When I am not working or at school some of the things I enjoy doing for fun include: - cooking, baking, and cake decorating - playing cards and board games - swimming, biking, hiking, canoeing, and camping - reading, listening to podcasts, and crafting - spending time with friends and family The personal values that are most important to me are: - respect - connection - growth

I am a staff member at a self-directed democratic school with lots of pervious childcare experience looking for a summer nanny position. I have been babysitting regularly for 10 years and was a summer nanny during most of the time I was in high school and university. I also nannied full-time for four months last year while looking for a job and part-time for a family in St. Catharine's while I was in university. Currently I am living in the Waterloo Region and looking for a full-time position for the summer of 2023. I would also consider positions in Mississauga if they were a good fit. I enjoy working for a family where I can build a strong relationship with the children and parents. I like being able to focus on the kids while I am working and include them in everyday activities around the house like preparing lunch or baking as well as going out to do activities. I am happy to prepare meals for the kids during the day and make sure we tidy up after ourselves but would prefer to only do light housekeeping tasks that I could involve the children in. I would also be happy to care for children from multiple families. I love being able to go out into the community with the children I am caring for. Depending on the age of the children, previous places we have enjoyed going include the park, library, pool, bowling alley, water park, music class, the mall, a local farm, and a construction site (to watch the trucks building a house). I feel strongly that children should have lots of time to play and be able to choose the activities they participate in. As such, I will follow your child(ren)'s lead and am unlikely to prepare activities to fill their time. I would also prefer that I am not asked to teach things like reading or math skills outside of supporting that learning through the everyday activities we do. If these are priorities for you, we likely won't be the right match. I am fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and hope to work for a family where all eligible individuals are also vaccinated. Below are some of the highlights of my experience. Experience: - Made authentic connections with the children I was caring for by learning about and engaging in the things they were interested in to build strong, long-lasting relationships. - Cared for children in a warm and loving manner by showing them that I valued their feelings and experiences, providing fun and engaging activities, and maintaining firm and consistent boundaries to help children feel happy and secure while separated from their parents. - Taught children how to swim while providing full-time summer care for children from multiple families which helped them build independence, confidence, and safety awareness in and around the water. - Engaged children in activities of interest to them including baking, cooking, exploring outdoors, reading, outings to parks and the library, etc.

I am an OCT certified teacher with qualifications for kindergarten to grade 10. I have a passion for alternative education and completed part of my Masters of Education with a focus on Self-Directed Education before the pandemic started. I have experience working with children in a variety of settings including as a childcare provider, in a classroom, and as a private tutor. During my post-secondary education I took courses related to: - children with disabilities - children with autism - child development including social-emotional development - classroom management and assessment - American Sign Language (ASL)