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5 Questions to Ask a Nanny Applicant before Hiring

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

When searching for a total stranger that will be hired to provide care to your kids, stress is a given. Life today can be tough, and it is important to follow your heart in the matter of hiring a nanny. Not everyone can be trusted to be in your house alone and caring for your kids, and being careful when selecting a nanny that is candid and competent is of paramount importance. Investing in a security camera from Safe Nanny Cam may be a good idea.



Is there a way to minimize stress when selecting a good caretaker? An important part of the process is using the proper questions -- in the middle of the interview, as well as afterwards -- to find out about the person that will be a good choice for your children. Whether or not the nanny you select is recommended by an agency or not, you will still need to obtain the right information to ascertain whether or not the nanny you are interviewing is the right one for the job.

In the beginning of the meeting, you need to realize that your feelings will come into play, and try to come to terms with that fact. Your job, as parent and employer, is like an HR rep’s job, and you should remember that when trying to come up with suitable queries. The preeminent query should be about the behavior of the person, schooling history, and any previous practice you meet with.

Find out from the person what manner of children they have handled, including behavior, age, and the reaction of the person in under varied conditions. Provide your candidate with relevant facts about your children’s ages, behavior, likes, dislikes, etc. There are other queries that you should have prepared beforehand in order to obtain further information from your candidate.

You should question the caregiver about what they like best about their job, and why they prefer caring for kids at home instead of a children’s day care. These facts will help you understand the reasons the prospective nanny prefers to focus on children individually instead of as a large bunch.

Let them tell you about the most awful situation that they have experienced as a custodian, and the way they reacted and resolved the issue. This will inform you on their way of dealing with tough issues and how they came to a solution. This information is an important aspect of determining whether the caregiver is compatible with your way of handling issues or not.

Ask how the prospect was disciplined during childhood. Again, this will give you an idea of how they will react when your children aren't on their best behavior. This is important, because being a nanny can be a stressful job, especially in the beginning when the nanny and your child/children are getting used to each other. When the children are at their absolute worst, you will want to know that the person dealing with it will deal with it as close to your disciplinary methods as possible. People tend to unconsciously fall back on their own learned resolution system, and while it's neither right nor wrong, you need to be confident that it will be as consistent with your methods as possible.

Questions relating to the age of your children are vital, as managing children of different ages require different methods. Ask for any pertinent information about infants, such how much they cry, how they can be handled when grumpy, or the difficult toddler years. These questions will help you gauge the level of comfort your nanny can provide you in the care of your children, and you should follow your heart in this matter. Regardless of qualifications, look until you find the right person for you. Your children are your most priceless possessions, and you should only stop looking once you have selected the correct person.

About the author:
Julie Wilson is a parenting expert. She has authored many artilces on the topic. She lives in Norfolk, VA with her husband and three kids.

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