Level of education: I have a Bachelors in Psychology, Masters in Early Childhood Education and I am a Certified Montessori Teacher. I have taught grades Pre-K-3rd in an educational setting.

Additional skills or certifications: CPR & First Aid. Covid vaccinated, Flu, and DTap. Certified Montessori Teacher. I have taught grades Pre-K-3rd in an educational setting.

Experience: I have been working with children for a large portion of my life in different settings. I began as a babysitter when I was 14 years old. I have a Bachelors in Psychology, Masters in Early Childhood Education and I am a Certified Montessori Teacher. I have taught grades Pre-K-3rd in an educational setting. I have been a professional nanny consistently for the last 6 years. I nannied years prior but had different jobs in between. I have worked with children in all age ranges from infants to 17years old. I have worked as a nanny, household manager, and private educator (I’ve done all three for two families!).

Experience with the following age groups: Newborn to 17years old.

Interests and hobbies:I absolutely love being outdoors and would never come inside if the weather allowed me to. I enjoy creating, cooking, reading and listening to music.

Describe your childcare style:My philosophy is to focus on the whole child because each child is different and should never be placed into a box. I think it's important for children to know they are respected, heard and seen. I don't raise my voice or do timeouts. If there's any type of behavioral situations, I think it's extremely important to redirect and work with the child to figure out what needs need to be met rather than pushing them to the side. Working with children is a true partnership and providing a positive social emotional experience is something I believe in. My goal is for the child and family to always feel safe and secure. My favorite thing about working with children is being in the moment. They aren't worried about the grocery list or all the tasks adults can stress over… and they welcome you into those moments and I think it's absolutely wonderful.

What activities do you like to do with children:I think the most important lessons we can provide to children allows them to have the freedom to explore. Children are drawn to what the adults in their life model and they want to contribute to practical life experiences. Something as simple as helping wash the dishes can lead to more imagination than we could ever think of. When working with children, the activities I create are Montessori based and focus on the whole child. No two children are the same and I make sure each child’s individual needs are met socially, emotionally, and physically. Chosen activities are dependent on the child’s developmental level and change overtime with the child’s growth. Being outside is by far my favorite thing to do with young ones, because nature is an extension of the classroom allowing the children sensorial experiences they need. Allowing children to be “messy” with arts and crafts, cooking or playing outside gives them permission for their minds to think creatively without boundaries. I think the most important part of working with children (especially infants and toddlers) is to understand that they need to feel safe and secure while discovering their environment and emotions. Although I believe flexibility is key when it comes to a child’s day to day, creating boundaries and routine helps the child to understand what comes next. The world is new and exciting, and as a nanny, it is my job to guide them into the right direction while allowing them to have freedom within limits. My favorite question during a childcare interview was “What learning activities can you do with an infant… they’re just a baby!?” The best part about working with such a young age group is that a simple task can open up a child’s mind and lead to abstract thinking when they are older. When working with infants and toddlers, sensory play is a top priority and can be brought on through many different activities such as playing in sand, smelling types flowers, hearing different sounds, etc. To assist in language development, I continuously talk to the child(ren) explaining everything I am doing while also describing different types of emotions they may be having. My experience has taught me that the more we talk things through with younger children, the more they are able to communicate and process information as they develop. Starting the socialization process with infants allows them to gain more independence and empathy towards others at a young age. I love taking children to different types of learning activities and favorite class to participate in is Music Together! I think the more we allow infants and toddlers the freedom to explore, the more they become interested in learning activities. If we as adults are excited and open minded, the children in our lives will follow suite. When working with older children, I enjoy teaching them without them realizing they are doing any type of school learning. For example, I love to bake with children and put them in charge of measuring out ingredients and learning about fractions. It’s awesome because they do not even realize that something so fun is a math lesson! This is just one example of how I introduce knew learning experiences to children that are engaging and more exciting than learning in a standard classroom setting. Other activities I do with children consist of: baking, cooking, swimming, hiking, reading together, dance parties, arts and crafts, science experiments, drawing, painting (one of my favorites), nature exploring, etc. My educational background and teaching experience taught me a lot about child development and the milestones that are needed to impact a child’s life. I am more than comfortable creating and providing documentation of a child’s development so that a family is aware of each stage. I am happy to explain more about the Montessori philosophy and more details about specific works I do with children based upon their age group!

Why are you interested in working as a Nanny or Babysitter? Working with children is the best job I have ever had and I cannot imagine another career path that feels as natural as being a nanny does. I loved being a classroom teacher, but I find it even more rewarding to work privately with families and children. I love being able to give children my full attention and support while they are exploring and figuring out the world around them.

What qualities are important in a Nanny or Babysitter?There are multiple qualities that are important for a nanny to have to ensure proper childcare and partnership with families. First and foremost, a nanny should have excellent communication skills and be able to discuss all topics when it comes to the child. A nanny needs patience and the ability to stay calm in every situation to ensure that the child feels safe to explore the world around them. A nanny’s job is to guide the child, allow open exploration, and to promote independence while building a strong developmental foundation. It is essential to understand that being a nanny means creating a non-judgmental partnership with a family to guarantee that each child is given the necessary tools they need to grow.

Additional comments:I look forward to meeting your amazing family!