprinkler, painting with objects, painting with snow, songs with easy words to sing along, making up words with the child, making up stories with the child, letting the toddler be a "helper" in small, age appropriate ways if it suits the personality and especially if there is a younger sibling, teething toys. Pre-school/Kindergarten: Scavenger hunts and outdoor play, more complex art projects with built in mini-lessons, encouraging imaginative play, affirming actions: "you are doing a great job at that!" duck, duck, goose or red light green light if multiple children, learning numbers and practicing alphabet, talking to them about how the world around them works and asking them questions. Grade school: Activities geared toward their specific interests and special skills, reinforcing their special qualities, more in depth dialogue, help with projects, outdoor time, encouraging silliness, art, dance parties, cooking, making slime, legos.

Why are you interested in working as a Nanny or Babysitter? I genuinely believe that playing such a powerful role in a child's life is a beautiful gift, and I strive to make an impact on the children I work with by leading my efforts with kindness and inquisitiveness directed toward the child. I believe that each child is a teacher and has a plethora to share with the world, and I love to find activities which help to align the child with what they love. I am a naturally nurturing individual, and I believe that healthy and strong bonds are essential at any age, but particularly in childhood.

What qualities are important in a Nanny or Babysitter?It is important for a nanny to be present and relaxed in their abilities with children. A nanny has a job which demands creativity and the ability to be highly adaptable depending on daily circumstances and sometimes curveballs in child development. A nanny must be empathic and always thinking about what will serve the individual child the most. An ideal nanny is nurturing, well rounded, resilient, punctual, intuitive, communicative, takes initiative, is flexible yet creates some structure and routine, fun, energetic, caring, responsible, prepared, and knows what to do in an emergency!

Additional comments:I look forward to learning about your family and about what makes your kids special and unique!