Would you as a parent consider my Childcare experience enough to be a nanny?

Question

I have worked in the tv industry for 5 years and recently decided hat i should follow my heart and work with kids, i have applied for a couple of classroom assistant positions but im also looking to put an ad in the local shop as an available full time live out nanny. I have for the past three years worked at a summer camp in America (very prestigious camp looking after a lot of celebritys children) teaching musical theatre and living in a cabin with 12 eleven year old girls for 8 weeks taking care of their every need and dealing with situations like bed wetting, bullying, homesickness etc. I dont have any college qualifications related to childcare ( i do have an unrelated degree) but would you as a parent consider me as a candidate? I just want to now some thoughts before i write the ad? Thank you

I was working with celebriies children because heir parents choose to send them to my place of work as we are selectively chosen not only because of our skills in ou work areas (mine being musical theatre) we are also employed after an extensive interview process. I had previous experience at another camp and had glowing references from both my employers and some of the childrens parents.

I live in the UK and am 25. Before University 7 years ago i looked after a family regularly that had 4 year old twins and a 9 month old baby. So im not coming into this blind, i am aware its about the rapor with the children and i wouldnt expect someone to employ just from the ad, i would expect to be interviewed thoroughly.

Answer 1

Sounds fine to me. The only problem I can see (and it is minor) is that in the UK you can't claim working families tax credit unless the person caring for your children while you are at work is government childcare registered. I am sure it would be possible to find a family to work as an au pair for to begin with (you don't need any childcare qualifications for this) which means you do some childcare but not all and attend college a few hours during the week - you could do your childcare qualification then. You don't get paid as such but you get free board, food, use of car and pocket money for going out. Personally I think it's more about you getting on with the parents as people - you can be excellent on paper but if you have personality clashes it's never going to work. I'd rather have someone I got on with looking after my kids who had great references than someone with loads of childcare qualifications who I didn't feel great around.

Answer 2

hi, although you may not have any childcare qualifications you've got experience of working and caring for children which is fantastic. I'm not a mum but if i was i would certainly employ you.

Although i am a full time live out nanny and i've been doing my job for 7 years on and off, i say on and off as like you i don't have certain qualifications in childcare but i've got 12 years experience of looking and working with children from newborn to 12 year old.

Like you i had a change of heart in work, im a qualified travel agent and although it's a fantastic job nothing in the world is better than being a nanny.

I'm a self-employed private nanny, and i say private as i sign a contract with the people i work for and with for confidentiality for the children.

Good luck
xx

Answer 3

It is possible, but then again you always had more adults around you to help you. You were working at a camp. You were never alone to cook, clean, change diapers, etc. Plus, if you're a nanny it's best to be certified in First Aid. I was and it gave the parents reassurance that I could fix a scraped knee, or do the Heimlich if they possibly choked.

However, you are of age and you do have experience with children. It's really just up to the parents.

Answer 4

Honestly, it's not just the experience that I look for. I would want a nanny that can be responsible for my kid, but also that would love them and care for them like I would. If you are led to work with children and have some experience (which you do), then as a parent of a 1 & 3 year old, I would def. be interested in talking to you...Good luck!!

Answer 5

Quite frankly I think qualifications in childcare are ridiculous. What would be important to me would be experience, other people's recommendations, and whether or not my children like you. I would never take on anybody until my children had met them, no matter how great they are on paper. In my opinion a childcare professional should be like a mother, and you can't learn that in the classroom. Personal recommendations from other parents would also come very high on the list.

Answer 6

If you have no qualifications, how did you get a job looking after celebrities children?

If your experience is genuine, I guess someone would employ you, but I wouldn't personally. I would want someone with much more experience and great references from doing the same job elsewhere. Kids are to important to take second best.

Answer 7

I would consider you as a candidate. One thing that would make me more apt to hire you would be if you were CPR/First Aid certified. You may want to think up some activities that you would do with the children while you were nannying, as well. Perhaps crafts, learning, physical activities, and jot them down or have samples of them to go with your resume. Just a thought . . .

Answer 8

You don't sound bad on paper ( or computer screen! )
the main thing I would look for as a mother is recommendations, qualifications, references that glow and of course I would have to like you as a person, to leave you in charge of my children.

Hope this helps!

Answer 9

For me, it would depend on the age of my children.
From your experience, working with older children wouldn't be a problem, but I have a 5yr old and a 2yr old and probably wouldn't be happy with you watching them.
I'm assuming you live in the UK??? Select Education would be a great place to start. Please email me for details.

Good luck
xxx

Answer 10

well are you CPR , first aide, certified, have you taken any child care courses? what is your philosophy about discipline? a full time nanny is a jump , maybe you should start with something part time to gain more experience