Continuing to blog

I have enjoyed blogging. It has been so much fun and I could keep going. There is so much that comes into play as a nanny.

Some examples of post I would use for the future would be:Tips for nannies, positions,pay/salary,parks, places, restaurants. These are important factors that come with the job.

Since it is my responsibility to feed the children I could name some places I take the children and give recommendations to others.  

Connections

Once you have a job with a family you may be set but you can always find a way to watch more children and make more money.

For example the family I care for neighbors have not went out without their children since they lived in Charlotte with has been a couple of years. They don't know many people and family does not live in town. So my boss said would you like to make extra money and watch both kids at the same time or when you get off here go over there. I have no problem doing that.

Also at the daycare there has been many opportunities that allow me to connect with families. Some people need weekend sitters and other need after 5 which works for me. I love what I do and I cant see myself doing anything else. 

Another example would be that my sister is a hair stylist and she has so many parents come in that are looking for a nanny or babysitter so she gives my card out all the time. I have many people contact me!

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

There are many responsibilities that come into play everyday I work. There are things you don't even think of that you have to take care. Even if it doesnt involve the child.

For example taking out the trash

1) care for the children
2) Feed/eat
3) Clean up
4) Diaper changes
5) Transportation
6) Bathing
7) Activities
8) Play dates

Overall this will make your day go by smooth. This is something you need to do throughout the day. I always check to see what time I need to get to work. I communicate throughout the day where we are going, what we do or asking if we can do certain things.

Communicating not only helps me out but the family too. For example if I am out and they need something I can pick it up or swing by somewhere for whatever it may be.

Communication is essential! It is very important to have a clear and daily communication 

Holidays

This is something you want to talk about before you get the job. Knowing the holidays you want off and the amount of days helps.

One thing I like to do when I need off is have someone cover for me. This allows me to stay on vacation or be away for the holiday longer.

For example, I am from Pennsylvania and I try to come home as much as I can especially on holidays. I come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I get off on all holidays which I am grateful for. I love speeding time with my family.

                  As much as I love the kids there is not place I rather be than with my family!

Vacation

Going on vacation with the family is a plus! I went on vacation with the family for the first time. We went to Florida. I asked for a flat rate of a 1000. I was on duty the whole day. It was a fun trip. We got to go to the beaches, go out to dinner and explore the town.

I don't really take sick days. I can only thing of two times that I did once was when I had strep throat and the other was the stomach bug. I had doctors notes and was told not to be around the children.

One plus to being a nanny for a family that the mom is a stay at home she is flexible with my schedule. I was able to work and go to school which is great. She also lets me take off when needed for travel time.

I don't have a set amount of days which is nice. Its great they are flexible and allow me to take vacations days!

Flexibility

This is key for each day. Everyday can be completely different. You may want to do one thing but have to do something else. Time flies by and you never know what can happen or what you may have to do.

For example: One morning I went into work and I wanted to take him strawberry picking but by the time I  got him ready and we started to drive he fell asleep and I could tell he was not up for it so we turned back around.

Another example is when I got to work and wanted to take him to half hour away to a kids museum but he was crying and didn't want to get dress so we ended up staying in the area.

Another example is when a child get sicks you still have to care for them and be flexible with the schedule to come in early if he cant go to school.

The hardest thing for me was having the little boy be flexible with his new baby sister. It was hard for him to adapt. He is doing great though and still as cute as can be!

Guest Post - Eileen McCartney

Hello my name is  Eileen MC Cartney and I have been a professional caregiver to children of all ages for most of my adult life.  Before that I made all my extra money from babysitting along with a few other part time jobs that I started when I was fourteen.  Coming from a family of eight children, me being the oldest you really could say that I was in training for this career my whole life! 

Today, Courtney Czaja asked me to be her quest blogger for her assignment and I gladly agreed.  I do not have a blog site of my own since all my employers have come from word of mouth and referrals.  I will try to do my best but blogging is a new field for mwe so here goes.


