Find experienced child care providers in Bellingham, WA

I was a Nanny/Cook for 4 children for 4 yrs. We had a wonderful time staying active with arts, games, physical activities and outings to parks and museums. I believe children want to be capable, self motivated and co-operative. Each child is unique in their verbal, physical, creative and behavioral skills. I take time to watch, learn and listen to each child to give them the respect they deserve for who they are, what they are interested in and how they prefer to interact. I let the child lead during free play, allowing them the time and space to experiment, learn and grow from their experiences. During play, I talk with the child using a variety of words to help with vocabulary. I also give enthusiastic positive reinforcement to behaviors that are wanted to keep the child safe, happy and helpful. I enjoy being playful and interactive with children to demonstrate that I value their “world” as important and interesting. I will model appropriate behavior by listening to them and using kind language. This approach helps to develop children’s trust and co-operation. I believe in enforcing firm, consistent and fair boundaries with natural consequences and explanations the child can understand. I realize a child will push against specific boundaries until they understand and make it part of their daily habits and routines. For more challenging behaviors, I believe in time outs as long as the child has a basic understanding of why they were put in a time out and that they know the time out will come to an end in a reasonable amount of time (young children only need a few minutes). I enjoy talking about different foods, explaining why some foods are good for our physical health and some foods are not so good. I find that if the child can be a part of the meal preparation they are more likely to be interested in eating the meal. I respect each child’s food likes and dislikes while still introducing new foods, knowing children’s food preferences will change over time. I keep myself physically and mentally healthy so I can handle the amount of energy it takes to interact with children while also keeping the house under control. Clear communication with parents is important. My goal is to be helpful. If there is something I am doing wrong, I would rather know so I can address the problem. I am new to this Website and am waiting for my referrals to be posted. I am happy to share my referrals with you.

Hi there! My name is Margie and I've just moved to Bellingham. I have over eight years of childcare experience and excited to have more! For six years I was the lead counselor on a community farm in Portland, OR, for ages 5 to 12. We would play games in the garden, put on puppet shows, learn about wildlife, all while staying safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. I also enjoyed being a teacher for cooking classes where we'd cook yummy, kid-friendly meals with ingredients the kids harvested. I recently worked with the Corvallis Environmental Center and local elementary schools with farm and ecology based curriculum. If you couldn't tell, I am very passionate about our planet and love teaching little ones the importance of care and kindness for it. On top of that, I'm known to be bubbly, patient, observant, and understand the craziness kids can bring to our lives. I am Red Cross First Aid/CPR certified, have a car, and am great at cooking and keeping spaces tidy. I love taking children on nature walks, craft making, and telling stories. I have the most experience with kids ages 5 to 13, but have plenty of babysitting experience with ages 6 months- 4 year olds. Excited to help out your family! -Margie

I love working with children, and this is reflected by my work history. I spent last summer working at two different summer camps and managed groups of 15-30 elementary-aged children (ages 5-11) at a time. I have also worked in three different classes as a student teacher, working with 2nd, 3rd, and 6th grade students. In the fall, I will be going to college to study psychology to become a child-psychologist. From my experience, I have learned that it is of the upmost importance that children have access to supportive, understanding adults, and I know that my education and experience has prepared me to be that for your children.

I have been surrounded by children ever since I was a child myself—helping the parents in my life “babysit” and take care of their kids. When I was old enough to actually babysit, that’s exactly what I did. My first job at 16 was working with children as a swim instructor at the local YMCA, and I eventually worked in the daycare too. I used to be a nanny to multiple infants, and grade school children and babysit on occasion. Today, I work in a restaurant and am the Chef de Partie (a position directly below the Sous Chef). I recently graduated Culinary School with an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts. I was the sole recipient of the Certificate of Merit and also graduated Cum Laude! I want to be a chef one day, and would love to also find the right people to cater to and become a private chef. Kids bring me so much joy and I love watching them grow and seeing them evolve as small little humans. I would love to be able to help a family in need of childcare out, whether it’s regularly or for 2 hours on a Monday night.

I am a recent college graduate, I majored in Spanish with a teaching endorsement. I have been babysitting since the age of 12, but started consistently babysitting around the age of 15. I have watched several different kids, some long term (multiple sitting over a period of time) some short term (1-5 times). I’ve done bigger families 3+ kids as well as single child homes and have been able to tailor the experience depending on what fits the children and families needs. The majority of my experience being a sitter has been with younger kids ranging from ages 2-8, but I also have experience watching ages 8-12. In addition to my childcare experience I also have extensive experience working with animals of many kinds, so I will be able to help out with any household pets if wanted. I love any activities that are related to creativity and the outdoors such as painting, drawing, going on nature walks, going to the beach, etc. I have immensely enjoyed my time working with children and feel like there is so much I can learn from them while they also learn from me. My schedule is very open and flexible :)

Hello! My name is Mary Caitlin A. I have over 20 years of working with children and families. I have worked as a nanny for over 15 years with various families. I have 10 years of experience being a preschool teacher and early learning educator. I earned my BA in Therapeutic Recreation from Western Washington University. I have also worked as the Director of Therapeutic Recreation at a Skilled Nursing Facility. I love creating and providing opportunities for individuals to explore, learn, play, and grow!

Hi my name is Sophia Clement I am a college student and camp counselor with 3 years of child care experience, a love for the outdoors, and cooking. I am first aid and CPR certified as well as an open water life guard. I have worked at both sleep away camps as well as day camps and feel comfortable with all age groups. I love to mountain bike, climb, and hike and would love to take kids outside for all sorts of activities. I feel very comfortable making dinner and baking sweet treats along with some house keeping. I have managed large groups of children before so i feel very comfortable with multiple siblings. I hope to meet you soon can't wait to help out in any way you need!

