Aidan is a bit of a jack-of-all trades when it comes to kids! He has over ten years of experience babysitting for children ages 1-14 and has worked as a teaching artist, tutor, and performer with various arts-based organizations around New York City. He’s always had a passion for working with kids to find ways to activate their imaginations and sense of wonder. As a graduate of Circle in the Square Theater School and an experienced children’s entertainer, he is well-equipped to teach a majority of subjects under the performing arts umbrella, including acting, music (ukelele, piano, trombone, music theory) and magic. (He even ran his own Curated Care Magic Camp over the summer!) Aidan has also tutored kids in reading and math and is constantly searching for new methods to make learning interesting, fun and engaging. Here’s what Aidan told us about his background and plans for the future:

Hi, Aidan! Where are you from and what brought you to NYC?

I’m originally from Vancouver, Canada. I moved to NYC when I was 17 years old to attend Circle in the Square Theater School and I’ve been here ever since. I always loved Vancouver and felt that if there was ever a place that was going to take me away from it, it would have to be extraordinary– I think New York fits that description.

How long have you been working with kids?

I’ve been working with children ever since I was old enough to be given that responsibility! I started babysitting around ninth grade and taught swimming lessons all through high school.

When you’re booked for a Curated Care session, what is your process in terms of preparation/items you bring?

It really depends on the session. Some families want something very specific, like balloon twisting or scavenger hunts for example, but I’ve found that most of the time they’re just looking for someone who is going to make their kids laugh and engage their sense of play. Therefore, sometimes I’m not bringing much more than my own imagination, but other times I’ll come armed with a bag full of magic and/or coloring supplies etc.

You are an experienced children’s entertainer and have booked several Magic Camps this summer. Can you tell us what kind of activities you create for sessions?

I have a lot of homemade magic tricks up my sleeve that can be really fun for the kids to create and practice– baking soda and vinegar have been very helpful. There’s also some really fun stuff you can do with making objects disappear and turning liquids different colors. I really believe that you can make anything magical if you’re willing to believe in something, so I try to apply that principle across the board when I’m doing magic with kids.

What would you say is the value in hiring a Kid Expert versus a regular babysitter?

I think a Kid Expert comes with a more extensive toolkit than a regular babysitter does. That’s not only applicable in terms of being able to execute activity-based sessions, but also in terms of a willingness to improvise and entertain in a way that a traditional babysitter might not.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a Kid Expert at Curated Care?

I have met some really, really sweet kids through Curated Care. Getting a chance to see so many little smiles on such a consistent basis has been an absolute treat for me.

Can you tell us a little bit about a cool upcoming project that you’re working on right now?

I’m currently in the process of launching a new theater company with a friend of mine. We specialize in creative adaptations of children’s books for kids ages 2-5, using only the actors’ bodies and minimal sets and props to simulate the magical experience of reading a children’s story. I’m very, very excited about it– nothing like this existed for me when I was a little boy and I would have lost my mind to go see a show where my favorite book was acted out in front of me!

To book or learn more about Aidan S, click HERE.