In all my years as a caregiver/nanny I have learned many valuable tips that I can pass along to those just starting out in the field or those alreadsy in it but looking for some "seasoned" advice.
Like David Letterman here is my "Top Ten List"

FIRST:        The child's welfare ALWAYS comes first.

SECOND:    Interaction with parents is CRUCIAL for both you and the parents

THIRD:        Make it FUN for everyone whenever possible

FOURTH:     Take your respobsibilities SERIOUSLY it is not a game it is very real

FIFTH:          UNDERSTANDING what is expected from each other is very important
                      No room for misunderstanding here....know what the parents want.....know what you    
                       expect from them and make sure it is understood by all

SIXTH:         Remember that even though you are like a family remember you are NOT and should    strive to keep a friendly but professional relationship at all times

SEVENTH:   Keep in mind that actions speak louder than words and this is especially true with children

EIGHTH:      Do NOT let the children or their parents take advantage of you.  This is very easy to fall into especially if you are employed for a long time.  You are still a professional and should be treated as such

NINTH:        Take every chance you get to enhance your DAILY activites with something new and exciiting for the sake of the child (ren) and yourself.  Keeping things interesting is a real plus.

TENTH:       ALWAYS< ALWAYS ALWAYS remember how important your skills and your expertise are to the well being of the child and the whole family in general. 


                                         YOU ARE AN INVALUABLE ASSET!!!!

Nap time

The best thing for your child is to take a nap, rest and recuperate when needed. No matter when or where a child can usually find a place to nap whether its in the stroller on a blanket in the car or in their crib or bed.

 Naps help children from being overtired. Each age is different for how much sleep and rest they need. Naps are critical for a child's growth and well being. The best way to get your child to nap is by setting a schedule and having a daily routine.

Stop naps

• When your child is restless at nap time
• When your child stops crying in the afternoon
• Offer quiet time when your child stops taking naps

Bath Time

The most important thing to do at bath time is supervise the children. What I like to do is fill to the belly button just to be safe and make sure it is warm and not to hot. Never leave the children in the bathtub alone even for a second, minute or two you never know what can happen.

Another thing to make sure you have is the towels, and everything you need before you put the child in the tub. Teaching the children to keep the water in the tub is important. Also when washing the children you want to make sure they have children's wash because their skin is sensitive and you should use a wash cloth.

For example when I give a bath and he pores the water out, I drain the tub and say when you do that it shows me you are finished. The water stays in the tub so the child knows what his consequences are after he did it a few times. Even if he doesn't want to be done he has to get out. If he wants to splash he can but I need to shut the curtain.

Depending on the family you need to make sure you are comfortable doing this and some children may be active or resist taking a bath.

Food

As a nanny part of your job may be to go food shopping and cook meals. It is important to shop for healthy foods and cook nutritional, tasty kid friendly meals that way they eat it. Meals have to be well balances and appealing to the children. Nuturtion included everything the children eat and drink. During meal time it is important to teach manners to the children such as please, thank you, you're welcome. Also teaching children about their responsibility when they are finished with their dishes. Children are never to young to teach them these life long lessons. This will help your child excel.

For example if the children don't have nutritional meals they may end up with health problem, overweight, lack of growth or obesity. Teaching healthy eating habits with prevent health problems. I struggle with this because the little boy I watch is a picky eater and under weight. There are many benefits to cooking nutritious meals. Following the food chart, it can help your child get the right foods!

 Stay healthy and active with your children!

Clothes

As part of the job you will be dressing, washing, and putting away the children's clothes. Keep track of when the laundry1` needs to be done. Having a routine or schedule for washing will help keep things flowing smoothly. I like to do wash in the beginning and end of the week. I think on Mondays and Fridays are good days. That way the children have clean clothes for the week and the weekend. I find it easy to start the wash in the morning, dry it and fold it during nap time.

It is also important for you dress appropriately each day and make sure you are comfortable!




Also depending on the age I recommend you bring extra clothes you never know what you'll get on you!

Discipline

Children are curious about the world around them. At a young age you need to start teaching children how to behave. As a nanny you are the second closest person to the child. One way that helps me is by rewarding the good behavior.

