Laura-mae, garde d’enfant à Eastbourne DL1

Having been in Childcare for the last 20 years, I have acquired a wealth of experience and knowledge with children aged from ‘brand new’ up to 7/8 years old. My first nanny position was for 6 month old TWINS, so I was thrown in at the deep end from the very beginning, sterilising bottles, endless amounts of laundry/ironing, lots of settling to sleep, and, eventually, weaning, and the cooking and blitzing of food! With 5 years of working as a Nursery Nurse too, I have gained important skills, such as patience (probably one of the MOST important given the line of work), being able to communicate effectively with parents, how to prioritise/be organised, and how to work as part of a team, as well as things such as potty training and settling child in to nursery. Most importantly, I’ve learnt how to make friends with a child and make them feel happy and comfortable in the nursery setting. I have experience of being a ‘key worker’ within a Nursery team, and have written many an observation, making notes of skills used by the child during their activity, and determining their thought processes.

I love to play with the children, and do things such as singing songs (I love to sing, and used to be part of a choir until my move to the North last year), and dancing along to the radio with them. I’m not adverse to a bit of ‘rough ‘n’ tumble’, it always seems to be a favourite and produces the best giggles! I am quite crafty (as in arts and crafts, not sneaky), and make my own greetings cards at home. I like to bring this into the workplace, and have the children make their own greetings cards too, or at least put their own mark on them in their own special way! Baking is also a favourite. It’s great to see their faces when they see and taste what they have produced! I like to try and get out of the house every day to playgroup/the park/a walk to a friends’ house for a playdate etcetera, even if it’s just for half an hour and all togged up in waterproofs in the rain! Fresh air is so important, as is the exercise (both for me and the children), and it prevents cabin fever! I find meal times are an important social affair…all sitting down and eating the homemade meal together. It’s a great way of promoting social skills and manners (which I am very ‘hot’ on), and is a perfect opportunity to chat about the day. Overall, I am caring and nurturing, firm but fair in discipline, take pride in helping the children to grow and learn.