What does a Nanny do?
A Nanny provides complete professional child care services on both a short-term and long-term basis. Nannies care for both the social and physical well-being of the child. They often perform duties such as cooking and cleaning. As opposed to other child care services, Nannies are an integral part of a child’s upbringing as they spend such a significant amount of time caring for them in their early years of development. Nannies provide services throughout the entire day and typically focus their attention on working for one family at a time. Some Nannies, especially those that move from overseas to care for children, live and work in the family’s home. Depending on the household, a Nanny sometimes also cares for family pets.
Nanny skills and qualifications
While there are no predetermined set of qualifications, successful Nannies have a blend of communication and interpersonal skills. They are understanding and willing to take good care of children. Additional attributes include empathy, patience, and reliability. Top skills for Nannies include:
- Organizational skills to plan the children’s daily schedule
- Problem-solving skills
- Passion for working with children
- Cleaning and housekeeping skills
- Ability to work under minimal supervision
- Ability to communicate and connect with children
- Cooking skills
- Understanding of nutrition guides and healthy diets for children of all ages
Nanny experience requirements
In depth-experience managing a child’s health, wellbeing, and providing early education is a requirement for all Nannies. Previous experience in professional childcare services is helpful, including babysitting or a position at a daycare centre is valuable. Candidates with extensive experience caring for siblings or other family members should still be considered if they possess other skills and the desire to learn.
Nanny education and training requirements
Nannies need a high school diploma, GED, or higher academic certification. Some have a degree in education, child development, psychology, or a related field. Health and safety training like First Aid and CPR are valuable and an asset for any job that involves working with young people. Look for Nannies who are bi- or multilingual to teach a second language to the children in care.
Nanny salary expectations
According to Indeed salaries, the average salary for a Nanny in Canada is $36,416 per year. Specific salaries depend on factors such as the range of duties and responsibilities, the number of children in care, experience, reputation, location, and other factors.
Job description samples for similar positions
If a Nanny is not what you are quite looking for, other relevant job description samples include: