Nanny in Hamilton, Ontario

I feel that one of the most important thing that I can give a child is a love for literature and the arts. With all of the technology and toys available, imagination and creativity are often not nurtured. I am a voracious reader, and I have taught my own children to love books as well. I sing and play guitar, and I have fifteen years of experience performing on stage in community theatre. I do not believe in parking children in front of a TV. The world is full of adventures, and that is what childhood should be about. I have two young girls, 5 and 7, and i know that every other child is just as important as my own. I have experience caring for children of all ages, and I have always had a very easy rapport with them. I am the \"cool mom\" to my daughters\' friends, and I have volunteered for the past three years running a theatre troupe for teenagers. I am also a mentor and volunteer counsellor for teens in distress. I have extensive experience working with children with emotional and developmental disorders of varying degrees of severity, from two high-functioning children with Asperger\'s, and one unresponsive autistic girl. I have experience caring for an adult with physical and mental disabilities. I have taken courses in First Aid, CPR, Suicide Intervention, and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (\"Mindfulness\"), which is a psychological therapy that teaches meditation and distraction as tools to control unpleasant emotions and negative behaviour. I am infinitely patient and rarely lose my temper. I enforce my authority using \"time-outs,\" and loss of privileges. I will never give in to bad behaviour just because it\'s easier. I believe a nanny should be a teacher and a friend, not just a supervisor. If I am given the opportunity, I feel that it is my responsibility to teach the children in my care as much as I possibly can. The gifts, knowledge and experiences we give our children dictate who they will become as adults; it is on us, as caregivers, to provide them with the broadest possible base to build from. I am a mother of two girls, ages 5 and 7. Before that, I babysat from the age of 11 up. (I was very mature.) I have babysat full-time, as well as caring for my own children. I am a big believer in taking kids on adventures to see and learn new things. I am not a big fan of television, although I recognize the importance of teaching kids computer skills using fun and educational games. I have fifteen years experience in many different kinds of live theatre, and I sing and play guitar. I am a voracious reader and I feel that teaching children the importance of literacy and the arts is absolutely vital.