There’s an increasing demand for nannies who can work with children 10-16 years of age. Why is this happening? Two reasons:
- Family dynamics. As families grow and change and step-siblings or half-brothers and sisters become more common, childcare changes too. Families have more children of different ages. Parents have more diverse responsibilities and may not be able to offer the kind of after school and weekend care that they would wish.
- Homeschooling. Paradoxically, as home education grows, so does the need for nannies for older children. This is because it’s a tremendous responsibility to undertake the broad education older children require. It often requires help in planning and delivering the experiences that children need. Also, homeschooling parents welcome a chance to be ‘just parents’ not ‘educators’. A nanny can give them that space to change roles.
How to Find a Nanny for your Older Children
A nanny for children aged 10-16 is likely to have very different skills and experience. For example the former NNEB qualification has less relevance when dealing with teenagers and direct hands-on skills at managing teenagers might be more valid. The focus shifts too, nanny will become much more a social secretary, chauffeur and homework monitor. From crepe paper laser mazes to being safe online. Our experienced nannies for older children bring relevant and effective skills!
This means that an agency nanny is probably going to have more evidence of the right skills and techniques to engage with older children. Word of mouth recommendation is much less likely to deliver what you need. Because the interactions between nanny and the older child won’t be happening in ‘child spaces’ like playdates and organised events where they can be observed by others.
Tips to Choosing the Right Professional Nanny
When looking for a nanny for your teenager, remember that as your children become more independent. They will require different things from a nanny. She/he is more of a friend and confidante to the child. But must be able to assert her authority without being undermined by you.
- Older children can be difficult to win over, so give a new nanny time. Teenagers in particular need to test every aspect of the nanny relationship and this can look. At first, as if the relationship isn’t working but it’s a normal adolescent response to a new authority figure so allow the time necessary for them to develop confidence in the new nanny.
- Don’t expect nanny to be the homework expert! While many experienced nannies of older children have a surprisingly wide grasp of curriculum issues, they aren’t a tutor and should’d be expected to act as one.
- The direct imposition of authority rarely works with older children the way it does with younger ones. Look for a nanny who has a range of strategies for working with older children. In addition older children can feel resentful that parents aren’t present or under pressure at school or socially. In these circumstances a nanny can be a valuable safety valve, but don’t expect to see the simple affection that younger children offer. Your older child is going to have a much more complex and nuanced relationship with nanny.
- A nanny with good hobbies and outside interests is more likely to fill the ‘school hours’ effectively. This means that she comes to the afternoon refreshed and energized and with something to talk to the older child about. In fact, professional nannies are instrumental in helping older children develop outside interests and skills that boost their self-esteem.