About me

My name is Janelle and I love musical theatre, arts and crafts, building forts, and sports. I have been babysitting for my mother's co-workers' children when I was just 15 years old. My first babysitting experience was such a great learning opportunity for me because I worked with two little girls, one with high functioning autism and one without. My first lesson was to accept every situation as it is and always allow for improvement. I also learned about the importance of routine in a child's life. Eight years have passed and I still love learning with children and exploring the best methods for their development during their time with me.

Over the years, I've learned about what works best for different age groups. My best work with toddlers and babies was my mommy and me movement and music class that I taught with Leap Smart. I've learned that with younger children, structure is most helpful. I love making sure children get an appropriate amount of adventure and knowledge in a day, as well as snacks! Older kids tend to like a little more say in their weekly activities so I learned to create and modify on the fly. I worked with an 11-year-old boy for a summer and I taught him how to play Magic The Gathering Card game. We also tried out new parks once a week! I most recently worked with girls ages 15 and 16 so I learned that being a role model to listen and look up to is vital for them, especially from a person outside of their immediate family.

As a city babysitter I believe that an outside activity is always possible, even if it's just a trip to a museum. I also love at home activities such as board games, movies, and character play. I have developed my skills in diaper changing, scheduling meals, and going on spontaneous trips!

I currently teach voice, piano, violin, and cello at various music schools, as well as jazz, ballet, and lyrical dance at various dance studios. My favorite books to read are fantasy, non fiction, and plays.I love to share my knowledge of American Sign Language, piano, and random world facts!