Traveling from Cornelius, OR

Pronouns: She/They
 
Claire is a graduate student at Pacific University, studying in the master's program for speech pathology. She feels most confident working with kids ages 4-13, with a sweet spot around 4-10, and also brings tutoring experience and time spent working with young adults 18+. While she hasn't had dedicated experience with younger age groups yet, she's open to working with younger children and feels confident in her ability to do so.

In her downtime, Claire enjoys writing, listening to music, and playing roller derby.

When working with kiddos, Claire loves singing and dancing (she's a big music person!), reading, and drawing, and she likes to balance quieter activities with more active ones based on what each child is into. She's happy to help with homework, and she loves getting outside, whether that's a full adventure or just a walk around the block. She's also comfortable with having friends come over during a sit.

Claire describes herself as a "how are you feeling" focused sitter. She's sensitive to the fact that she's a new person in a child's world and likes to let families warm up to her at their own pace. Her approach leans child-led, and she works to be an organized, calm, and stable presence, balancing what the child wants to do with what she brings to the table. She sees being a new face in the house as a chance to gently broaden a kid's world, and she's mindful of helping kids stick to their routines.

When it comes to challenging behavior, Claire stays calm and patient, and doesn't push for a situation to be resolved right away. She finds that giving things a little time lets her really be there for the child and support them in regulating.

To help kids feel safe meeting her for the first time, Claire likes to let them come to her rather than the other way around, since that's what made her feel comfortable as a kid herself. She's careful not to rush them or expect anything right away, and she wants them to know she's a safe, calm person to be around. As an extrovert, she takes things one step at a time and meets each kiddo right where they are.

No need to feed your sitter, but if you're ordering takeout and want to include them, Claire is always happy to enjoy anything vegetarian!

Education: 
Claire is a graduate student at Pacific University, studying in the master's program for speech pathology. Claire has a Bachelor's in Journalism and minored in Music Performance. 

Qualifications/Certifications:
-Claire is up to date on COVID vaccinations.
-Claire is comfortable with all animals.
-Up-To-Date CPR, AED, & First Aid Certifications.
-Clean Background Check.
-Has a driver's license and personal transportation.