The Nanny’s Role In Raising Children

More and more families now have two parents working full time. Getting work and family life together is a challenge and parents often have to leave their children in someone else’s care. For those who do not want to enroll their children in preschool or with a day mother, but prefer the children to stay in their home environment, an au pair, nanny or nanny is an excellent alternative, as the person almost becomes like another family member.

Here we will talk more about the nanny’s role in raising children.

The role of the nanny

When it’s time to go back to work after parental leave, there are several options when it comes to child care. Many families choose to hire a nanny (also called a babysitter) or au pair who can take care of their children. The biggest difference from preschool is a more personalized and flexible childcare.

This makes the nanny a very important person in the children’s lives. It is someone with whom they share their everyday life and much of their waking time. The babysitter listens to them, comforts them and provides emotional support. In addition, the person feeds them, takes care of any wounds, washes them and can even sleep them sometimes if their parents are not home yet.

The bonds that children form with their nanny can be very strong and good for them. It can help them build their self-esteem and make them more social people, and it makes it easier for them to be away from their parents during the day.

How to choose a good nanny

Because the role of the nanny is so important, you must take the time to reflect on what qualities you want the person to possess. This caregiver will play an important role in your children’s lives.

Many families employ the same person to take care of both the children and certain household chores. This often means that the person has no specific education in childcare. If you have the finances, it is always much better to separate both tasks and choose a care provider with education in psychology, pedagogy or education with a focus on preschool.

The person you hire must have sufficient knowledge, especially if the children are small or if they have special needs. Ideally, the nanny should have a good understanding of the children’s developmental stages and follow them in the best possible way at every step of their upbringing.

Parents and nanny must share the same values

Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a caregiver is to be sure that the person shares the same values ​​and vision on how to raise children. The person should at least respect your way of raising and educating your children as well as your norms and rules. It is important for your children to feel safer and happier.

The following are some of the most important values ​​for a nanny:

Democratic decisions

It is important for the person to offer your children the opportunity to make decisions and negotiate agreements, instead of dictating to them. For example, it is good if the person gives siblings the freedom to choose and negotiate with each other which board game they want to play together to encourage a safer and more confident personality with them.

Empathy

The right person must be emotionally open to your children when they are having a hard time and are sad. A good nanny must be involved in their lives and make them feel heard, valued and loved.

Positive attitude

It is preferable that the nanny treats children positively and tells them what to do instead of what not to do. “Put your toys in the box” instead of “Do not leave your toys in front.”

In addition, if the exhortations are accompanied by explanations, it helps the children to act through conviction and not through blind obedience. “If the toys are on the floor, someone may step on them and accidentally break them.”

Self-control

It is indispensable when dealing with children that you are calm and patient. As a caregiver, you cannot lose control when a child has an outbreak of rage. You must be able to give the child room to express himself and help him calm down with respect and without losing his temper.

The interview is the perfect opportunity to get to know the person who wants to be your nanny. Find out if he or she shares these important values ​​with you. Ask about everyday situations to find out how the person would react. Pay particular attention to what the person is saying about previous jobs. A person who is right for the profession speaks tenderly and affectionately about previous families.