I liked the personal interaction with each family - I would go to the home of the family, meet the parents/guardians, and then be with the children for as long as I was needed. I have been able to provide assistance and stability to many different families, and was often asked back to households.
Another aspect of my job that I enjoyed was that I worked with several children with special needs. I had experience prior to this job with special needs children, but having worked with several more families with different needs allowed me to expand my views on family life, grow with children at different paces, and provide specialized care at a higher level than if I had working exclusively with "normal" children.
What I wish was different
The nannies/babysitters are paid roughly four dollars less than the tutors per hour, and I had originally been told I would be paid more than I currently am. If I had not enjoyed my work as much as I do, I would have looked for employment elsewhere.
Advice
If you are a nanny or a sitter, make sure that you are in communication with the parents before you work with them. They are entrusting the most important aspect of their lives to you, and it is your job to make them comfortable and trusting with you.
With children, make sure that you have structure. Play with them in the ways that they can - a five year old plays differently than a 11 year old - and understand their limits. Especially near bedtime, make sure that you are able to stick to the bedtime routine so that the children have less to adapt to, and therefore less to stay up processing.
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Babysitting
September 2017 • Chicago, IL
What I liked
I love how the hours are really flexible and i enjoy spending time with different children.
What I wish was different
I wish it was consistent, I'd like to work everyday same hrs, which is between 6-8hrs or 7-9hrs.
