Returning To Work - Easing Into Summer Child Care

There are as many reasons for hiring summer child care as there are families. For a parent returning to work, summer might be a good time to get the kids used to the idea of having a nanny caring for them. Young children and toddlers often experience a certain amount of separation anxiety, especially if they’re used to having mom or dad around most of the time. So start out slow!

Hire a summer nanny to come in a few times a week to watch the kids while you step out. If your children are especially anxious, consider having the new summer nanny over to the house for a visit, while you're still there. Do that a few times and let the kids get used to the nanny’s presence in the home. Keep in mind that you’re still obligated to pay the nanny during this transition time. Gradually, you’ll find it easier to leave the house. Maybe you’ll only be gone for a half-hour the first time you step out.

Using the carefree months of summer to warm your kids up to the idea of staying with a nanny is a good way to prepare yourself for a return to work. If you can return to your job without worry, it’ll show. Your kids will be less stressed, you will have had a chance to get to know the new nanny a little better, and you’ll be able to concentrate on your return to the workplace comfortable in the knowledge that your kids are home being well taken care of.

The Secret to Securing a Summer Nanny Job for Next Year

The best way to make sure you’re called back to work as a summer nanny next year is to fully impress the kids. Treats and bribery might work for a little while, but by planning a big “event” during the summer months, the kids will never forget you. For example, why not plan a “Christmas in the Summer” theme? Summer camps do things like that all the time. Something like that can cost as much or as little as you want it to. Spend some time doing arts and crafts with the kids and decorate an outdoor tree with paper decorations. Have the kids spend weeks secretively making presents to give the other members of their families. That theme alone could take the entire summer to pull off. In the meantime, the kids will have memories they’ll never forget, the summer will pass by in a flash, and the kids will be begging their parents to hire you back next year!

Summer nannies are like the “fun police”. It’s up to the summer nanny to come up with really cool, fun ideas that the kids will never forget. It could be lots of little things (like fun outdoor games) or one big themed event to take place sometime during the summer. Whatever you decide to do, make sure to clear it with the parents first.

Unexpected Summer Nanny Applicants

Sometimes applicants for summer nanny jobs come from unexpected places. You probably wouldn’t expect a professor or instructor of a college to submit their nanny resume to you would you? The reality is, it’s important for teachers to stay connected with the real working world. In order to teach their young protégées, teachers need to know and remember what it’s like to work as a nanny, and sometimes that means applying for summer nanny jobs.

By taking a summer nanny job, these instructors really get an inside look at what really happens in someone’s home on a day to day basis. It’s easy to lose sight of what really happens on the job when you’re teaching from inside four thick walls everyday. The only way to really break down the barriers is by participating in continuing education, upgrading, professional develop opportunities, workshops, and spending time actually working in the field.

Summer nanny jobs are ideal for people like this because it allows them to work during the summer months, while they’re on vacation from their regular teaching positions. By having a solid understanding of what nanny’s are expected to do in the run of a day, college professors and instructors have a better understanding of what nannies should know before signing on the dotted line and, as a result, are better teachers because of it.

Passing Up the Perfect Summer Nanny Job

No matter how badly you need a job, it’s no good to accept one if it isn’t going to suit you. Let’s say you’ve got some serious allergies to bee stings. What makes you think you’re going to be able to survive working a summer nanny job at a bee keeper’s farm? There aren’t enough EpiPens in town to keep you from going into shock. Some things, like dairy allergies, are much easier to control. Unless a blob of milk is going to fly out of the container and down your throat, you’ve pretty much got that one under control.

Before you take a summer nanny job, consider your own health and your ability to do a good job. How safe is it going to be for the kids if you’re on the floor with a swollen face? As much as you want and need that summer nanny job, don’t take a job that could cause you any harm. In order for the kids to be safe and well, you have to be safe and well.

Of course, not every allergy is cause to pass up a summer nanny job offer. If you’re allergic to cats, for example, some antihistamines might be all you need to function as a summer nanny. If you accept a summer nanny job working for the “crazy cat lady”, you might have some serious problems breathing.

Remember, by putting your own health in jeopardy, you’re automatically putting the health of the children in jeopardy as well.