I find the best way to do this is establishing guidelines around disciplining in your home. This will provide consistency for the parents and caregiver and this way the child knows what to expect

• Set clear rules and be consistent about them
• Natural consequences
• logical consequences
• Timeout
• Setting limits
• withholding privileges

Spanking is not the best choice!

Staying Educated

I find it easy to get into the routine of things around the house with the family I nanny for, as for other you may or may not. Attending conferences, workshops and trainings will be best for your interest. Getting certificates, fir aid, CPR, and nutrition.

As a nannying you effect the child so you are the role model what the children see if what they do. Being patient, understanding and loving will allow the children to exceed.  Some families may require certain certificate, background check, degrees or must have certain qualities before they hire you.

For example I started out going to a community college in Bucks County. I finished my first year and transferred to CPCC and got my first certificate and contented to get two more. After receiving these certificates I was so close to get my Associates so I finished.

Early Childhood Education Certificate Specialization in Early Childhood
Early Childhood Education Certificate with a Specialization in Administration
Infant Toddler and twos Care Certificate

Example of some classes I completed! 

Major in Birth-Kindergarten Education   2014-2015 Credits Required
Early Childhood Education - RCCC EDU 119(4)	EDUC 2000 (T)
Children, Family & Community - RCCC EDU 131(3)	SOC 2104 (T)
Child Development I - RCCC EDU 144(3)	PSYC 2340 (T)
Child Development II - RCCC EDU 145(3)	PSYC 2350 (T)
Child Guidance - RCCC EDU 146(3)	EDUC 0000 (T)
Health, Safety & Nutrition - RCCC EDU 153(3)	PER 1945 (T)
Children with Special Needs - RCCC EDU 221(3)	PER 4740 (T)
Creative Activities - RCCC EDU 151(3)	EDUC 3010 (T)
Curriculum Planning - RCCC EDU 259(3)	EDUC 3000 (T)
Educational Assessment(3)	EDUC 2280
Curriculum Methods: Infants & Toddlers(3)	EDUC 3301
Psychology of Exceptionalities(3)	PSYC 3940
Curriculum Methods:Preschool/Kindergarten(4)	EDUC 3300

By August 31, 2015 I will have my Bachelors! The most important thing is to keep up to date with your certificates and training.

What to Look for in Your Family

I think it is important to talk about what you expect from the family and not just what they expect from you.

For example I originally told the family I babysit which I didn't realize the difference when I first started. I started out babysitting and only getting 10.00 an hour but after a week she said I am so good I got a two dollar raise.

After a few month she asked if I wanted to nanny and I kept thinking I am nannying the only difference was my pay. After being with the family a year a got a raise.

I think talking about your pay and how often it will increase should happen from the start. For example I find this topic to be very uncomfortable and I avoid it all the time.

I got to the point where I was only making 12.00 and it just wasn't enough so I finally built the courage and asked for 14 but really needing more. She told me when I start with the next child ill get a two dollar increase. This is why it is important to know the difference between a babysitter and a nanny.

Don't forget to talk about your needs in the job position!

Why Not to Become a Nanny

Some people don't realize the responsible you have when you nanny and think of it as babysitting. A nanny is more than a babysitter. Some days can be challenges and anything can happen and you are responsible for it.

Depending on the family you may not get any recognition for the hard work you put in and out each day. Lack of pay, family dysfunction, expenses, taxes, and poor communication are enough reason to not nanny or should be addressed before taking the job. As cute as the children may be the job is difficult at times.

For example I was at the park like it was any other day and the child fell on the playground and split his lip. I didn't know what to do so I wiped his lip, called his mom and ran home. She did not answer the phone and I was paranoid. I got home we cleaned his lip and had to take him to the ER. I felt terrible even though it was an accident I still felt like it was my fault in way but there was nothing I could do about it.

Seeing the child get swaddled so they could glue his lip not only traumatized him but made me want to cry. Needless to say I never put those shoes on him again and he wears sneakers every time we go to the park.

Lesson learned!

Becoming a Nanny

There are many reasons for people to become a nanny. There is more to just loving the children and playing with them each day. A nanny has many responsibilities and when you take on this job you become very close to the children.

