James K.

Meet James

• Comfortable with pets

Hello! My name's James, I'm 21 y/o, and I'm a recent college graduate from UC Santa Barbara (originally from Asheville, NC). I love to be outdoors (i.e. hiking, soccer, tennis, swimming), I love to read (I have become quite the Mary Oliver fan recently), and I make music as one of my hobbies! Why I love working with kids: I believe that just as kids can learn from adults, we adults can equally learn from kids. I think we often buy into the common trope that adults know everything while kids know nothing (which can often oversimplify a child's character). A major reason why I love to work with kids is that they are innately courageous, creative, and curious. Albeit I may have some more life experience than kids, there is hardly any school or job that can teach anyone to be as curious as children are. Now, my purpose Read more as someone who likes to work with kids is not to wield THEIR curiosity but rather to help them exercise, maintain, and build upon those qualities. My practices as someone who works with kids: Part of my ethos as someone who works with kids is fostering relationships that encourage kids to develop their own self-autonomy. Now, when I say autonomy I don’t infer assuming a detached role in which children are not being looked after (I am first and foremost a caretaker in this position), instead, I believe that as someone who works with kids, I should not instill a relationship between myself and children in which they do not feel seen, listened to, or trusted. I practice developing meaningful connections with children that's predicated upon consent (i.e. not forcing a child to participate in an activity they don’t want to do), respect, trust, and communication. I believe that if we accommodate children in where they're at in their life by providing them the opportunity to 'take the lead' (i.e. assuming autonomy), children can truly flourish in their authentic selves and develop practical tools to navigate the world; by taking 'the lead' they experience challenges and problems, investigate modes of problem-solving, and learn how to ask for help and guidance.

Trust & safety

Experience