You love working with children but aren’t convinced that classroom teaching is for you. Well, don’t shut the door on a degree in education just yet. There’s another option to consider. Become a nanny!
Nannying offers all of the personal reward of teaching and then some. Teachers must divide their attention among a crowded classroom. Nannies get to work one-on-one with children and watch their growth. This allows for a special and intense bond between nanny and child.
More families than ever are employing nannies, perhaps because they appreciate the value of the close emotional connection. And the public is beginning to recognize nannying as a profession and not just as babysitting.
“This is a great job for people who love children,” says Anne Guerin, owner of Mother’s Aides, a nanny placement service in the Washington, D.C., area. “And it is finally being recognized as a professional position.”
As this shift in thought occurs, competition for nanny jobs is increasing. Although a four-year degree is not required to be a nanny, it will put you ahead of the pack.
“College is wonderful,” says Guerin. “It gives you an edge in getting jobs and a higher salary.”
You’ll also need at least one year of experience working with kids. This could be babysitting, camp counseling or working in a daycare. It also helps to have first aid and CPR certifications.
Nannies earn anywhere from $15,000 to more than $50,000 annually, depending on their experiences and educations. That’s not shabby, considering that live-in nannies also receive free room and board. Plus, most nannies get health insurance, paid vacations and holidays and annual pay increases. Other perks can include a car during and after work hours, a cell phone and gym membership.
“Being a nanny also offers job security because families will always have the need for quality childcare,” says Debbie Sugrue, director of
Nannies Plus, a New Jersey nanny placement service.
It is possible to find nanny jobs on your own, through word of mouth or help-wanted ads. It may be easier and wiser to go through a placement service, though. Not only do these companies find jobs for you, they also check out the family for your safety, help you negotiate pay and benefits and act as a mediator between you and the family. They will also do a background, criminal and DMV check of you to ease the family’s mind.
Just what does a nanny do all day? The primary focus is, of course, the children. This may include making their meals, driving them to school and other activities, doing their laundry, cleaning their rooms, playing with them and helping with homework.
No two days are the same for Kris Brokaw, 24, who has been a nanny for five years. Her current job is to care for Josh, 4, and Emma, 2. This typically involves working from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
After making and serving breakfast, Brokaw takes Josh to school and spends the day with Emma at the park or on a play date. In the afternoon, she picks up Josh and drives him to after-school activities. The evening ends after she makes dinner for the children and the children’s parents return home from work.
Brokaw earns nearly $30,000 a year, gets two weeks of paid vacation, holidays off and use of a cell phone and car. She expects her salary to increase substantially when she receives her four-year degree in education in a couple of years.
Brokaw loves her job for many reasons. It allows her to attend college while earning more money than do many of her peers who already have degrees. She gets to work in a new environment every few years. This is Brokaw’s third job, which is typical in a profession in which each assignment usually lasts just two to five years. There’s very little Brokaw dislikes about her job. “I can make a difference in a child’s life!” she says. Well, maybe just one drawback: “The worst part of my job is potty training.”
Call the National Association of Nannies at 800-344-6266 to find a nanny placement service near you!
