How to Train My Nanny to be the Best!
So you have just found yourself a nanny maybe through an agency, on-line job listing service or a friend. Great news! It is such a relief to finally get the help you need in the home. After all, without some sort of assistance, your life just isn’t your own. Caring for children and a home is a daunting job when coupled with having a full time job, you will feel completely exhausted and spent at the end of every day.
Yet, having hired someone isn’t the only thing you must do to ensure a smooth running home. You have a little more work to do! Every nanny, no matter how many years of experience she might have needs “training”. You may think about having your previous nanny do the job, but if there were some things that she did that may not have been…perfect, then you should start over and be the one to set the boundaries and rules.
Here are some guidelines to help you:
1) Create an employment agreement between you and your nanny stipulating every detail of your job offer so that everyone is clear as it relates to: Job Description, Payment Terms, Payroll, Benefits, Schedules, Travel Requirements, Notice, Termination, and Severance.
2) Begin at the computer sitting down and writing what is important to you as it relates to the children using these categories: Nourishment, Play Dates, Outdoor Activities, Indoor Activities, Educational Activities, Sleep & Nap Time, Bathing, Discipline, Household Chores, Schedules, Driving, Home Safety, Child Safety, Do’s & Don’ts, Communication Protocol, and Emergency Procedures.
3) Put all these documents together and take the time to go over each and every aspect of what you have written. This may require a good 4 hours, but it is well worth it.
4) Have a weekly review session until your nanny is completely acclimated and you are comfortable that she knows exactly what to do and what is expected of her.
5) This is a “work in progress” so you will need to update this manual monthly or as needed when issues come up that cause a need for adjustments.
6) Maintain a very close and open line of communication with your nanny at all times as it relates to: your children, the home, issues that need to be addressed, changes to the manual and any other concerns that may come up.
There are no guarantees that you have selected the right nanny for the job, but surely proper training with implementation of a household manual to serve as a guide, there is a good chance that things will go well!
Http://www.MartaPerrone.com
Yet, having hired someone isn’t the only thing you must do to ensure a smooth running home. You have a little more work to do! Every nanny, no matter how many years of experience she might have needs “training”. You may think about having your previous nanny do the job, but if there were some things that she did that may not have been…perfect, then you should start over and be the one to set the boundaries and rules.
Here are some guidelines to help you:
1) Create an employment agreement between you and your nanny stipulating every detail of your job offer so that everyone is clear as it relates to: Job Description, Payment Terms, Payroll, Benefits, Schedules, Travel Requirements, Notice, Termination, and Severance.
2) Begin at the computer sitting down and writing what is important to you as it relates to the children using these categories: Nourishment, Play Dates, Outdoor Activities, Indoor Activities, Educational Activities, Sleep & Nap Time, Bathing, Discipline, Household Chores, Schedules, Driving, Home Safety, Child Safety, Do’s & Don’ts, Communication Protocol, and Emergency Procedures.
3) Put all these documents together and take the time to go over each and every aspect of what you have written. This may require a good 4 hours, but it is well worth it.
4) Have a weekly review session until your nanny is completely acclimated and you are comfortable that she knows exactly what to do and what is expected of her.
5) This is a “work in progress” so you will need to update this manual monthly or as needed when issues come up that cause a need for adjustments.
6) Maintain a very close and open line of communication with your nanny at all times as it relates to: your children, the home, issues that need to be addressed, changes to the manual and any other concerns that may come up.
There are no guarantees that you have selected the right nanny for the job, but surely proper training with implementation of a household manual to serve as a guide, there is a good chance that things will go well!
Http://www.MartaPerrone.com
