Yummy Mummy Sandy M.. from Milton, Ontario asks:
I would like to hire a nanny and have some specific requirements such as no language barriers, a good education and someone who would be able to help my son with homework who also knows how to cook and plan meals. Is this possible and how would I go about doing it?
Dear Sandy,
Yes, you can find this type of nanny in Canada.
It is more likely that this nanny is going to be live-out rather than live-in. But, there are many nannies that come from overseas that are looking for live-in work that are highly educated and have excellent English skills. Give yourself a few months to find the right person for your family and use every resource available to you to find this nanny (friends, family, church groups, online services, agencies, university job boards etc).
Make sure that you are very clear in your description and interviewing on want you are looking for with your nanny. Have the nanny do a few trial days (paid) to ensure she is the right fit for your family. Because of the qualifications and experience that you are wanting, you can expect to pay a higher wage; the higher the level of education, the higher the wage. You may find an ECE or an education student that would be interested in this type of position, but as with anything, the more specialized education will cost more.
Meal prep, cooking, and homework are appropriate duties to expect from the nanny - some nannies may even be looking for this type of daily challenge. Be warned the type of nanny that you are looking for are usually unwilling to do heavy housekeeping as it takes their attention away from the child(ren). You should also set up a regular time to plan meals with the nanny, especially in the beginning, to ensure she is capturing your goals in food planning.
As far as homework goes, make sure that you set up some rules and keep in constant communication in regards to homework. This will be important in ensuring the homework is done, and done correctly. All in all,
open communication and flexibility is the key to making the relationship work well between your family and your nanny.
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