Part-Time Child Care Provider Available in Cambridge, MA: Catherine F.

$35/hr

8 years of paid experience

A little bit about me

I am trained as a developmental psychopathologist, and adjunct professor (child development; lifespan development), and working on a book project (about children with China adoption histories). I am also single parent to a teenager.

During grad school, I was a nanny for two different families. One father told me, as we said goodbye, that they were proud of the young man their child was becoming; they attributed some of that to my influence. They were terrific parents, so I don’t now how much credit I can take, but it felt great to be appreciated.

I worked with at-risk children of court-appointed parents (parents at risk of their children being removed from their home).

I do not smoke or vape or use drugs. I drink alcohol in moderation; Driving--I've never had a moving violation. English is my native language.

My Strengths: Setting firm (yet appropriately flexible) boundaries; sense of humor; supporting reading skills development; supporting social skills development.

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Looking For

Availability

Start: ASAP

Weekdays 2:00pm - 7:00pm

Part-time

Live-out

Age Groups

Infants

Toddlers

Preschoolers

Grade-schoolers

How often do you need a child care provider?

Full-Time Part-Time

Qualifications

Certifications

Driver’s License

CPR

First Aid

Other

Car

Light housekeeping

Meal prep

Special needs

Work Experience

8 years of experience caring for:

Infants (0-11 months)

Toddlers (1-3 years)

Preschoolers (4-9 years)

Grade-schoolers (10-12 years)

High-schoolers (13-17 years)

Adults (18+ years)

More About Me

Relevant experience where I also cared for children were...

UNDERGRAD YEARS: I spent several hours daily working in the Child Development department's lab school (children 24 months- 7-years). The children hailed from all over the world. I worked closely with a four-year-old girl from Japan who knew very little English. I made flash cards, and invented games so she could develop her English skills. As an intern, I also learned to skillfully observe and evaluate children.
I volunteered for a social services agency, teaching personal safety skills to young children of parents who were court-ordered to attend therapy and parenting classes.

GRAD SCHOOL: I worked as a nanny, looking after school aged children, helping them get ready for school in the morning, teaching them to tidy their rooms, taking them to school. I picked them up after school, helped them with their homework, and prepared nutritious snacks.
I also raised my own child, as a single parent. He's heading off to college soon.

Activities I enjoy doing with children...

If it isn't bitterly cold or windy, my preference is to take children to the park or playground. Other fun places to go-- local bookstores (I'm a huge fan of Porter Square Books). We usually walk (with stroller, if necessary) rather than drive, finding all kinds of interesting things to look at (window washers, men at work, squirrels...).
Other places to go-- The Children's Museum, the Science Museum, The Discovery Museum. The dog park is a great place as well, if a child feels ready to interact with dogs. A favorite of some children, when I was a nanny before, was going to. story hours at the library and book stores, and singing along with musicians like Jeff Jam at the local toy store.
I always have a children's book or other reading material handy for down times. I have a reputation for inventing silly songs and games.
I'm not a big fan of screens, except in moderation.

The most important part about being a nanny...

First-- Safety-- both physical safety as well as psychosocial/personal safety.

Second: A genuine caring relationship with appropriate boundaries. I believe it's important to develop a trusting relationship with both the parents and with the child/children. I have become skilled at NOT developing alliances with the children, although they often try to do just this-- get me to agree to something they know their parents don't allow!

I came to genuinely love the children I looked after, but learned to keep appropriate boundaries. "I am not your mom," I would explain, "but when you're with me, I look after you as if I were."

My experience with special needs children...

Children with trauma histories, children diagnosed with developmental delays, and children with ADD, ADHD, and non-verbal learning disorder.

The most important part about being a nanny...

The 5-year-old boy I was looking after had had many nannies. He wasn't ready to give me a chance to connect. He was aloof, testing the boundaries. His family had just moved to the tenth floor of a large luxury building in Cambridge.
Just after he and I entered the elevator on our way to his school, the fire alarms sounded. The elevator opened letting us out on the 8th floor. As we descended the stairwell, the heavy metal doors behind us slammed shut; but the odor of smoke became stronger and thicker. We were walking towards the fire, but could not go back. I used my phone to calmly call the concierge desk, asking her to guide me (and my charge) outside to safety. The child looked up at me, near tears, and said, "Catherine, I'm getting scared." I told him to hold my hand, to be as brave as possible and to follow my instructions exactly. We got out safely. Our relationship became more genuine. He seemed to feel safe and content with me. He was also proud to have been so brave.