To Take a Summer Nanny Job or Not to Take a Summer Nanny Job

Sometimes when a job is the most important thing, we tend to overlook the fine print. After all, a job is sitting in front of your eyes, someone is offering you the job, and you’re ready to pounce. Working as a summer nanny is going to really help pay for your first semester’s tuition, maybe buy your text books for the year, or go towards a down payment on a second hand car. But don’t let all of that cloud your judgment. Think about it! As awesome as a summer nanny job sounds, do you really want to be the one to have to take the kids kayaking, sailing, digging worms to go fishing bright and early the next day, or watching over three children while the other adults are out partying and having a good time?

Taking a summer nanny job could entail any number of things, including some of the things mentioned above. Your role as a summer nanny could even include picking ticks off the dog or dipping the cat in flea powder! A summer nanny job isn’t necessarily luxurious, but for many people, it’s the job of a lifetime.

Whether or not a summer nanny job is for you completely depends on your nature. Expect to be active and fully engaged with the kids (and sometimes the pets). Sitting around letting the kids watch television all day probably isn’t what the family had in mind. So be honest! If a summer nanny job sounds like something you’re up for, then go for it.

The Summer Nanny Back-Up Plan

If you’re being hired as a summer nanny, it’s unrealistic to expect to get time off. You’re working so that the family can have a vacation, not so that you can. If you’re a college student, you kind of expected to work through the summer anyway. Everybody knows that life happens and it’s possible you could end up sick for a few days, an unexpected crisis could occur in your own family, etc.

As a professional nanny, you should always have a backup plan. Chances are, the family who hired you as their summer nanny already has a contingency plan if they have to go to work, or are planning a vacation without the kids, should something happen to prevent you from showing up one morning. Still, it’s a good idea to at least have a plan. There area any number of things you could do, but here are a few ideas:

1) Plan for backup transportation in case something happens to your vehicle. There’s always public transportation, or maybe you could plan to use a friend or other family member’s vehicle if needed.

2) Sick? If you know someone with enough qualifications to sub as the summer nanny while you’re ill, tell the family! They’ll appreciate the fact that you’ve thought that far ahead.

3) Family crisis? If something happens within your own family, you may require a day or two off to deal with things. Again, have the name and number of someone who would be able to step in and take over until you return to work.

Summer nannies are relied on as heavily as any other working nanny. Showing your true professional nature by being prepared for eventualities out of your control could very well be the ticket to get you more summer nanny jobs for years to come.

Hiring a Granny Nanny

It’s really hard to make the decision to put a parent in a nursing home. It’s one thing if you show up for a visit one day and discover them squeezing toothpaste into the toaster. At that point, yeah, something’s got to give. On the other hand, if your parents have all of their faculties, it’s especially painful to remove them from their home. Sometimes, however, it’s necessary. Maybe one or both parents have a chronic illness, cancer, glaucoma, diabetes, or some other medical condition that needs monitoring. Sometimes it’s just a simple inability to manage the upkeep of the family home. Whatever the reason, moving a parent from their home is hard.

If you have a nanny suite or an extra room in your house, it’s not a bad idea to move your parent into your home. Unless you’ve got a nursing degree or happen to be a doctor, you may not feel qualified to monitor your parents’ condition. That’s because you’re not qualified! You need to hire a granny nanny.

Granny nanny placement agencies match full or part time nannies with families who need medical monitoring. Granny nannies are trained professionals with HHC (Home Health Care) or CNA (Certified Nursing Aides) designations. The title that comes with granny nannies generally means you’ll be paying more money. However, hiring a granny nanny for the summer when you’ll be away on vacation, or part time throughout the year might be all you need.

Taking Your Summer Nanny On Vacation

How many times have you gone on vacation with the family only to spend the majority of your time doing “kiddy-themed” activities? Sure you love spending time with your kids, but tell the truth…aren’t there lots of grown up things you’d like to do on your vacation as well? In order to get the most out of your vacation this year, why not consider hiring a summer nanny to tag along?

Summer nannies are usually people on break from university or college looking to make some extra money. Maybe it’s someone majoring in early childcare development who approaches a summer nanny position as a way to get credit for school or much needed experience for their resume. Whatever the reason, hiring a summer nanny can make your vacation plans a lot smoother.

If you plan on hiring a summer nanny, be sure to let her know right up front that you’ll be requesting she accompany the family on your vacation, and be prepared to foot the bill for those added expenses including air fare, hotel accommodations, food, etc. Make sure she has a valid passport (if necessary) and arrange for extended health coverage. This year, while little Johnny is swooning to Alvin & The Chipmunks, you can be swooning over a tall margarita.

