There are a number of outrageous urban legends about nanny hiring experiences that have gone awry. Mercifully, these tales are little more than obtuse folklore as opposed to anything based in reality. But, these tales do raise the important specter of the need to hire the right nanny to look after your children. This means you have to probe the nanny’s background and experience in order to be sure you are hiring the right person for the job. In order to help facilitate this goal, here are five must ask questions you should pose to any potential nanny:
How much experience do you have? As with any other job, experience counts for a lot when it comes to hiring a nanny. Those who may have very limited experience could prove to be a question mark when it comes to whether or not they will be able to properly take care of your children. That is why it is best to stick with those nannies that have a bit of time on the job and can also provide adequate and positive references.
Do you have training and experience in CPR, first aid, etc? As much as we wish otherwise, the fact remains that accidents and medical emergencies do occur. Rather than take any unnecessary risks, it is best to procure the services of a nanny that can respond properly in a medical emergency.
How will you handle behavior problems with the children? Children, being children, will sometimes misbehave. They can also be prone to being overanxious or rambunctious. Such behavior does need to be addressed at some point and it is necessary to learn how the nanny will deal with such things. What is her attitude towards disciplining a child if needed? There should be no questions marks in this regard. You will need to clearly know how she would deal with such issues.
What are your favorite activities to do with children? Being a nanny is not 100% about supervising the child. It is also about having fun and interacting with the youngster. What are the nanny’s favorite things to do with kids? How do they hope to bond with one? Understanding how the nanny likes to interact with children will certainly provide a unique insight into her temperament and behavior.
You will not be inviting anyone over while you look after the children, will you? Okay, this is more of a statement as opposed to a question. However, it is an important one. You do not want the safety and security of your children compromised due to the presence of someone who is not authorized to be in the home. Be sure to lay this ground rule down from the outset and do not let any violations of this rule be tolerated!
Of course, you need not feel the need to be limited to merely five questions. You want to be confident in your hiring selection so be sure to ask as many questions as you feel necessary to arrive at the proper hiring decision. You children will ultimately be most appreciative of it.
Tags: babysitter, Childcare
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