Our children's happiness, healthy development, good teaching skills and company will be childhood's most important steps for a guided future with good social interaction and knowledge of present facts.
This is why, besides parents, a carer is required to undertake all duties associated with children's care. Being a children's carer is a job very high in responsibility that involves time and patience, confidence and positive achievements in the future.
As a family you must provide a full time carer with a spare room, or if not available, then agree upon a spare time in the living room. This is because a full time carer must have at least 1 hour and a half of relaxation time and it is essential that the child will have a nap no matter the age.
By NOT offering the spare time, the nanny gets overwhelmed with duties and loose the strength of taking the day to a good end.
Allow the carer to use kitchen utensils for her own feeding. It is not necessary that you provide the carer with food. This is a free option! If an agreement is made, the carer can participate in grocery shopping, buying her preferences and keep them in the family fridge or cold room.
At least once a week, have a carer to parent conversation without the presence of the child. Take into consideration what the carer is saying! Don't forget that children are under a continuous process of growth and development and changes are all over the way.
Allow emergencies! The carer might have an overnight pain or illness which can make her duty impossible to be carried out at that time. Don't panic! There are friends, neighbours or family members who can give some hours of caring for your children. Also, children love being in contact with different people, especially neighbours and relatives. For a longer absence, make out an agreement with the carer!
If it happens for one of the parent to take a day off due to illness, the nanny can come to her work, but do not try to interfere into her job and stay away as much as you can. This is because your children wish to be around you more than the carer, taking the carer's job to confusing points (the children's behaviour changes in a parent's company).
Let the carer know about events or any accidents during her time off so she knows what to do if something similar takes place in the future. Provide her with a list of emergency phone numbers, family phone numbers, school, GP ect.
Accept the carer's rules, especially where the job involves 2 or more children. Show her that she is listened and her rules are taken into consideration!
A children's carer is there just for the children ( she has the right to refuse doing family laundry, empty dishwasher, taking dog for a walk, family shopping or bedroom cleaning) She is only interested in children's laundry, their food preparation and periodical medical or school appointments.
Tell the carer your children's preferences, but do not stay stucked on them, as children need new things all the time, so the carer has the right to make few changes. Also, the children's daily routine must change one day, and it is important to keep it simple and interesting. Too many activities at home will bring children into confusion, sometimes boredom (they might not seem interested in doing certain things).
Allow their free time! Observe them and you will learn more about them!
Experience will be accumulated every day. Don't waste time looking for a 20 years back experience with children! We have all been children, now grown ups ready to take responsibilities!
An OFSTED registered carer won't do more than a normal one! An OFSTED carer is just following a free 6 months course, after which will get a childcare qualification, based on training, without experience or any other expenses. So why look for a registered carer who will definitely ask for more money?!
A CRB check is impossible to achieve by applying online or sending your free application form by post. For a CRB check to be carried out, a carer needs to either volunteer with a company in working with children or any other company involving working with children, because only these companies have the right to offer an application form for a CRB check. Also, because a family is not a company, this does not allow it to see the confidential data that is written in a CRB check. International CRBs aren't translated due to this confidential information.
Driver only if absolutely necessary!! Many carers even if they drive, they don't take the responsibility of driving with someone else's children, so think twice! A walk into the fresh air will make your children burst with energy, especially when they come tired after school.
Paediatric First Aid NOT necessary! But, First Aid Appointed Person knowledge is ABSOLUTELY necessary. This can be achieved in a 6hours course, which takes place during one single day (apply online or search for adult courses).
Travel expenses are not necessary paid by the family. But if you are based in a remoted area, take the children and the carer in the car and drop the nanny at the closest station, at the end of the day this is your thank you back.
Don't forget!
Salary must be a serious discussion, remember, a carer will put her bones into working if it's worth to, if not, she might place the child in front of the tv and she has all the time to relax!
Sometimes children might say negative stuff about the carer. Calm them down, but don't forget their sayings. They might be right!
Take into account everything and see if this will repeat. Take rapid actions!
(Send unexpectedly your neighbour or a friend or relative to visit the house any time of the day, see the estate they find it and the children - messy room, children hungry, scared, bored or red eyes from crying-)
With all these being said I wish you find the best carer for your children, a positive guidance and a friend part of the family.
Feel free to share your opinions by replying to this advert! I will then post them under the ad if you agree so others read and for improper carers to become more responsible and really caring.
King regards to all families sharing a carer.