Schools Out, But You’re Not!

Everybody enjoys summer vacation, especially the kids who are tired of homework and endless days in class. Now instead of dreaming of being at the beach or the park, they can actually go. Wait a minute! How are they going to get there if you’re working full time? Just because the kids are out of school for the summer doesn’t mean you are. This is when a summer nanny comes in handy. A summer nanny can really take a load off of your shoulders by being in the home to watch over the kids. Sure there’s always the possibility of settling the kids into a summer daycare program, but some kids prefer (and thrive) in their own environment where they can play with their friends and take advantage of activities in their own backyard.

Another advantage to hiring a summer nanny is having control over what your kids do for the summer months. You can leave them with the nanny to supervise informal activities each day, or you can arrange for day trips to museums, music camps, cultural events, etc.

Once you’ve decided to hire summer child care, meet with the nanny to brainstorm summer activity ideas.

The Responsibilities Of Summer Child Care

So you’re looking for a summer nanny job are you? Before you upload your profile to an online nanny placement agency, make sure to ask yourself why you want to work as a summer nanny. Is it because:

1) You just want to make a little extra money?

2) You love working with kids?

3) You want to watch the family’s big screen television?

4) You hope to make a lot of money doing not much of anything?

5) You want to put the skills you’ve learned in college to good use?

6) You’re goal is to eventually become a full time nanny?

It’s important to really understand why you want to take a summer nanny position because ultimately you’ll be the one reasonable for the children. That’s a huge responsibility! Not only will you be supervising those children in their home, you’ll also be taking them out swimming, to parks, etc. If an accident happens, you’re the one responsible. Someone with safety training, a little early childhood education, and a desire to work with families will be able to handle mishaps along the way. Someone looking for an “easy” summer job might find it a lot more difficult when or if something should go wrong.

Hiring A Summer Nanny For The Cottage

The long hot days of summer practically beg for a more informal lifestyle. It’s time to leave the home and all of its laborious chores for a few months and head out to the cottage. Every year the whole family looks forward to heading out to the summer home where it doesn’t matter if the dog jumps on the sofa or if sand-laden bathing suits are left dripping on the bathroom floor. Okay…it matters...but not as much.

The problem is what do you do with the kids when you’re entertaining guests, visiting friends and family, or just wanting a night out to yourself? This is where a part time summer nanny comes in handy. Let’s assume your cottage is out of town, or maybe even out of state. How are you going to find a summer nanny? The first thing to do is check online nanny placement agencies like www.nannies4hire.com to see if there are any profiles that meet your expectations. Start early! Don’t wait until a week before you plan on moving the family to the cottage. Give yourself a month or more to spend time looking for a summer nanny. You’re going to want time to meet the person, conduct a phone interview, discuss a summer nanny contract, etc. Remember, when you’re searching online for a summer nanny, you’ll need to narrow your search to the appropriate location. There’s no sense trying to find a part time summer nanny in Boston if you’re going to Los Angeles.

How To Land A Summer Nanny Job

If you’re wondering how to land the perfect summer nanny job, consider taking courses that you can use to plump up your resume. Any courses that especially relate to summer-time activities can be used to your advantage. Think about it: being a nanny for the summer will probably involve poolside supervision, days at the beach or the park, etc. If you can show on your resume that you have specialized skills, you’ll be sure to land the perfect summer nanny job.

For example, if swimming is your strength, maybe you could become certified as a lifeguard. If sports are your thing, make sure to spend some time volunteering as a coach, or make note of any awards or trophies you may have won. If you’re competing against other college or university students in your area for a summer nanny job, you’ll want to make your resume as strong and unique as possible.

Remember, if you’re into mountain biking, kayaking, theatre, or anything that can be translated into a fun, safe, summer activity for kids, your resume will probably go to the top of the pile. The family will see you as the kind of summer nanny willing to go out and explore the world with the kids, not sit around baking in the sun all day.

Letting Go Of The Summer Nanny

Are you a teacher, or do you work in a seasonal job where you might not need summer child care? Let’s say you have a regular full time nanny throughout the year, but you know that once the end of May arrives, you won’t need her services anymore. What are you going to do? Are you going to risk losing her to another family by laying her off for the summer, or are you going to pay the extra expense of keeping her on for those extra months? This situation can work to your advantage a couple of different ways:

1) If you’ve hired a nanny that you’re not 100% satisfied with, you can use the end of the work term (or the beginning of summer) as a fresh start. When the contract is up, the nanny will have an opportunity to move on, and so will you.

