Q. What are the benefits of hiring a Nanny for our child/ren?
A. At Family Friend Nanny we believe the following begins to explain the benefits of having a Nanny.
Physiological evidence has shown that a child who is raised in the safety and security of a personal caregiver (a family member or nanny) is more likely to be less stressed and have more confidence. Dr. Steve Biddulph has written this article “DAY CARE IS BAD FOR BABIES”
Emotional and social needs are a priority. Each child is lovingly cared for in the manner in which the parents see fit. Our Nannies understand their responsibility for the encouragement and esteem building of the child/ren. Each small accomplishment is noticed and brought to the attention of the parent, for example when a child shares, is thoughtful, tries especially hard on a new skill, or demonstrates unselfishness the Nanny will record these events in the Nanny journal thus encouraging friendly and confident behavior. Our Nannies concentrate on the emotional and social well being of the child and they look for opportunities to encourage your child. We also endorse the NANNY 911 rules.
Health and fitness are a great benefit to the children who are spending their afternoons playing outside with their Nanny rather than playing video games. Our Nannies take the children outside several times each day for walks or just playtime with the family pet. Physical fitness is important to our families and we strive to engage the children in physical activities and exercise daily. Nutrition is important to the health of the child and our Nannies are instructed to provide healthy snacks for the children daily.
The children benefit by having their Nanny in tuned with their intellectual development whether it be focus pictures for infants, flash cards for toddlers or homework help for the kindergartner or school aged child. We understand that each child needs to have their mind fed and nurtured just like they do their bodies.
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Q. What do Family Friend Nanny Placement Service families have to say?
A. Please take a look at our Family Friend Nanny Placement Testimonial page to read what others have said about their experience.
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Q. Where and how do we begin with Family Friend Nanny?
A. The first step is to call our agency and arrange a phone consultation with a placement counselor at your convenience. This placement counselor will listen to you and discuss with you the needs of you and your family. We can meet with you in your home and access the needs of each child, schedule and the basic routine of your family.
After we have completed your application, home visit and begun working on the specifics of your NANNY JOB AGREEMENT, we will make our recommendations and set up several initial Nanny interviews for you. The Nanny or Nannies you feel most interested in will be scheduled for a four-hour “working interview.” This working interview is an opportunity for you to get to know this potential Nanny and how she could possible work with your family.
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Q. Our family is opposed to our children watching television is that a problem?
A. That is not a problem. We prefer the children watch little to no television while in the care of their Nanny. As parent you will have the opportunity to decide if and when the child spends time with electronic entertainment.
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Q. Will our Family Friend Nanny care for our children if they are sick?
A. Yes, your Nanny will gently care for sick child/ren and she will be in close phone contact with you throughout the day.
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Q. What happens if our Nanny is sick?
A. If your Nanny is sick we have our Nanny-on-Call service available. We will send a substitute Nanny to your home as quickly as possible. Usually it is within 1 hour depending on the location.
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Q. What can we expect to pay our Nanny per week?
A. The cost whether salary or hourly rate of each Nanny is individually arranged. Our Nannies are regularly paid between $400-800. Per week for a full time Nanny. You can get more information by visiting our Nanny Fee Structure page
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Q. Can Family Friend Nanny work through my employer to have a Nanny available for me if I have a child care emergency?
A. Yes, we do have corporate plans available to employers. You may call us to find out if your company offers our services or visit our Family Friend Nanny Corporate Program page.
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Q. What is the difference between an Au pair, professional Nanny and a baby sitter?
A. There are a variety of terms for people who work in the home. Here are the definitions used by the International Nanny Association to describe various in-home child care jobs.
Babysitter: Provides supervisory, custodial care of children on an irregular full-time or part-time basis. No special training or background expected.
Au Pair (Foreign): Foreign national in the United States for up to a year to experience American life. Lives as part of the host family and receives a small stipend in exchange for babysitting and help with housework. May or may not have previous childcare experience.
Parent / Mother's Helper: Lives in or out and works for a family to provide full-time childcare and domestic help for families in which one parent is home most of the time. May be left in charge of the children for brief periods of time. May or may not have previous childcare experience.
Nanny: Employed by the family on either a live-in or live-out basis to undertake all tasks related to the care of children. Duties are generally restricted to childcare and the domestic tasks related to childcare. May or may not have had any formal training, though often has a good deal of actual experience. Nanny's work week ranges from 40 to 60 hours per week. Usually works unsupervised.
Nursery Nurse: The title is used in Great Britain for a person who has received special training and preparation in caring for young children. When employed by the family, she or he may live in or out of the home. A nursery nurse works independently and is responsible for everything related to the care of the children. Duties are generally restricted to child care and the domestic tasks related to child care. The work-week is usually 50 to 60 hours per week. In addition to specialized training, the nursery nurse will also have successfully passed the national British certification examination of the Council for Awards in Children’s Care and Education (CACHE), which is formerly referred to as a Norland Nanny. In the United States, the term “nurse” is reserved strictly for the medical profession (see below).
Newborn Care Specialist: In the United States, nannies are prohibited from using the title “nursery nurse.” The term “nurse” is reserved strictly for the medical profession. In 2007, INA adopted the title of “newborn care specialist” to describe a nanny who is trained in caring for newborn babies.
Governess: Traditionally an educationally-qualified person employed by families for the full-time or part-time at-home education of school-age children. Functions as a teacher and is not usually concerned with domestic work or the physical care of younger children. Hours of work by arrangement.
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