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Community Corner

Are you in need of a responsible babysitter?

My name is Melissa LeVan, and I am looking for families in need of a babysitter.  I am 16 years old, and a junior at Northville High School.  I love children, and plan on going to college to become an elementary school teacher.  Those who know me describe me as kind, patient, smart, and fun to be around.  I will be available this summer almost every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Over the past three years, I have been babysitting/nannying for several different families, all of which came with their unique challenges and rewards.  I have been with children ages 1 through 9.  I have worked with many energetic children, potty training children (both of which I helped potty train during the summer), school aged children which I helped with homework, and autistic children.  I have overseen some of these children at the pool, one of which could not swim.  I also prepared meals and completed light housework.  I love planning/doing crafts, reading to, and doing outdoor activities with the children.  Not only do I have babysitting/nanying experience, I also have experience volunteering at a local daycare.

While volunteering at the daycare, I experienced taking care of multiple children at a time; up to about 15 children.  I volunteered for several months, and was put into three different rooms depending on the day: the baby room (ages 0-1), the transition room (ages 2.5-3), and the preschool room (ages 3-5).  In the baby room I played with, prepared and fed bottles to, swaddled, put down for naps, changed diapers, and held the babies. In the transition room I helped with sensory/craft activities, played with, read to, comforted, changed diapers, and prepared meals for the children.  In the preschool room I oversaw nap time, helped with snack time, separated fighting, and oversaw playtime for the children. 

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In addition to having ample amounts of real-life experience, I am also a certified babysitter.  I have completed the Red Cross Babysitting course.  Here is the official description of the course: "The American Red Cross Babysitter Training Course offers youth the opportunity to learn the skills that every parent looks for in a babysitter.  This 6½ hour course covers the basics of caregiving for infants through school age children (including diapering, feeding and safe play), first aid and critical emergency action skills. Other topics include interviewing for jobs, professional and responsible behavior, and leadership roles."

During the Red Cross Babysitting course the instructor went over the basics of safety, taking care of all ages of children, interviewing for jobs, and handling emergencies.  The most important section of this course, in my opinion, was learning both CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver.

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In addition to babysitting/nannying children, volunteering at a daycare, and taking a Red Cross Babysitting course, here are some other of my credentials.  At my school I help and befriend special needs children, these children have all different spectrums of Down Syndrome and Autism.  I am also in national honor society, which is an academic based club.  In school, I have succeeded in taking many honors and advanced classes.  I am well liked by my peers and teachers; this is shown by my receiving of the Joe Bell Award.  The Joe Bell Award is awarded to only two children per school year, and is based on who the teachers pick for having a positive attitude, and being kind to those around them.  Lastly, for the past two years I have assisted a pre-ballet class at Piazza Dance Company.  This is a class for children ages 2-5 which teaches the basics of ballet.

My phone number is 248-974-6491; feel free to call and/or text me.

My Email address is MelissaDanielleLeVan@yahoo.com

I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

-Sincerely,

Melissa LeVan

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