- Image by McNamara Images via Flickr
In my opinion, being a nanny has a lot of perks! Being silly, playing outside, and building a meaningful relationship with the people I work with are just naming a few. While it can involve tears and temper tantrums, it is easy to forget that being a nanny is my job. However, one thing I do not forget is that just like other aspects of my life and other jobs that I have had, learning, processing, and growing is vital to being the best I can be at anything.
Being a nanny is a job, whether full-time or part-time, and you should treat it as such. It is your responsibility to learn, absorb and put into practice as much as you can about child development, childcare, and being a nanny. Many nannies have a degree in Early Childhood Education or a degree that is similar, but there is a lot you can learn on your own, and even if you do have a degree, learning is on-going!
Here are some suggestions to help you be the best nanny you can be!
Get your read on!
Reading a book is one of the fastest ways to learn new information and reading can be enjoyable, honest! The best way to find some good books about child development, childcare or even to find new books to read to children is to head to the library. This way you can take your time looking through books, check them out to take home, and if you find some books that are worth keep permanently, you can then purchase them online or at a bookstore. Browsing at a bookstore is not a bad either, but you do not get the chance to read them before deciding whether they are keepers or not. In any case, taking the time to read and absorb new information will undoubtedly provide you with more tools and confidence. Knowledge is power!
Join a group!
Talking and interacting with other nannies will definitely provide you with new perspectives, new games, and maybe even a new play date or two. Check to see if there are local nanny groups in your area and if not, there are definitely national and international groups that you can become a member of. It is also likely that you have some friends who are also nannies and they are valuable resources; they are people you trust and value the opinions of and most importantly, like to spend time with. It is not a bad idea to get together with them once a week and just “talk shop”, exchanging experiences, books, or ideas.
Hopefully these suggestions will help you continue being the best nanny you can be! If you have any others, share them here!
