Kayla, nourrice à domicile à Scarborough (birch cliff / cliffside west)

Hi there! My name is Kayla and I'm a 26 y/o student on my way to getting my Child and Youth Care degree from Ryerson University. I started babysitting when I was 10 and by the time I was 15, I was babysitting for all of the families on my street, many of which I babysat for several years. My parents, though divorced, welcome "troubled" teens into our home and always provided a very nurturing and loving environment for them, as well as for my siblings and I, that helped shape all of them/us into great adults. With a focus on mutual respect, my parents taught me the importance of being kind, well-mannered and compassionate. This led me to participate in a phenomenal program through Red Cross; RespectED was an anti-bullying program designed to promote positivity, emphasize the importance of diversity and acceptance and had a huge focus on building self-esteem in youth. As a youth peer facilitator, I was fortunate enough to travel South Western Ontario giving speeches about the subject. It gave me an incredible insight into the importance of building people up and was one of the most influential experiences of my life. I have used these practices with every child and young person I have encountered in the past 10 years and it’s been absolutely amazing to contribute to someone’s personal growth like that.

Originally, I moved to Toronto to go to school for business, a field that I found oddly simple and easy to maneuver. However, it also meant that I found it incredibly BORING and I knew immediately that I needed to find something else if I was going to commit to this field for life. Aptitude tests showed that my fun-loving, caring and spontaneous nature actually translated really well to childcare. Suddenly, all the pieces fit together and I had a better idea of what I wanted to do with my time that would truly be fulfilling. Working with kids has always been such a joy, regardless what age they are and it’s something I always go back to.

An important thing about myself that I'd like to highlight is my interest in health, fitness and nutrition. As a child, my household survived mainly off of high-calorie, low-nutrition foods and as a result, I ended up being obese before I was 10. I struggled with my weight for my entire childhood and throughout my teens. As a young lady, this was especially challenging. When I moved away from home, my health was in my hands. I learned as much about nutrition and health as I could and made countless lifestyle changes. I also learned about the importance of positivity, positive self-talk and started to really value my body for what it was, no matter what it looks like (I currently motivate women to reach health and fitness goals and develop their inner monologue to be a powerful and positive one). After losing 100lbs, I now have endless amounts of energy and a huge desire to get out there and have fun. I love being outside and spend as much time out there moving as possible! (Note: I included the picture of my dog, a puppy at the time, and I for my profile because she and I walk 25km every day and she really keeps me smiling!) All of this paid off during my first internship placement as a Child and Youth Care student; the placement was at an after school centre in a low socioeconomic area of Toronto. The centre was given a grant to help fund healthy habit forming among these children. My fellow interns and I came up with various fun games and activities that really motivated kids to get moving and after playtime, the kids settled down for "edible crafts." Edible crafts are my bread and butter! We (me and "my" kids) always have so much fun making (and eating) these crafts; they develop new skills and an appetite for healthy snacks! I've shared these games and crafts with my young nieces, nephews and cousins and they're always a hit.

In an ideal world, I get paired up with a family that needs someone to care for the children during the work day, and the rare evening or weekend. With a bit of freedom, we'd spend our time outside, having picnics in the park, playing and laughing! They'd receive: well-balanced, healthy meals; plenty of "screen-free" time where their imaginations will blossom; an eager tutor to encourage learning; a positive and encouraging role model with a no-nonsense approach to negativity and bullying; and, a sitter who’s truly invested in their development. Better yet, the family is dog friendly and doesn’t mind having my dog (a VERY VERY well trained black lab) around either. With that said, feel free to throw your dog in there; I’m great with animals and have an unexpected knack for handling unruly animals (and kids!)