Live-In Full-Time Nanny Available in Springfield, VA: Dana V.

$20/hr

8 years of paid experience

A little bit about me

Hi! My name is Dana Vanderbilt. I reside in Washington DC currently but have lived all over the country as an Air Force brat and intend on moving back to my home, Hawai'i, in mid-late March. I love working with kids and can handle disabilities, allergies, and mental handicaps. I've been babysitting for 7+ years now, and have been nannying for about two years, but have no recent references because I have been working a part-time job as a hostess and getting my Certified Nursing Assistant certificate. I am also First Aid, CPR, and Lifeguard certified. I love hiking, swimming, reading, holistic medicine, and farming, and look forward to connecting with you!

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Looking For

Availability

Start: ASAP

Everyday 8:00AM - 3:00AM

Full-time

Live-in

Age Groups

Infants

Toddlers

Preschoolers

Grade-schoolers

How often do you need a nanny?

Full-Time Part-Time

Qualifications

Certifications

Driver’s License

CPR

First Aid

Other

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)

More About Me

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

As a former Girl Scout, I did my Bronze Award at a displaced women and children's shelter in Western Florida, and we donated the shelter a new washer and dryer from money we'd raised. We would also lead activities like school landscaping cleanups with elementary children or hosting Oreo-eating competitions in local parks. More recently, I have been babysitting or nannying throughout the DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Northern Virginia areas and look forward to more childcare opportunities in the future.

Activities I enjoy doing with children...

Indoor (or rainy day):
-Art
-Clay modeling
-Crochet/knitting
-Cooking
-Playing house
-Storytime
-Interactive puzzles/Brain games

Outdoor:
-Soccer (I played for roughly two years on a recreational team)
-Freeze tag
-Gardening (I am working up to owning my own farm)
-Hiking
-Playground time
-Children's archery
-Identifying wildlife
-Beekeeping

The most important part about being a nanny...

Spacial awareness! Every parent is afraid of their babysitter or nanny being absentee and letting their kids wander into something dangerous; I really value other nannies when I see them paying attention to detail. I also believe being patient, being creative, and being responsible while a child at heart are very important aspects.

My experience with special needs children...

I have cared for many children on the autism spectrum throughout the years, but also have experience with conditions such as ADHD (which I have managed myself since age 9), children with depressive disorders, children with certain traumas, children with OCD, and it nearly always goes extremely well. Most parents are not expecting someone to take the time to line things up in straight lines or on one seamless edge for their OCD child, or run around the yard with their hyperactive school child as long as they want; I am not that person. Patience and flexibility are traits I take pride in when watching little ones, and I would hope someone watching my children or even my pets would do the same.

The most important part about being a nanny...

Usually I'd say something about hiking outdoors or a funny moment with one of my client's children; it'd make for a good line. But honestly, my favorite moment nannying came recently when I was watching an adorable 4 year old girl with flaming ginger hair. After crying because she'd had an accident, I changed her into clean clothes and to get her to stop crying, put on her favorite show on my phone (HUGE Bubble Guppies fan. Huge.) and she proceeded to stop crying, curl up in my lap, watch Bubble Guppies while snuggling me, and fall asleep. Moments like that make every accident worth it.