Find a last-minute babysitter in Kirkland, WA

I have been a nanny for infants and toddlers for the past 3 years. Before this time, I worked as teacher's aide, after-school program teacher and administrative assistant. I have an Early Childcare Certificate, a current First Aid/CPR Certificate for Infants - Adults, Teaching English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate, and Public Information degree. I care deeply about forming a strong bond with the children I care for and love introducing them to various experiences that build their awareness of themselves, others and the world around them. In addition, I believe in offering gentle guidance to children in a respectful, kind, instructive and even fun way. During my time with children, I do activities and engage with them in a way that sparks their curiosity, builds their knowledge and skills, follows their interests, helps them learn age-appropriate socio-emotional and communication skills. Based on several factors, I may use redirection, modeling what I want them to do or say, several reminders to reinforce behavior expectations such as washing hands after outside play and before meals, offering "first this, then that" or a choice of what to do first when both activities are required, advanced notice before transitioning to something else, and other age-appropriate caregiving practices. As a strong empath, I want to use my innate ability to connect with children (and all people) in a way that helps them feel understood, valued, worthy of kindness and attention, great for who they are JUST AS THEY ARE, and safe. I've found that I can't nurture children as deeply as I'd like and, in the case of very young children, to the degree I feel they need as they learn about themselves, others and their world.

I am a kind, loving, patient, and attentive caregiver with a genuine passion for play and connection. Over the past 20 years, I have gained extensive hands-on experience caring for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers, always adapting my approach to meet each child’s unique personality and developmental stage. My background includes meaningful experience working with children with special needs, where patience, empathy, and consistency have allowed me to build trust and support their individual growth. I also bring specialized experience teaching children to swim, combining safety-focused instruction with encouragement to help kids build confidence in the water while having fun. I believe that play is one of the most powerful tools for learning, bonding, and emotional development, and I strive to create a nurturing, engaging environment where children feel safe, valued, and excited to explore. Whether it’s through games, creative activities, or one-on-one attention, I am dedicated to providing compassionate, reliable care that families can trust. I’m comfortable and familiar around pets and I’m willing to do personal assistant tasks, such as grocery shopping, dishes, children’s cleanup, etc.

Hii, I’m Dayana! I’m a caring, responsible, and reliable person who loves spending time with kids. Im taking care of young children, 3 and 4 years old, and I really enjoy playing with them, doing fun activities, going outside, and keeping them happy. I speak Spanish, Ukrainian and English. I would also be very happy to work with families with dogs and cats! I’m available for occasional babysitting, date nights, and weekends.