Babysitter Available in Westmont, IL: Dana M.

$35 - $50/hr

10+ years of paid experience

A little bit about me

Hello! I am a career early childhood professional with an M.Ed., a teaching license, and endorsements in Special Education and ESL. Over the past 15 years, I have helped toddlers and preschoolers thrive. My style is silly, high-energy, and fun, while remaining completely laid-back and down-to-earth with families.I believe kids learn best through curiosity and hands-on play. I design custom, multisensory materials and tactile centers that naturally build reading, math, and social skills. Highly respected by coworkers and parents for my warm, collaborative spirit, I excel at meeting every child exactly where they are at developmentally.I also have extensive experience managing logistics and organizing community events for 300 participants, bringing ultimate safety and structure to your home. I own a safe vehicle, am background-checked, and while my CPR/First Aid is being renewed, I will have it ready for my start date. I cannot wait to bring big smiles and a relaxed vibe to your home!

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Looking For

Availability

Start: Sep 1, 2026

Hello Families! I will be available in the afternoons from 1:30 on... It could be earlier depending on location. I am flexible for the weekends.

Full-time

Occasional work

Live-in

Age Groups

Toddlers

Preschoolers

Grade-schoolers

How often do you need a babysitter?

Full-Time Part-Time

Qualifications

Certifications

Driver’s license

Other

Own transportation

Light housekeeping

Meal prep

Special-needs experience

Work Experience

10+ years of experience caring for:

Preschoolers (4-9 years)

Grade-schoolers (10-12 years)

More About Me

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

My relevant experience directly caring for children spans fifteen years across public schools, private homes, and pediatric hospital settings. As a licensed early childhood teacher with a Master of Education, I have spent a decade leading blended preschool classrooms for three- to five-year-olds, designing inclusive, play-based environments and custom multi-sensory activities. Alongside my school career, I have served as a private in-home caregiver, managing daily household routines and partnering with families to provide tailored developmental support. My foundational care background also includes serving as Lead Instructor for a toddler program, where I focused on daily care, emotional nurturing, and milestone tracking for children aged one and a half to two years old. Additionally, I spent multiple summers volunteering in the Child Life Department at Comer Children’s Hospital, providing therapeutic bedside play and emotional comfort to pediatric patients

Activities I enjoy doing with children...

I love to creating! Building, crafts, and jumping into dramatic play setups within the classroom. Reading to children, is my favorite. Bring bring stories to life.... I have zero qualms getting goofy, making animated voices, and creating wild characters to make storytime and lessons unforgettable. In my classroom, I loved transforming our dramatic play area into different worlds related to our studies, like a bowling alley, a tree farm, or a clothing store. Listening to them be imaginative and promoting that imagination is the best part of my day. Instead of directing their play, I follow their lead, ask questions, and use silly character voices to expand their ideas. These open-ended experiences are so important because they naturally build early literacy, language, and true self-confidence. I make sure our routines are filled with these spontaneous, magical classroom moments where kids can just laugh, get silly, and trust their own big ideas completely.

The most important part about being a nanny...

At the very core of me, I am a nurturer. Everything I do stems from a desire to care for others. In the classroom, those meaningful connections are absolutely made. However, school settings naturally come with strict institutional boundaries. Moving into a private home allows that nurturing spirit to fully flourish. I can focus entirely on one child's emotional security. True development begins when a child feels deeply loved and supported. I build close relationships where children feel safe to express big emotions. Families know I bring a warm, protective energy to their home. I protect their peace, validate their feelings, and celebrate their unique personality. A private setting lets me blend my professional expertise with authentic, heartfelt care. I love being a steady, comforting presence in a child's everyday life. Knowing they feel secure enough to thrive is my greatest reward.

My experience with special needs children...

I have managed many diverse needs under one roof for many years. My room welcomed children with official assessments alongside many who were completely undiagnosed. Rather than using clinical labels, I rely on gentle, daily observation to understand how each child uniquely ticks. For children with known plans, I seamlessly weave their goals into fun routines. For undiagnosed children, I am excellent at noticing subtle sensory triggers or communication gaps during play. I read behavioral cues naturally and de-escalate tantrums with steady, gentle patience. This experience taught me to reject rigid, one-size-fits-all care. I simply focus on crafting custom multi-sensory materials that match a child's natural curiosity. Moving into a private home allows for a highly beneficial one-on-one dynamic. Free from large group distractions, I can focus entirely on nurturing your child's great self-confidence, milestones, and total daily joy.

The most important part about being a nanny...

My absolute favorite nanny moment happened during my time caring for Charlie. Our journey started when I began working as her once-a-week tutor, which quickly blossomed into a full-time summer nanny role. Our connection was instant and incredibly deep. Even though I had my own keys, I rarely used them. Before I could unlock the door, she would be right there waiting to greet me with pure excitement. We shared a true love for crafts, a silly sense of humor, and an absolute obsession with roller coasters. Our summer was built on shared creativity and play. We spent hours playing old-school board games and inventing our own goofy activities. Our absolute favorite routine involved putting an eye mask on and giving clues to guide each other safely around the house. We would march around giggling uncontrollably.