By Fleur Coe
Embrace this as the new normal for the foreseeable future and beyond. The way people work will be permanently changed and both families and nannies will need to make adjustments and figure this out together. If you’re not currently with your family, talk to them about what they’re doing now and find out what is and isn’t working for the parents AND the kids.
My perspective – a former nanny, now parent, whose spouse has been working from home for the past 2.5 years. The first 8 months of which was in a 700sqft house with zero sound insulation and a 6mo baby boy who had newly found his “voice”. We now live in a larger home (though the sound insulation is still not great), that baby is now a rambunctious almost 3 year old, and we have added a nine month old baby to the family too! For childcare, I’m the primary caregiver during the week, but I usually have occasional sitters come in to help as I also work part-time myself.
What has really helped us:
– Workspace/s as far away from children’s play space as you can – use a white noise machine inside the door to add a bit of coverage for the inevitable loud moments. A lock is a great deterrent too if the parent is taking calls or needs to maintain complete privacy for compliance.
– Nanny and kids getting out of the house as much as possible! Enjoy the sunshine! Go for a walk or take a short drive to the park to kick a ball or just hang out on the grass and blow bubbles. As many of you know, a 2 mile walk with a toddler is a 3 hour adventure! It’s also a great remedy for the stuck-in-the-house-grumpies that my kids (and I!) are very prone to.
– Putting a sign on the office door can make a huge difference for older kids – Check out this awesome example (and its accompanying FAQS) A more basic Red/Green could work well for younger kids.
– Setting expectations with kids and sticking to them – “Mom has a busy day and we will not see her.” “Dad will come down after nap to read you a story” etc. – No popping down for visits unexpectedly. Ideally, the kids don’t even see their parents until their normal home time, especially in the first few weeks as you’re settling back in together.
– Communication between nanny and family – text if you’re heading out on a walk so they know the coast is clear to come down and grab a snack. Let them know when kiddo is down for their nap so they can come for lunch.
– Check in regularly as you all settle into this new routine, especially if you are a new nanny to the family.
I hope this makes the transition a little easier – reach out if you need any additional tips/tricks, I’m here to help!
