I think babysitting is great for many reasons (not just because I do!). Whereas nursery educators are focused on supporting the developmental growth of individual children, nannies are more important to support not only the child’s developmental growth but also the whole family dynamics at home. , is special.
We provide childcare services, but we also typically do cleaning and cooking related to caring for children. For example, loading and unloading the dishwasher, cleaning the baby’s room, washing her baby once a week, giving her an occasional bath, helping her pack when the family goes on vacation, rummaging through the baby’s closet in the office. Etc. of the new season. This is great news for parents because when they get home in the evening, they spend less time doing their daily baby chores and more time enjoying the evening with the kids. Another thing I love about nanny-type parenting, especially babysitters, is the unique amount of time children spend with their caregivers. Babies and toddlers really need one-on-one tuition and downtime, and daycares aren’t always great at providing that (high child-to-teacher ratios, small groups of kids in one room). (due to busyness). Some nannies like myself take their children to playgroups and other activities. I think it’s a good combination of being at home and having cozy one-on-one conversations at home. can be tiring at times.
One of the things parents often worry about in nanny care is the fact that it can be an isolated job at times. That’s why I regularly sponsor playgroups and other social events. Most cities and towns have programs that allow nannies to bring their babies. B. Baby yoga, swimming for moms and toddlers, preschool book clubs in the library, art classes for babies and toddlers. Ontario is home to a variety of Ontario Early Years Centers and Parenting & Family Literacy Centers, impromptu playgroups for children ages 0-6. Doing this on most days will help prevent isolation and mess up your schedule a bit.
Another reason to consider nanny care is that you don’t have to take your child to daycare every morning or when you have special concerns. Unfortunately, many Ontario daycare centers do not yet have facilities to care for certain disabilities. As a result, children with special needs may have difficulty finding child care outside the home and may actually be denied day care. parents may feel more comfortable if their child eats in a home where they can be sure everything in the closet is okay for the baby. The chances of contact with the food being served is still small. Also, small children can reach into other children’s plates etc. so it can be very difficult to monitor. (unless you’re eating at the restaurant). Premature babies and children with compromised immune systems may also want to stay at home where they are less likely to catch colds and flu.
Another thing I love about nanny care is how personal it becomes. I consider the family I work for to be my family in a way. The babies I take care of are almost like nephews or cousins to me. his parents are great. It’s not just “work”. When he was sick, I visited him in the hospital. I went to his birthday party and made his birthday cake. I miss him on weekends! Really beautiful dynamics. He will be the ring bearer at my wedding next year!
So when you think about letting strangers into your home most of the time and taking care of the most important little creatures in your life, where do you start? First, make a list of your family’s needs and wants (1 day Be realistic about the number of hours in the , and remember that nannies need a day off too.) Also remember that the more “housework” you list as a chore, the less time the nanny will spend with the child. In my opinion housework should be mostly baby related…otherwise hire a housekeeper rather than a nanny.
Possible needs/preferences:
- Baby/kids linen
- Information about special needs or special allergies
- playgroup? A program run by a nanny
- go for a walk / spend every day outside
- TV – Some parents want to limit TV time, so it’s good to know the TV rules
- Loading and unloading the dishwasher – consider this baby bottle and food wash
- Do you want your nanny to be in charge of taking your child to doctor’s appointments and such?
Now let’s consider some of these requirements.
- Police Authorization – You let this person into your home and take care of your baby! Make sure this is what a nanny can offer!
- First Aid Training – something to consider. This doesn’t mean that the person you hired can fully save your child in an emergency, but it does give you reasons to think about what to do and how to get help when an emergency occurs. Give them basic knowledge.
- Education/Experience – Preference should be given to early childhood education graduates. Additional training such as respite certificates and child and youth workers are also required. Someone with a little experience would be nice, you would definitely want a reference!
- CPR Training – Sorry Safe.
- If a play group or doctor’s appointment is a job requirement, can the caregiver walk or take a bus to those locations, or do they need someone with a car and driver’s license?
- Do you prefer nonsmokers?
It is important to have someone physically able to care for the child. It’s hard to hold a baby, but it’s also important to keep up with your baby’s energy and play! The person you hire must be healthy enough to walk a baby etc.
With all of this in mind, create an ad detailing the needs of the person you are looking for and their possible roles. Decide what you are willing to pay. Recall that you are looking for a professional who has gone to school and is probably in debt or something. Someone is more likely to commit to you if you treat them well and pay them fairly. Enter your expected salary in your ad and place your ad. You can contact your local collage to bulk email his latest ECE graduate, place an ad in a newspaper, or ask him to be placed on a listing website such as kajiji.com. Let’s see who will answer.
If you have any answers or questions, thank the applicant for their call and make an appointment for a phone interview first. This allows you to filter out people you are less interested in before inviting them to your home for an in-person interview. Here are the questions asked in the phone interview:
- Why did you choose the field of early childhood education?
- What are your long-term goals?
- What is your biggest mistake? What are your 3 biggest assets?
- Do you have experience?
- What age group of children do you enjoy working with the most?
- What do you think is the proper way to discipline?
Be confident and think about how they will react to it. Do the answers seem to come from someone who really loves working with children? Does the applicant look excited and enthusiastic? If you are accustomed to interviewing applicants who remain in your country, set up a few interviews at your home or in a public place (such as a coffee shop). Ask them to bring their resume, three professional references, and a police permit. It is recommended that you stay with your spouse or close family members. One person can ask the question and the other person can quickly write down the answers for later comparison. After the interview, discuss how you felt about the person you met.Consider professionalism. Were they wearing little clothes? Do they look like they have good hygiene? Did they have all the documents you asked for? Most importantly, were you comfortable with the person?
Once you’ve decided who you like, check references, check for police clearance, etc. If all goes well, proceed to hiring. Advice:
- Create a contract that outlines the hours worked per day, sick leave, vacation (if offered), and days on which holidays are paid.
- Always issue income tax receipts
- Have a nanny come over for a few days while you are home and see how they interact and get used to your children a bit.
- Make sure you are comfortable together.
- Remember that your nanny does things differently than you, and be considerate. (She sneaks up on her/him!)
