Find experienced child care providers in Ferndale, 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.

Hello! I currently work as a dental assistant Monday-Thursday, and am looking for a part time weekend babysitting job. I have babysat all throughout my life, all ages, and enjoy working with children. I’m more than willing to help around the house with laundry, dishes, meals, ect. References available upon request. I am trained in CPR/First Aid. Looking forward to hearing from you!

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!

I have a genuine passion for caring for kids, even though I'm new to childcare I have taken care of my 3 younger siblings since I was 13 years old, I am currently 19. I would help make after school snacks and come up with activities whether it was playing outside or playing games inside. I also have pets, so I do have experience in taking care of pets to! I am CPR and First Aid certified, and I also have a car.

I recently graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Psychology and Sociology. I moved to Bellingham, WA in August of 2024 for an AmeriCorps VISTA position in Skagit County working as a Grief Support Development Coordinator, specifically for youth. I have previous experience babysitting for a family in Boulder, CO for two years. The children were 2 and 4 years old at the start of my time with them. I was responsible for driving them, prepping meals, tidying space, bedtime routines, and engaging in gentle parenting practices. I have recently updated CPR & First aid training. I plan to renew each certification through my organization soon. I am a hard worker, reliable, and enthusiastic sitter :)

Hello, I have plenty experience with children of all age ranges. I have worked at a daycare and also have been a previous nanny. I even have been a mentor and tutor for elementary and middle school students. I am free spirited yet responsible, and I always have fun with the children in my care. I have taken a STARS course and also have early childhood education college credit. Not only am I great with children but I know how to meet their needs from an educational standpoint. If you’re interested in my care please feel free to reach and out message me!

Hello! I am 19 years old and currently attending Western Washington University. I have had several past babysitting jobs for kids in my neighborhood, and am looking for a summer job. My younger brother is five and my younger sister is eleven so I have had experience caring for children age 0-tween. I have been CPR certified and have taken a child development class where I received my STARS certification (Training for providing childcare). In my free time I enjoy being outdoors and arts and crafts.