Apologizing to Children We all make mistakes — plenty of them. As nannies we are important role models for the children in our care. It’s important for us to confess and to apologize to children when we make mistakes. Doing so teaches children to do the same. It’s not enough to just say we are […]
Would You Work for a Family that Has Guns in their Home?
August 8, 2019 1 Comment
There seems to be no more hotly debated topic in America at this moment than gun control. No matter a nanny’s opinion on the topic, the reality is that an estimated one-third to one-half of American homes with children have firearms in them. It is a real safety issue for children. All nannies should be […]
Why Kids Don’t Listen When You Say “No”
December 10, 2018 Leave a Comment
Don’t Allow Kids to Negotiate In the book, Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking the Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction author Catherine Pearlman explains that giving attention to children doesn’t necessarily mean happier and healthier kids. Selective ignoring bad, attention seeking behaviors helps minimize or eliminate the unwanted behaviors and increases […]
How Nannies Should Respond When Someone Asks, “When Are You Going to Get a Real Job?”
May 28, 2018 Leave a Comment
“Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” — Harvey MacKay After working as a nanny for 25 years I know all to well that much of our society does not value nannies. As with most jobs in childcare in the United States, nannies are often undervalued. The […]
What Nannies Should Not Lie About
November 19, 2017 Leave a Comment
Being Open and Honest is Essential to Being Hired and Maintaining Nanny Jobs Of course everyone tells white lies and withholds information at times. There is no point in being brutally honest with people if it will ruin relationships or hurt their feelings. But, being open and honest is essential when job searching and to […]
Being Flexible Vs. Job Creep
September 26, 2016 Leave a Comment
Respecting Professional Boundaries Being flexible and having an attitude of helpfulness is essential to being a successful nanny. But, when pitching-in becomes expected and nannies do more and more chores increasing their job duties, without extra compensation, they often burn-out and become resentful. When employers commonly require increasing amounts of work, relative to the normal […]
Reduce Stress by Not Overreacting
March 10, 2014 Leave a Comment
Nannies Help Reduce Parental and Child Stress When adults are stressed-out, the kids in their care get stressed-out. Raising a family is stressful. When nannies help parents, they help reduce both their employer’s and their charges’ stress levels. Stress in children can be detrimental to a child’s health and development. The body reacts to stressful […]
Professional Nannies Are CPR/First Aid Certified
March 3, 2014 2 Comments
Respecting Professional Boundaries for Nannies Professional in-home childcare providers should be CPR/First Aid certified. The American Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED program is a comprehensive training program designed to help caregivers recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing, and first aid emergencies. Nannies can find a location to get certified, or renew their certification (every two […]
A Professional Nanny is an Organized Nanny
February 24, 2014 Leave a Comment
Organizing the Home for Your Charges By Lorie Marrero, Creator of the The Clutter Diet Organizing is part of every nanny’s job. To respect professional boundaries all nannies must include the family members in the task. Nannies must always keep the family they work for, and the children the care for, in mind when they help organize the […]
