When hiring a Nanny, you know the basic requirements and ask about their experiences. Hearing stories about how they interact with children and what ages they have cared for is a great way to learn about their skills. But how can you learn their strengths and get insights that help you feel more confident they are the right person to care for your children? Here are 5 questions to help.
1. Tell me about a time you had to handle an emergency.
With this question, you can learn about a Nanny’s ability to manage the unexpected. If they’ve never been in an emergency, then it’s likely they are early in their career and you should be accessible while they care for your kids. If they can share an emergency experience and communicate they handled it as well as can be expected, they may be ready to care for your children when you are out of town.
2. Are you willing to get a flu shot?
Vaccinations benefit the young and elderly as they are most at risk to have serious consequences if they get ill. According to Time, at least 30 children have died from this season’s flu (http://time.com/5113281/flu-death-toll-children-2018/). A flu shot may not benefit a healthy adult as much, but a Nanny’s willingness to get vaccinated to reduce exposure to the children in their care is an important insight.
3. Do you have any pictures of the children you have cared for on your social media?
Ideally, the answer is No to protect the privacy of the children. Only the family should post photos of their children. However, if the Nanny pulls out their phone and shows you photos, ask them if they have received the parents’ or guardians’ permission prior to posting. Some families may be comfortable with the Nanny sharing photos.
4. What nanny training and certifications have you completed?
Investment to develop professionally can identify those committed to providing the highest level of childcare. CPR and First Aid certification is often a requirement for Sitter and Nanny jobs. For quality care, look for a US Nanny Institute Professional Certification and lifeguard training as highly desired.
5. Tell me about a time a child wouldn’t listen to you.
What was the situation and how did you respond? With this question, you can get a better idea of how a Nanny manages stress and their approach to discipline. Did they send the child to their room for a time out; did they take a different approach and offer a reward; or did they delay and leave the matter for the parents? There is no right answer to this question, just make sure the response is appropriate and that it would be consistent with how the child is managed by others including the parents, daycare workers, and/or teachers at school.
These questions are designed to gain insights into a Nanny’s approach and perspectives when caring for children. After asking the standard interview questions and these 5 specific questions, you may be ready to hire a Nanny. To help, the Nanny Institute offers a free online class on Nanny Employment Contracts (Work Agreements) with templates you can download and modify to fit your position.
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