Spending each day with the children you have to teach them life long lessons. Teaching children to be polite, respectful, and use their manners. Teaching children right from wrong, good and bad will be key to success.

You have teach discipline which is one the hardest but most powerful thing. This being the hardest part also means you need to do it because the child is not listening.  Usually something happens everyday you wouldn't expect. Something has small as the child spilling milk or spitting up on you.

For example the family I watch got a white sofa and the little boy took yellow crayon and colored all over the back of it. The child knows he can only color on paper so when he goes to color somewhere else I take the crayons and let him know that he is finished and we only color on paper.

Steps

• Apply
• Interview 
• Accept position
• Work with the family
• Full time or part time 
• Schedule & Routine 

Finding the Right Nanny

This can be very hard especially in todays society. There are so many websites such as sittercity,care.com, baby center, babysitters4hire.com, enannysource.com, seekingsitters.com and there are many more. I have tried care.com and sittercity and they were both unsuccessful.
 I got one job on care.com and it was for a nursery school teacher on Sundays. It was every Sunday from 8:45-12:15.

After I got that job I got off the website because two different people tried to scam me. One person said they were coming to Charlotte and going to send me a check, go cash it and buy stuff for the house. I took it to the bank because I knew it was fake. I called the bank it was supposedly from and they wanted me to send it in so I did so. Another person asked me to come to there house but never called me or anything so I did not show up there. I never heard from them either.

I find the best way to get a nannying or babysitting job is by networking through family and friends. I don't trust the internet and maybe others have more success. I think there are to many people you cant trust out there anymore. Knowing what you are interested in can help find the right job placement for you. Have reliable references because during your interview they may ask you so you want to be prepared.

After you get the job you may want to ask for a trail run to see if the job fits you!

Why Become a Nanny

If you know your calling or purpose and it has to do with kids nannying may be the job for you. If you are a nice, genuine person that cares for children this could be your dream job. You can be a live in nanny or just one that comes in each day. A nanny will plan learning experiences for your child to develop and grow at their age level.

• Flexible
• Fun, active and enjoyable
• Full time or part time 
• Rewarding
• Make difference in a child's life
  

1) Gain child care experience by babysitting, watching sibling or family/ friends children
2) Create a resume
3) Take EDU 119, get your Associates and Bachelors to earn more money
4) Stay educated, get trained and certified 
5) Apply, handout business card and start the interview process!

Good Luck!

My Role as a Professional Nanny

As a nanny I take on the responsibly of caring for two children. Having experience, training and a  clear driving record helped me get my job. Being reliable, honest and trustworthy also are important factors. As a nanny I expected to arrive on time and start the day off by giving breakfast, changing and getting them ready for the day.

Everyday is different and I never know what I am going to do with the children. I enjoy takingthem to the park, on walks, and doing activities with them. One day can be all about the child but the next day could be around the mom schedule and what she has planned for us. You have to be prepare for anything!

 Watching others comes into play too! 

Introduction to Nannying

To start off my blog I would like to talk about the difference between babysitting and being a nanny as a profession.  I started out as a babysitter when I was twelve years old. A babysitter is someone who just watches children when needed. A babysitter also works for multiple families as often as needed. I started out watching my aunts children. I am one of twenty seven cousins so now my cousin have kids and I have been watching them since they were infants. As I got older I extended to family friends and then whoever needed me.

Since I loved working with kids I decided to study Early Childhood Education. I received three certificates and got my associates. Shortly after this is when my nannying career started. As a nannying I am on a timely schedule. I have to be there at 8:00 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday till 5 or 6. On Tuesday and Thursday I am there from 9:00-5:00. As a nanny I have other duties then just watching the children.

 I am not a live in nannying, they stay the night. I am employed by the family and get paid weekly and hourly. I am responsible for  getting them dressed, diaper changing, I do light house keeping, laundry, shopping, meals, activities, taking them to the park, library and transportation for the children. Also if there is anything else that pertains to the children or comes along as a day goes by. The best laid plans go awry.