THREE WAYS TO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR NANNY

12 Mar THREE WAYS TO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR NANNY

The nanny/employer relationship can be hard at first. As parents you have entrusted your children with them all day and also opened up your home to them as well. After a while, you may consider your help as part of the family, but this is only possible by putting in some work and having a good relationship with her from the very beginning. Communication and a commitment to work together as a team are keys to maintaining a good and healthy relationship. Here are some other important tips that will help get your nanny relationship off to a great start.

Make expectations clear.

Never make assumptions when it comes to your nanny and the duties you would like her to perform in her role. If you want her to do all house chores or just take care of your kids, tell her from the very beginning. If you add more new duties to her job after that, she may feel like you’re taking advantage of her or that you don’t appreciate her time. Make sure that your expectations are made clear from day one and that she agrees to them. If there are other duties that will come along , communicate clearly to her and be open to discussion so your nanny feels like she is part of the process as well.

Treat your nanny well.

In addition to a good salary package and time off, it’s nice to pamper her at times. Let your help not feel out of place in your family. Buy her a gift or do some shopping for her over the holidays or you can simply give her a couple of unexpected hours off during the week. All of these things show that you appreciate and are happy with her, that you thank her for the time and commitment to your family, and that you want her to be happy and enjoy herself.

Don’t get in the way of her job.

Don’t always get in the way of your help’s routine, this could cause frustration on her end and throw off her work day. For work-at-home parents that have a nanny to care for the children in the home during this time, let the children know that their nanny is in charge as this is particularly important. Children find it hard when there is more than one adult to answer to, and this could create an uncomfortable situation between you and your nanny. Create a system and stick to it so things can go as smoothly as possible.

N.B Parents and nannies can truly be on each other’s team! Creating a work environment that includes respect, fun, and healthy communication will give your nanny peace of mind and the ability to adapt to her new role in your family.