Brooklyn native and Hello Sitter superstar Melanie R. is all about kids. She focused on developmental psychology in undergrad, currently works at parent coaching nonprofit Power of Two, and is very clued in when it comes to knowing what kids need most. “At the end of the day, all children want is your full attention. You can get a child to feel comfortable with you, have fun and also follow rules if you just show them you are interested in spending time with them,” the well-experienced sitter (nine years!) observes. It helps that she’s willing to go above and beyond to get a smile. “I’ve always been very good with kids because I make a fool out of myself in order to make them laugh,” Melanie admits. Here’s more from this five-star favorite.
Hello Melanie
She’s from a big family: Two brothers and one sister
A cool toy: The BB8 droid you control with your phone
How she handles separation anxiety: In a soothing tone, reassure the child that their parents will be coming back and try to find something really interesting (like a toy, book or activity) that they can engage in.
A good book: My favorite childhood bedtime story would have to be Le Petit Prince because of the message and creativity.
Loves: Being silly
Motivates kids to clean up: By being involved, singing a song, encouraging as well as praising them for their good work.
When she’s not working: I enjoy going to the gym, boxing, and snowboarding. I also love to sing and challenging myself.
Dream superhero skill: I would like to be extremely intelligent in order to come up with the best solutions to the worst situations.
Her picks for NYC’s top five playgrounds or destinations:
- Prospect Park
- Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Dylan’s Candy Bar (not all the time, haha! As a treat)
- Max Brenner’s
- Bryant Park for ice skating
The parents say: ★★★★★
“Melanie was great. We booked her to watch our five month old (had to take our three year old to an appointment) but she immediately also played with our three year old while we got ready to leave. She seemed so comfortable and was very sweet. We look forward to booking her again for our two little ones.” – Nicole E.
“My toddler daughter took to Melanie right away and they clearly had fun together. Melanie had great initiative and really good energy. Hopefully see her again soon!” – Rachel C.
Our daughter took to Melanie immediately. Melanie is great: positive, thoughtful, caring and intelligent. – Linda B.
Book Your Favorites Directly
Think Melanie seems like she’d be a great babysitter for your family? Now you can book her, and all of our wonderful sitters, directly in the app. Simply favorite a sitter’s profile by clicking on the heart, and you’ll be able to see the sitter’s availability and request her directly, no search required. You can also share the sitter’s profile with your friends, read reviews, and see how many bookings she’s completed. Hello Sitter, hello peace of mind.
