Nanny / Pet-Sitter / Care-Giver

Philosophy:

• I believe in cuddling, but not coddling.
• I believe that violence is never the answer.
• I believe that children crave structure, but time should be made for independent and creative thought.
• I believe that a certain amount of discipline is necessary, but the rules should always be fair and known or explained. Further, I believe that praise is, at least 90% of the time, much more

effective than punishment. I also believe in a judicious time-out.
• I believe that it is my duty to foster independence and help instill a sense of self-value.
• Finally, I believe in learning through play. After all, I believe that life is FUN! Things I try to teach include:

• Kindness, understanding and compassion, including sharing and turn-taking
• Patience
• Manners and grammar (e.g., please and thank you, can I vs. may I, etc.)
• Cause and effect – all actions have consequences (positive and negative)
• Healthful practices, from eating well and exercising to proper tooth-brushing and bum-wiping techniques
• Role model behavior, especially when dealing with multiple children