My name is melody, I’m fully vaccinated, & first aid & CPR certified. I have over 9 years of professional experience as a household manager/nanny, & a daughter of my own who is now 5 years old. I’m very organized & skilled at running a household, and anticipating child/family needs. I have extensive experience with neurodivergent children, infants, and preschool age-children. After practicing gentle/respectful parenting over these last few years, and getting certified as a behavioral therapist, I feel even more qualified than before to work with children. I love incorporating montessori methods in my care to help foster independence and confidence in children. I have nannied for many different age groups, & have cared for as many as three kids in one household before. My approach to working with children is an evidence-based, gentle and respectful one, in hopes of helping raise happy & competent children. The four main elements to this are respect, empathy, understanding, & boundaries. This focuses on fostering the qualities you want in your child by being compassionate, & maintaining and enforcing consistent boundaries. When dealing with big feelings, I find it important to first connect & empathize with the child in order to not only effectively teach empathy, but also that their feelings are valid, even though sometimes their actions are not. I turn “misbehavior” into a teaching moment for the child. We work to move from a no, to a yes. I try to focus on what they CAN do, as opposed to what they can’t do. I am vocally trained & did musical theater and tennis throughout my life. I love painting, and I come from a family of Italian and Lebanese chefs and have been cooking my entire life. Im willing to help with children’s laundry, grocery shopping, errands, meal prep, dinners, potty or sleep training, etc. I have experience in caring for newborns, baby led weaning, teaching phonics & other pre school aged skills, as well as teaching emotional regulation skills. I enjoy coming up with creative activities to help kids learn through play & to foster creativity. I also think sensory play is very important for various developmental reasons. I am available to work m-f and determine my pay rate based on duties of the job description, extent of care I'm providing, & the amount of children I'm looking after. I look forward to hearing how I can help your family!

Hi there! My name is Gabby, and I'm a current graduate student at Western Washington University here in Bellingham! I am interested in a part-time baby-sitting position this summer, as I am looking to continue building my work experience while on break. I have 6 years of paid experience in Early Childhood Education, including 1 year of experience working in a daycare as a Teacher's Assistant and 5 years of experience as a Nanny. I am most experienced working with children ages 0-5 years through these positions, but I also have miscellaneous experience as a tutoring and working with children ages 8-18 years. In my role as a nanny, I have worked with the same family for 5 years. I started nannying when the family's first child was only 2 months, and have continued helping ever since. Since I've started nannying for this family, the first child is now 5 years old and they have since welcomed a second child who is 2 years old. As a result of this position, I am experienced: • Caring for babies, toddlers, and pre-kindergarten age children in a 1:1 setting. • Caring for 2 children simultaneously. • Assisting in meal-preparation and bottle feeding. • Cleaning and sanitizing food/bottle equipment. • Settling children for naptime/bedtime. • Establishing reliable and consistent routines for children. • Creating daily activities centered around children's needs, including mental and emotional simulation and physical exercise through play. • Providing children creative outlets to explore, such as through music, arts, and crafts. • Assisting children in using the bathroom/changing diapers and pull-ups. • Helping with miscellaneous tasks around house, such as doing laundry, washing dishes, sweeping/mopping, cleaning toys without needing direction or prompting. • Helping care for family's two large dogs as needed. In my position at local daycare, I am also experienced: • Supervising a classroom of 15 children independently. • Preparing activities and assisting Lead Staff in instructing children through art projects, reading, gardening and science experiments, and math and counting practice. • Helping in the supervising children during meal times/recess. I truly value the relationships that I build with the families I care for, and I hope that I can serve your family's needs well!

Hey! I'm Brynn:) A little bit about me: I'm currently a sophomore at Western Washington University where I'm developing an interdisciplinary major that combines Neuroscience (particularly fear sciences), messaging, and comparative cultural studies. Prior to moving out west I lived in Norway and went to Voss Folk School where I 'studied' backcountry skiing and analog photography. In my free time I love to be outdoors either taking the time to slow down or get my heart racing. In addition to being outside I love to work with my hands crafting. I love to try new things and would consider myself a jack of all trades. Childcare experience: Throughout high school I nannied for two families (Nevilles: 3 girls and two boys ranging 4-12 years old + Dientenbergers: 2 boys and one girl ranging 2-10 years old). I grew up on the same block as both of these families and have a lot of love for them. Watching them grow has been a pleasure and I still get together with them every time I'm back home. My work for these families varied over the years, but generally I'd watch them after school and late on weekends helping them with homework, going on adventures, crafting and doing household chores. For the past 3 summers I've worked at Camp du Nord, a family camp near the Boundary Water Canoe Area. My first two years working at du Nord I was on program staff. Each week on program staff I was assigned an age group ranging from 0-14 years old that I would look after in the morning. In the afternoons I would lead activities (such as paddling 101, soccer, beading etc) for kids and adults. This year I took on a lead position in the garden. In the mornings I'd have age groups and adults come into the garden and tell them about what I was growing, different agricultural techniques, fun facts and practical uses for plants. In the afternoons I'd lead classes such as pickling, making plant dyes, and tea foraging hikes. I love working with kids and feel I can learn a lot from them. I find their curiosity and enthusiasm eye opening and hope to preserve a positive view of our world. I understand how receptive and malleable young minds are and hope that in every interaction I can facilitate their development. I'm all about having fun, but also know how to take control and assert myself when needed.