Here at London Governess, we believe in giving you the accurate and up to date information you require to make informed choices about your childcare options. Whilst the final decision is rightfully yours to make, we believe that hiring a native English speaking nanny is one of the best choices you can make.
Throughout this article, we’re going to explore exactly why we believe that point, and we’re going to introduce you to the world of the nanny in general. By the end, you should be left in no doubt which option is best for you and your child/children, and from there, we look forward to hearing from you in order to make bespoke arrangements for your family.
What is a Nanny?
Before we get onto language and specifics, we need to understand exactly what a nanny does.
The role of a nanny is varied and covers several different elements. A nanny’s primary responsibilities fall within the remits of ensuring the overall development of a child, including physically, emotionally, socially, and educationally. To a nanny, the well-being of the child is the most important aspect, and by choosing the right nanny, your child will feel trusting and free in his/her care.
A nanny is responsible for ensuring the overall wellbeing of your child, and a structure to every day should be maintained. Activities and play which are age appropriate will make up a large part of the day, as well as general areas, such as feeding, perhaps bathing, etc.
If the child is of school age, a nanny will support their educational needs and will create useful and stimulating games and activities which link in with whatever subject the child is learning about at school, at that current time.
Of course, a nanny is also responsible for the general tasks which a child requires to be carried out throughout a day, including cooking meals, helping to feed the child if they require it, perhaps making up bottles if the child is a baby, changing nappies, ensuring the child has a bath time routine, putting them to bed if necessary, school drop-offs and pickups, accompanying the child to social events such as birthday parties and school extracurricular activities, general tidying and perhaps laundry too.
The comprehensive and accurate list of duties a nanny is expected to carry out will completely depend upon the number of children in his/her care, their ages, and the requirements of the parents.
What Are The Benefits of Choosing a Native English Speaking Nanny?
The benefits fall into two main categories; firstly, if your child speaks another language as their first language, and if your child is also a native English speaker. In both situations, having a native English speaking nanny is beneficial.
If your child’s first language isn’t English, helping them to learn how to speak English effectively and correctly could be paramount to their future success. English is the second most commonly spoken language on the planet, and being able to speak English fluently could open a lot of doors for your child in the future career. If your child decides to go into business, the ability to be able to discuss business deals with English speaking clients could be the difference between them obtaining a high flying job, and missing out to someone who can speak English.
Hiring an English speaking nanny means that your child is surrounded by English, and this is one of the best ways to learn. Your child may be learning English in school as their second language, but school lessons rarely concentrate on conversation and practice. Your child’s school will teach them English in terms of vocabulary and grammar, but your native English speaking nanny can help them to practice, put them right on words they may not be pronouncing correctly, and be on hand to basically immerse them in the language. Children learn far better when they are surrounded by a topic, and a native English speaking nanny in the home will also help them to learn about the culture in England, something which may come in very handy in the future.
Having any foreign native around your child is a positive thing, in the first circumstances. Children learn to be more tolerant, openminded and learn about the world first hand, and this is something which education simply doesn’t teach.
On the other hand, if your child is already an English speaker, and perhaps you live in a different country, having a native English speaker in the home will help them to maintain their roots to their home country, ensure they keep up their level of fluency in English, and help them to settle into a different setting and country, with a certain amount of familiarity around them every single day.
To sum up, the benefits of hiring a native English speaking nanny are:
- Your child will pick up conversational English far quicker
- A native English speaking nanny can help your child to practice their English, away from the classroom
- Improves natural fluency and confidence
- Teaches your child about people from other countries and different customs and cultures, teaching them to be more tolerant and open minded
- Being fluent in English as a whole may be extremely beneficial for your child in their future career, and if they choose to travel
- Many employers look for fluency in English as a job requirement
- For native English speaking children living in another country, having a native English speaking nanny can be a reassuring presence and a link to their home country
- For children who have just moved to another country, having a native English speaking nanny around can be a reassuring addition to the household
What to Look For in Your Ideal Nanny
Of course, there are countless nannies out there who are native English speakers, so how can you make sure that you’re choosing the right professional for your family? It doesn’t always come down to qualifications and experience, although those should certainly be the first things you look for; the final decision between a group of nannies often comes down to a personality trait, or a way you feel they would easily fit into your family set up.
Here at London Governess, we can help match you up to your ideal native English speaking nanny, but of course, you have the final say. The things you should look for in terms of the ideal professional for your household are:
- Qualifications – Always look for the most up to date and comprehensive qualifications in the childcare/nanny niche
- Experience – Look for a good amount of experience working with similar sized families to yours, and if possible, experience of having worked with non-English speaking children
- What educational elements can they offer? – Is your nanny knowledgeable about the curriculum in your country and how can he/she supplement it with activities and games in the home?
- Trustworthiness – When you meet the nanny for the first time you’re likely to get a feel, your initiation telling you whether or not you trust this person? Whilst you do have to look at qualifications and what is written on paper, you should also listen to your gut too. It is vital that you trust your prospective nanny, otherwise the whole arrangement is simply not going to work
- Personality – A nanny needs to be bubbly, fun, and he/she needs to be someone who you know your child is going to click with. It’s no good choosing a nanny who doesn’t know how to laugh or have fun! We’re dealing with children here, and from time to time, despite the development and education side of life, we need to cut loose and have some fun!
- Travel experience – Has your nanny travelled with a family in the past? Have they lived away from home before? These are important things to think about in terms of whether he or she will settle into life in another country well, or whether there may be teething problems.
Looking past the obvious and a little deeper into the situation will allow you to make the right choice for all concerned, and from there you can look forward to a mutually beneficial working relationship with a native English speaking nanny who your child feels safe with, can have fun with, and can thrive and grow with.
Final Thoughts
A native English speaking nanny is basically an investment in your child’s future. By being fluent in the world’s second most spoken language, your child will have an edge as they leave education and venture out into the world of employment.
Anyone who is bilingual has the edge over someone who is only able to fluently speak one language, and even if your child is already a native English speaker, having a similar native in the household will allow them to keep their English language level at fluent, whilst freeing them up to learn a second language, in the country you’re currently residing.
