Nanny in Vancouver, British Columbia

Hello/Bonjour! My name is Hannah and I am a kind, energetic nanny looking to care for some great kiddos in the Kitsilano area! I am 28 years old, a recent master's graduate in psychology and currently work as a mental health counsellor in private practice. I am looking to provide childcare and light household support to 1 to 3 families in my neighbourhood, as I love feeling part of a family and deeply miss spending time with great kids. Having graduate training in developmental psychology, I take special interest in the psychological and emotional wellbeing of children under my care (i.e., I understand the importance of validating kids' big emotions!). I take privacy and safety very seriously, am highly ethical and professional, and value open and communicative working relationships with parents. While English is my native language, I am comfortable working in French after having nannied for several families in Montreal. I grew up on the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth, Minnesota and come from a relatively large family of six, so I am familiar with the joyful (and sometimes difficult) dynamics of siblings. I spent a large portion of my life pursuing an Olympic dream as a professional long track speed skater. While I never qualified for the Olympics, I had the great privilege of representing my country on the international stage at World Cups and World Championships around the globe. After retiring from sport, I now balance my time between my psychology practice, remaining physically active (I love to hike, bike, ski, you name it!), and staying connected with loved ones back in the states. (I am a recent auntie who loves her baby nephew very much!) Over the years, I have spent my summers, and much of my spare time, caring for children. During my time as a counsellor at YMCA Camp Chief Hector in the Canadian Rockies, I had the immense responsibility of caring for groups of preteens 24/7 for weeks at a time. This experience reinforced my love of working with kids and ignited in me a passion for the outdoors. While living in Montreal, I grew quite close with the families I worked for, providing after school care, cooking family meals, and investing my time and energy in their children's development. It genuinely fills me with joy to build meaningful relationships with the families I support! In addition to spending time outdoors, I love to sing, do yoga (I am a certified yoga teacher), cook nourishing meals, and read feminist literature. I am an advocate of radical self-love and compassion as the keys to healthy psychological development. Having attended a Montessori school from preschool through 3rd grade, I am a huge proponent of child-centred education and believe that children have an innate curiosity about life. I believe it is my job as a nanny to nurture that innate curiosity through hands-on learning and time spent connecting with the natural world. I aim to be fully present when I am with your kids so that their needs for attention and connection are met. I am looking for regular part-time as well as occasional hours. I am generally available 8am-10am and 3pm-5pm on weekdays. I have occasional weeknight and weekend availability if scheduled ahead of time. Please don't hesitate to contact me if your needs differ slightly from my available hours; my schedule is flexible. Please know I take all COVID guidelines seriously. Currently, myself and my roommate both work from home, with each of us having small friend bubbles. I am happy to discuss safety precautions with you so that we all feel as comfortable as possible. I have a loving, generous heart that I feel called to share with a great family. Previous families would describe me as warm, dependable, and fun. I'm happy to provide referrals upon request. If you believe I would be a good fit, please contact me at hcurwin [at] gmail [dot] com. I look forward to connecting with you. Hannah