Vendula, babysitter in Exeter EX2

Dear family

I am 23 years old and this September (2014) I am going to start my PG studies in Creative Writing at the University of Exeter.

I am a normal intelligent well-organized girl. I am also reliable and responsible and I take my duties very seriously so I have safety of the kids in my mind all the time but of course I also try for the kids to have fun. I don't have a problem to sit on the floor doing jigsaw, colour in pictures in colouring books, play memory games or other games the kids like, dance with them, bake, take them outside to the park to feed the ducks or to have a fun at the playground or take them to the library or other activities like ballet, swimming arts&crafts etc. I try to be firm but loving with the children.

In my free time I like to read , watch films , listen music, do yoga and running, going for walks, cycling and swimming, skiing. I also love to write. I like baking and cooking.

Since July 2013 I have been working as an au pair in Beaconsfield. This is my fourth au pair experience. I work in a family with 3 children – a boy (4), a girl (3) and a baby boy (born July 2013). My stay-at-home host Mum and I usually work as a team but there are lots of times when I have the kids in a sole care. In the morning I help get the kids ready for the day. I mostly spend time with the 2 younger ones as the oldest kid is at school. When I am with the kids, we are doing lots of things – playdates, going outside (woods, playground, garden, jumping on trampoline, watering plants, playing in a sandpit etc), arts&crafts, jigsaw, colouring, painting, reading, dressing up, baking etc. I take care of the baby too. I have helped with him since he was born so I think I can say I have experience in taking care of new-borns. I help during meal times, bath times and sometimes bed times (this is usually when I am babysitting). I also help with light housework.

My first au pair experience was in the summer 2010. I spent a month and 3 weeks on a Danish island Samsø. There were 4 kids, 2 boys (4, 9) and 2 girls (6, 11), and I took care of the two youngest though looked after all of them during occasional babysitting. There was also a great dog. My duties were to get the small ones up in the mornings, help them with their breakfast, washing and clothing. Then when they were at the playgroup, I did some light housework and then I was free until afternoon when I picked them up on a Christiania bike. Then we played a bit or went to the beach. After supper I helped to clean the kitchen, and then either I or the parents did the bath and bed time.

My second au pair experience was in the summer 2011. I spent two months in Ireland, near a coastal village Duncannon. In this family there were again 4 children (3 girls and a boy aged 2, 4, 6, 8) and 2 puppies. I took care of all the children and helped with the puppies. As the parents both ran their own businesses, I usually had a sole care of the children and my working hours varied day to day. In the morning, the Mum took care of the children and I took over when she left for work. I basically looked after the kids until one of the parents got home – playing with them outside or inside depending on weather, making lunch for them etc. I helped with a bit of housework. I also helped with the puppies – feeding, walking, supervising. I babysat usually one evening per week.

My third experience was during the summer 2012. I spent 2 months and 3 weeks in Marlow, England. In this family there were 3 girls (4, 3 and a baby who was a month old when I came and three and half months old when I left). I took care of the 2 older girls. In the mornings, I helped with the breakfast, washing and clothing, then playing either with both girls or only with the older one as the younger attended nursery twice a week. In the late afternoon when I prepared the tea for the girls and helped with bath time. Some days I took the girls to swimming, ballet, arts&crafts or activities in the local library. We spent quite a lot of time at the nearby playground or feeding the ducks on the Thames. We also baked, made jigsaw, read, coloured, made various things with stickers, glitters and simply had fun. Sometimes I looked after the baby – putting her to bed for her morning nap, feeding from bottle, taking her for walks in the pram. I really became confident in holding a baby and taking care of a baby and enjoyed it. I helped with light housework. I usually had one babysitting per week.

Even before I have become an au pair, I had some experience with children. For four years I was a member of a municipal corporation for kids and youth.

All of my previous families will be happy to provide you with references either by email or phone. I will provide the contacts.

I think I have all the experience needed to be a wonderful babysitter for your children so don't hesitate to get in touch if you're interested or have some questions.

Kind regards
Veny