How to Find a Nanny with Education Experience

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Photos courtest Vivvi Early Learning

One of the hardest jobs for any parent is finding the right nanny. Not only is it emotionally challenging to leave your child with a caretaker, but it’s hard to know if you’ve chosen the right person for the job. Of course, every family has a different idea for what constitutes a good match. Some parents might be looking for a nurturing, experienced caretaker; others might prefer someone energetic and youthful. Many families want a nanny who can help educate and socialize their kids—which can be harder to find.

How to Find a Nanny with Education Experience

Parents should reserve about three months to find a nanny—and start by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. They can also browse through child care websites, local message boards, and nanny placement agencies. Another good place to investigate is university job boards—especially if parents are seeking a nanny with early education experience. Many education students are looking to get hands-on experience.

Parents can find exceptional caretakers with education experience at Vivvi. Their service for kids ages 0-5 is available in cities across the U.S. Vivvi matches each family with a caregiver who has at least one year of early childhood education experience—and who can also perform typical nanny duties like changing diapers, keeping play spaces tidy, making meals, etc. Vivvi’s educators are inspired by children’s curiosity and trained in helping them reach their developmental milestones. Each month they create individualized learning activities for each child in their care.

How to Evaluate what you Need from a Nanny

While many parents start looking for a nanny shortly after birth, it’s helpful to think about the future and find someone who can transition with your family beyond the newborn stage. It’s also important to find a nanny who will contribute and fit in with the dynamics of your household. Before interviewing, make a list of what qualities are most important to you; ask friends with older children what they consider a priority. For example, if paying a nanny on the books is better for your family’s financial planning, try a company like Vivvi, which handles all the hiring, benefits, taxes, insurances, etc. Vivvi’s flexible and reliable program makes everyone’s life easier—their educators offer an exceptional curriculum, and can work four or eight hours per day; two, three, or five days a week.

How to Interview for the Right Nanny

Now that quarantine is over, it makes sense to meet face to face with a potential nanny. Find a neutral setting and ask about their experience, discipline strategy, schedule, and why they love working with children. Evaluate their level of energy and creativity. Remember you want someone who will interact with your kids and not just be a passive observer. Some parents might want to watch the candidate play with their child. Ask yourself: is your child comfortable? Happy? Engaged? Feel free to ask a nanny back for a second interview/playdate if you still have doubts.

If multiple interviews seem too stressful, stick with a company like Vivvi, which does all of the background checks and training for you. They hold their caregivers up to high standards so you can be confident that anyone you meet from the Vivvi network will be well-versed in childcare and highly supported by the Vivvi staff.

How to Set Your Nanny Relationship up for Success

Once you’ve found the right person, it’s time to discuss details like salary and hours. Just like other employers, you’ll need to set policies for vacation time, sick days, and overtime, which you may want to put into a contract so you can be sure everyone’s on the same page. You can find a sample nanny contract on NannyNetwork.com to use as a template.

To make things easier, work with a company like Vivvi which will do all the paperwork for you. Vivvi takes the guesswork out by providing rates that include of taxes and benefits. They also design the contracts. They will ensure that the caretaker you hire meets all health and safety requirements. Their teachers are COVID vaccinated, CPR and First Aid certified so can rest assured that your child is in good hands.

It can be tricky to find a nanny with education experience—but it’s certainly not impossible if you know where and how to look for one.

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