It’s important to think carefully before choosing a new nanny to look after your kids.
It’s a serious working and long-term commitment that will affect your children’s growth and development in a significant way. This is why it frequently requires more than just a few interviews and careful reference checks. It is crucial to determine whether the applicant you like is actually the best fit for your family. A trial week is one of the best ways to assess your readiness and make a hiring decision.
Why a Trial?
A nanny trial week may sound like a sign nerve-wracking test, but that is not at all what it is. It’s a chance for your kids to get to know the nanny and interact with her in a relaxed, playdate-like setting. A trial is a no-pressure way for you to evaluate both the nanny’s professional abilities and how their personality and values affect how they perform their duties.
What then does a trial nanny week entail?
Following the interviews select the nanny you feel may be a fit and would like to trial. The trial week typically lasts five days, though it can be longer or shorter depending on your preferences. Prior to the trial, you should give the nanny instructions just as you would if they were watching your kids at any other time. For any hours worked, the nanny should be compensated for their time.
Your grade schooler needs to be met at the bus stop at 3 p.m., for example, or your toddler will only drink from the blue cup with two ice cubes, so let the nanny know all the important details so she can do her job effectively. The trial is an opportunity to observe the nanny in action, but it’s also a chance to see if the candidate clicks with your family and seems like a good fit. If they are given no instructions or preparation, it’s possible that they will be so focused on performing the essentials of the job well that you won’t really have a chance to evaluate them much else.
Try your best to mimic your daily routine while the nanny is at work. While keeping an eye on the nanny is crucial, you don’t want to spend the trial micromanaging them. Try not to prevent them from demonstrating their flexibility and interpersonal skills. If you typically work during the day, consider working for a portion of the nanny’s shift. Make sure you do that if you’re a stay-at-home parent and will be working with the nanny so you can experience what it’s really like to collaborate. Give them the resources they need to succeed because, as you should keep in mind, the trial day gives the nanny a chance to see what the job actually entails.
What should you keep an eye out for on a trial?
Utilize the trial is to find the traits that matter to you as a parent the most. Focus on personality and potential rather than task-based perfection. Is this a person who exudes enthusiasm and energy for their work? Do they take action? How do the children react to this individual? Are the kids engaged and kept active by the nanny?
In the end, a nanny is much more than just someone who looks after your kids. A nanny is a valuable component of your daily life and a competent professional. They have the potential to eventually become a significant family member. You should decide which characteristics indicate to you as a parent that a candidate is deserving of those distinctions. After a trial, you ought to be able to tell whether the nanny you’re thinking of hiring can mesh with your family and whether you think they can have a positive and long-lasting place in your home.
Staff writer Thalya Olmos is Elite Nannies Miami Founder and CEO. Mrs. Olmos resides in Miami with her Family, her nine year old daughter Liah, her dog Otis and her husband. Thalya is a passionate community leader and mobilizer. An outspoken advocate with a people-centered approach, she is interested in promoting programs and services that involve the prevention and reduction of disparity among at-risk or underserved populations. Her professional and volunteer experiences include public policy and advocacy activities, community mobilization, capacity building, program evaluation, and non-profit administration and board development. On her spare time she loves to read, watch foreign films and immerse herself in the world of art.
Importance of a trial nanny.
