Valerie K.

Meet Valerie

• Comfortable with pets
• Has a car

I have successfully parented 2 children. One is currently a Dean's List student at a leading university; the other is a college graduate and full-time coach/teacher. Currently, I am working as a nanny for a large family. In addition, I work with a youth theatre group as a Production Assistant and previously headed a youth athletic organization. I like working with kids and helping them achieve their potential, in whatever endeavor they choose. My childcare style would probably be closest to “free range.” That does not mean “no guidelines” as I strongly believe that kids need structure and predictability. They like to know what is coming next and preparing them in advance usually leads to pretty good behavior. At the same time, I know to pick my battles. There are times when it is necessary to stand your ground, but often a little negotiation can resolve a potential issue before Read more it becomes a contest of wills. As a care-giver, I take a “meet them where they live” approach, meaning I interact with kids at their own level. So for a very young child, I’m on the floor with them, reading or playing; for an older child, we’re at the table doing crafts or homework or working on the computer; for a teenager, we’re chatting about fashion or video games or checking out the latest iphone app. To make a connection, I try to live in their world, but just as importantly, I want to help them find their way in the larger world. Whether they are a toddler building a castle, a middle-schooler working on homework or a high school student searching for colleges, I try to provide the tools and guidance they need, but make it a point to stay out of the way and allow them to take the lead, wherever practical. I’ve lived through all stages of childhood and adolescence and I panic at nothing. My own kids are intelligent, independent, creative and funny and while some of that is innate, a lot of it is upbringing. I’d like to bring the same joy and effort to your family as I give to mine.

Trust & safety

Experience