Child Care Provider and Nanny - LAURIE F. (User #468858) A child care provider and nanny in Studio City, CA 91604

First off..I am available for all holidays including upcoming Valentine's Day.

I left my dayjob in entertainment business management to pursue childcare fulltime in 2007. Childcare called to me when I realized that my wonderful nephews of 15 and 20 yrs. old were never going to come running to the door when they heard me coming!  I'm one to strive for balance and I knew that being with children was what was missing from my life.

I work with over 5 families in the Sherman Oaks, Studio City area. For 6 months I ran the Children's Daycare Sunday mornings at Spiritworks Spiritual Center in Burbank which included arts, crafts and reading aloud.

I live across from Universal Studios where I've lived for the past 16 years. My sister is the staff librarian at Dixie Canyon Elementary School in Sherman Oaks where she's worked for 10 years. Both her sons (the 15 & 20 yr. olds) are Dixie Alumni & many of the teachers know me there.

My clients range from care of a 9 month old to 10 years old. Children like me because I'm a good listener and I get right down to their level physically and make them feel seen.

I cook (I specialize in vegetarian cuisine) and I clean up. You'll never come back to a messy kitchen!

I'm good with eating problems as I have a lot of patience and am willing to sit, observe and experiment with different foods. I change diapers, hold babies, read stories, teach new words, sing to babies and sing children to sleep. I engage children in conversation and freedom of expression but also will follow your family rules for bedtime, eating and any other lifestyle limits.

Although I enjoy being with all children, I especially like working with Special Needs Children. As of 1/10 I finished working with a beautiful preemie boy. I started with him when he was 17 months old and he is almost 3 now and ready to be mainstreamed into pre-school.  I've worked over 2500 hours with him. I've been helping him build strength and confidence with his physical therapist walking, climbing, running, jumping working on gross motor skills. He also has sensory integration challenges so we work on swinging him and I get down on the floor and we are very physical rough housing building his confidence in movement.

I go to L.A. Valley College where I study Child Development. I completed their P-CAT Program (companion training for special needs children ages 1-5) and I am certified to work as a shadow.

I swingdance at Pasadena Ballroom Association. I also sing in a swingband called Flattop Tom & his Jumpcats which I've been singing with for 6 years. I'm 53 years old, love to learn new things and find I'm able to learn those things from the purest of minds of children.

I am Red Cross Infant CPR trained. I'm also a member of the Infant Development Association of California.