2) Consider pooling your resources with other families in the neighborhood and job share a nanny for the summer.

3) Pay your regular nanny a little bit more than you normally would with the agreement that she’ll return to your family when you return to work in the fall.

If you really value the work your nanny does, you might want to consider keeping her on year-round. After all, summer is your time too, and some extra help around the house can make your summer that much better.

The Advantages Of Working As A Summer Nanny

Are you a college student looking for a summer nanny job? If so, your first and main reason for wanting to work as a summer nanny should have to do with your love of children. Summer child care jobs aren’t jobs you just do to make a few extra bucks. However, making that extra money is a nice bonus to a rewarding job. Even a part time summer nanny can earn good money, money that can be used toward tuition, a second-hand car, paying off student loans, or furnishing that sparse little apartment of yours.

How Not To Find A Job As A Summer Nanny

So you’re young, energetic, and love kids, right? Great! Maybe you’d make a great summer nanny. There are a few options for getting the word out that you’re looking for summer child care jobs, but the most efficient way is probably through an online nanny job placement agency. It’s usually free to register your name and it puts you in contact with families who are serious about finding quality summer child care. However, before you start uploading photos of yourself that were taken during your twenty-first birthday celebrations, consider the following advice:

1) Like it or not, the world judges you first based on your appearance. Of course it isn’t fair! But put yourself in the family’s shoes. Would you want to hire a summer nanny who looks as if she drinks vodka and orange juice for breakfast?

2) Your friends might think your hotmail email address is cute and catchy, but will the family looking for reliable summer child care want to contact anyone with an email handle like “party_hardy” or “junk-in-my-trunk”? Let’s just say weird email handles put employers off.

3) Do you really think a photo of yourself drinking alcohol in a hot tub with your friends is going to land you a great nanny job? Unless you want to baby sit Hugh Hefner, it’s best to keep your photos tame and professional.

Be mindful about how you present yourself when applying for summer nanny jobs and you’ll have no difficulty at all.

Interview Questions To Ask A Summer Nanny

If you know you’re going to need a summer nanny to help out once the kids are home for school, start preparing early. Take some time to browse online nanny job placement sites and contact a couple of your top picks. Next, you’re going to want to schedule an interview whether it’s on the phone or in person. Hiring someone for a summer nanny position is a little different than hiring a regular full or part time nanny. For one thing, unless you encourage your children to be coach potatoes, you’ll probably want to hire a summer nanny willing to participate in a lot of extra-curricular activities with the children.

For that reason, make sure to ask specific questions like:

• “What is your favorite sport and how could you incorporate it into an activity you could do with the children?”
• “What do you do for fun on rainy days?”
• “Do you have any water safety training?”
• “What hours can you work?”
• “What hourly rate do you expect?”
• “What three things would you consider before heading on an all-day outing with the children?”

These kinds of questions can really illuminate whether a summer nanny is going to be able to handle a high activity level for the summer months while keeping the kids safe and happy.

Summer Nannies For Children With Special Needs

If you’re looking for a summer nanny to work with a child who has challenges and/or disabilities, the first thing you should do is log on to one of the many online nanny placement agencies. You’ll have a chance to refine your nanny search, so make sure to indicate right up front that you’re looking for someone with specific training and education and why. The best situation would be to hire someone with previous experience working with a child similar to your own. For example, you may need a summer nanny who can efficiently maneuver a wheelchair, transport the child in and out of vehicles, and manage any feeding, bathing, or washroom requirements that the child cannot do for himself or herself.

Chances are, your situation is completely different than what’s mentioned here, but the main point is that you’ll need to find a summer nanny that you feel completely comfortable with. Make sure to tailor the interview questions to match the real-life situations she’ll have to contend with in your home. Be prepared to pay more for this kind of highly skilled summer nanny. She may be someone with a degree in nursing, and you’ll be required to pay much more than you’d pay a college student working as a part time summer nanny.

Adequate and appropriate summer child care for children with special needs is priceless. The trick is finding the right person, so utilize the services of a reputable nanny placement agency, like nannies4hire.com.