My name is Crystal and I am what I would like to call a career nanny. I am a graduate of University with my Social Work degree, where many of my placement and classroom experiences focused on child development and social/emotional and play based programming for both mainstream children and those requiring extra support due to emotional/behavioral or learning challenges. I am 37 years old and have spent most of my life caring for and working with young children in a variety of contexts, both singles, multiple and new born infants so am comfortable with most family dynamics.. I spend my summers working at as a camp counsellor either with our campers who range from 7-18 years old and have spent a number of years developing running our ECE programs where I was responsible for the children not old enough to be in regular programming. Outside of school I have done a great deal of nannying and childcare over many years. I have always loved being with children and was convinced until about the age of 10 that I wanted to be Mary Poppins when I grew up. I never did learn how to fly or how to jump into chalk paintings, but I did learn how to support families, and how to keep their children safe and full of joy. I did learn how to take really good care of the single most important things in most parents lives, and I would say that's likely more important than the other stuff. If you think I am might be a good fit for your family, I would love to hear from you as I am confident I will be able to meet the needs of your family in a meaningful way.

I have spent years putting myself through University as a nanny, and have nannied full time for more than one family in addition to plenty of long-term relationships with the families I have provided occasional babysitting for. I have worked for the last 4 years as a camp counsellor where I have cared for children from infants for 16 years of age, some are mainstream kids, others have learning and behavioral challenges. Many of our campers are ADHD, have Aspergers Syndrome, or other mild mental health challenges such as bi-polar or anxiety disorders, I have created and facilitated play based and social -emotional skills groups throughout my social work placements, and have co-facilitated intensive parenting programs with a significant foundation in child development and child welfare theory. In my spare time I have volunteered with children's and youth programming at my church as well as with a children's riding school which blends my passion for children with that of my passion for horses in a really meaningful way.

I have my Bachelors of Social Work (Honors) from the University of Western Ontario, as well as a college diploma in theatre arts performance.