Sitter in West Lafayette, Indiana

My name is Holly and I offer babysitting in my home 7 days a week for children aged 7 months to 3 years old. I’ve been babysitting for 8 years and I’ve worked through care..... for over a year now, but I would love to be able to care for a small group (only 2-3 children at a time) in my home. My heart goes out to parents with busy schedules and limited babysitting budgets and I know that sometimes the going rate ($11 an hour or more) is just too much for daytime childcare. By watching a small number of children in my home, I’m able to offer you lower rates and more extensive hours to fit your needs while still providing your child with minimally divided attention. I am a 20-year-old college student currently taking my core classes online through Ivy Tech. I will be transferring to Purdue in the fall of 2015. I plan to go to medical school to become a trauma surgeon, but for the time being I love being around kids and I’ve switched to online classes to make time for babysitting in my home throughout the week. I have experience working in the Emergency Room, so I have witnessed and learned a lot about many different kinds of emergency situations. I am also a certified Healthcare Provider (through the American Heart Association), which includes CPR, AED and First Aide training. Although I do not have an advanced degree in child development, I am a researcher by nature and I read a lot to stay up to date on teaching techniques for young children. This does not make me a developmental expert in any way, but it does mean that I will be interacting with your child and engaging him/her in educational activities. It also means that I will NOT be plopping your child in front of a television all day. At our first interview/meeting, I will provide you with a packet that includes a list of educational activities that I do with children your child’s age. This packet will also include my resume and references as well as a general daily schedule and a reminder of my rates and hours. My normal hours are Mon-Sat from 6am to 8pm. During those times, I charge only $7.50/hour. However, I am also willing to watch your child in the late evening, overnight and on Sundays for an extra charge. My rates are as follows: Monday-Saturday Daytime & Early Evening (6am-8pm): $7.50/hr Late Evening (8pm-12am): $10/hr Overnight (12am-6am): $12/hr Sunday Daytime & Evening (6am-12am): $10/hr Overnight (12am-6am Monday morning): $12/hr I do request a minimum of 72 hours notice prior to the time that you plan to show up. You can always contact me within 72 hours of that time, but the less notice I have, the less likely it is that I’ll be able to watch your child. I absolutely DO NOT take drop-ins (notice of less than 24 hours) under any circumstances. I live in West Lafayette in a spacious 2 bedroom apartment (about 1,100 sqft). I will not have more than 3 children under my care at any given time, so you can be sure that your child will not be lost in the crowd. This would probably be a good time to reiterate that I am a babysitter and not a daycare teacher. If a licensed daycare is what you are looking for, I can offer you a list of great centers in the area, but nothing more than that. I am merely an experienced babysitter with a love of children. That being said, what I can offer your child is a loving environment in which to play, learn and feel safe. Some of the things that I love to do with kids include playing outside, reading, baking, singing and dancing, making silly faces, coloring, other arts and crafts, playing imaginative games and going on field trips. The Tippecanoe County Public Library offers story time during the week, which is great for young kids. I’m also a big fan of the petting zoo at Columbian Park. Of course during the winter we’ll probably be doing less outings. I provide healthy meals and snacks, toys, activities, and cots/playards for napping. I request that you provide: • Car seat for field trips • Bottle or “sippy cup” • Any comfort items that your child has (pacifiers, special blankets, stuffed animals, etc.) • A diaper bag with an extra change of clothes, diapers, wipes and any needed diaper rash cream Of course, if your child does not use some of these items, disregard them. A few final things that I wanted to note: • I require an initial meeting in a public place with parents prior to the start of care. I think that it’s important to discuss your family’s childcare needs in person beforehand. This is also to ensure the safety of everyone involved. You are, of course, encouraged to bring your child :) • If your child is not between the ages of 7 months and 3 years, that is not necessarily an issue. There are a couple of reasons for the age range that I’ve set, the main one being that I have the most experience with this age range. Additionally, because I plan to watch multiple children at once, it would be better for those children to be a little closer in age. However, I will consider children outside of this range on a case-by-case basis. • Payment is due when you pick up your child each day unless otherwise arranged. You can pay by either cash or check. • I offer both full-time and part-time care, so whatever your needs are, I can accommodate. I know that there is a lot of information here and while it is important for you to have all of the details, the main thing that I want you to take away from reading my ad is that I am completely dedicated to the safety and happiness of the children in my care. I would never make a decision that I thought could negatively impact your child in any way. That being said, I hope to hear from you soon and I look forward to meeting with you! Please contact me via phone or email to set up a time and place or with any questions that you have. Best wishes, Holly