How long have you been caring for children?
I have been working in childcare for 16 years. In those years I have worked as a babysitter, camp counselor, au pair, daycare employee at a gym, church nursery and a nanny.
What age groups have you cared for?
I have experience with newborns to 14 years old. The most experience I have is with newborns to 8 years old.
What is your favorite age to care for? Why?
0-2 years old is one of my favorite ages! They’re starting to experience and pick up on so many things that you’ve been teaching them and they start to express their personalities even more!
What is the most difficult situation you have encountered while nannying and how did you handle it?
While in a nanny share one child began biting myself and the other child. I tried a few things; separating the child for alone play time, focusing on outdoor activities, redirection, etc.
Have you ever had a child care emergency?
No, I have not. Although I am fully prepared for any emergency I pride myself on being safety focused with children.
Are you looking to stay long-term with a family?
I prefer to stay with a family for at least 1-2 years and am open to staying longer.
How flexible is your schedule? Would you be available if we occasionally need you to arrive early or stay late?
My schedule is the family’s schedule and is always discussed and agreed upon beforehand. While I am flexible any change in schedule must be discussed with as much notice as possible.
Are you willing to do light housework/take care of pets/[insert other task]? Does your salary requirement increase if so?
Yes and Yes! I always do light meal prep and laundry for the child however if additional duties are required (laundry for family, pet care,etc.) the rate will have to be discussed and agreed upon..
Are you open to caring for more children if we have play dates or family visiting?
Yes but additional pay must be discussed and agreed to beforehand.
What do you like best about being a nanny?Getting to shape and teach a child, being able to see them grow into their personalities and be the best person they can be!
Do you prefer more or less structure in your day? What do you think works best for children?
Routine is great for children but I prefer a loosely structured day. While we follow a basic schedule it can change slightly depending on the season, days and what activities and events are happening!
What do you think are the qualities needed to be a good nanny?
A good nanny is Punctual. To me being on time is being late. I like to be in an area 15 minutes prior to scheduled time.
Patient. This is very important when the toddler years begin!
Kind. I think kindness is an important trait in every aspect of life but especially when working with children.
Proactive. I always take the lead and plan day to day activities.
What are your favourite activities with children?
I love arts and craft activities! I also enjoy being outside so depending on the weather my favorite thing to do is to take the children outside and to the park and try to create a creative lesson from our outdoor adventures!
If there was one skill/lesson you could teach our child, what would it be?
Baby Sign Language! It’s very important for helping children communicate before they can form words! With older children I love to teach them basic sewing skills!
Nanny Danni 