My name is Sophie, I am currently a student at the University of Oulu in Northern Finland. I study in a program called Intercultural Teacher Education which is preparing me for a Bachelors and Masters degree in primary education. I will be coming back to Canada for 10 weeks to complete my practicum and thought it would be a fantastic opportunity to connect with families in British Columbia. I will be in the Lower Mainland from April to June and then plan to fly back for school. I come to Canada fairly frequently as I am half Canadian and was born and raised in Vancouver. Growing up I was active and have continued to be active into my adulthood. Currently, I am part of the soccer league at the University in Oulu and enjoy every minute of it. During the summers I spend my time working at the beach as a lifeguard. I love that position as I get so much hands on interaction with the people in the community and have the opportunity to educate them on water safety. During the school year I spend my time studying but also take free time to work as a substitute in the primary schools and the daycares in and around Oulu. I feel as though this keeps me sharp and practiced in childhood interactions and I love being able to spend time with the children. I would be more than happy to spend some time introducing Finnish pedagogical practices with your children as Finland is a front runner in both basic and early childhood education. We take time to learn how to support play in children. Additionally, I have focused my studies on Animal-Assisted Pedagogy as an animal lover myself. Animals within the classroom are an excellent way to support students and promote empathy development. I understand that I may not be suitable for you due to the short time period. With this being said, I am open to opportunities for babysitting as well. Working during this practice period will support me throughout the 10 weeks as I will not be able to obtain a permanent position anywhere. I sincerely look forward to discussing potential opportunities with you moving forward and hope you will consider my special situation as an opportunity for intercultural learning!

I have worked with children in a variety of capacities. Since 2016 I have spent time as a private nanny, coach and instructor. More specifically, coaching for the Langley Flippers Swim Club which I credit for my drive in childhood interactions today. More recently, I have worked as an au pair in London, England, in a daycare in Finland and as a classroom teacher in Finland. I have always worked to broaden my experience in child care and experience with children as I feel that it better equips me to work with a variety of not only children but also parents. I feel privileged having the experience that I do and hope that it is suitable to the needs of both you and your children.