Richard P. — Babysitter in Hembstead, Charlotte

About Richard

I have been a sitter for over 20 years. Working with children is something about which I am passionate and which I feel a calling to pursue. I have experience with kids of all ages, and am very comfortable working with larger families and children with special needs. I am typically free evenings and weekends, with a lot of flexibility for daytime hours as well. As a sitter I strive to strike a balance between energetic play and calm structure. I see my job as having 3 primary duties. My most important duty is of course keeping the children that I am watching safe. I also seek to maintain the house rules and routine, so that children have a sense of stability when their parents are gone. Finally, I am committed to engaging with the kids I am watching and helping them have fun- I want "having a sitter" to be a positive experience, something to which they look forward! I pride myself on being actively engaged with my charges. I like to get us outside when possible, and love reading together. While I think there is a time and place for screens, I prefer to limit their use. I almost always bring some games and crafts- after I’ve sat for your family a couple times and had a chance to learn your child’s interests, I try to plan some activities tailored to those interests. I went to school as an education major. I eventually switched into software development, but I continue to enjoy working with children so I sideline as a sitter. At some point I would like to transition to a position where I can work with children full-time. To prepare for that, I am currently working on a master’s degree in developmental psychology. In addition to sitting, I participate in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and I have taught both martial arts and Pre-K through 3rd grade Sunday school classes for over twenty years. I'm CPR and first aid certified, a non-smoker, and fully vaccinated. I understand a natural hesitance to hire a male sitter, and I'd like to do whatever I can to alleviate any concerns. I am happy to get on a call or video chat with you, and have many references I can provide upon request. I know hiring a sitter is a big decision, so please reach out if there are any questions you have that I can answer. I wish you all the best in your search for the right sitter!