How To Become A Nanny – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 4

Posted on May 26, 2022May 26, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi everyone!

Today I’m excited to release Episode #4 in my new series, “From Babysitter to Nanny”. In this series, I will walk you through a tutorial I’ve built for how to get started as a nanny.

Is this series for you? If you are looking to get into the nanny world and either a) don’t have any childcare experience or b) are currently working as a sitter, part-time camp counselor, or daycare worker, this series has you covered!

In Episode #1, I covered my eight steps to becoming a babysitter which is a great place to start gaining experience. I discussed training through babysitter classes to how to find babysitting gigs all the way through setting up a digital business card and online payments to make it easier for parents to pay you for babysitting. To watch that episode, click the image below:

In Episode #2, I summarized what parents are looking for from a sitter. To watch that episode, click the image below:

In Episode #3, I discussed my top tips that you should consider as you transition to working as a nanny. To watch that episode, click the image below:

In today’s video, “How To Become A Nanny – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 4”, I go over the final steps to take before you start looking for your first nanny job. Once you’ve taken these steps, you’re ready to start looking for nanny positions!

I discuss:

– Make sure you have enough experience

– Have your resume and references ready to go (make sure your resume is in PDF format)

– Run a background check….on yourself!

– Standard pay rates (and benefits) in your area

– Usual vs. unusual job duties

– Your “care” philosophy

Pro Tip #1: A resume that highlights your childcare experience and strength is SO important these days. Don’t have a resume yet? I’ve got you covered with a tutorial on how to write an amazing resume. Watch that video here.

Pro Tip #2: Very few nannies run a background check on themselves (which they can show to future parent employers). Set yourself apart from other nannies you might be competing against by running a background check on yourself! To check out our background check system, click here.

Click Here To Watch Episode #4

Continue reading “How To Become A Nanny – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 4” →

10 Tips to Find A Summertime Nanny

Posted on May 19, 2022May 20, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi everyone!

Summertime will be here before we know it and I’m already seeing both nannies and families start to schedule child care for the summer.

For many families, finding summertime child care can be a STRUGGLE because there is so much competition for available nannies. Check out my top 10 tips for how to find a summertime nanny!

Click Here To Watch The Video

In today’s video, “Top 10 Tips to Find A Summertime Nanny”, I discuss my top suggestions to find a summertime nanny to ensure you and your family aren’t left scrambling as summer kicks off!

I go over:

– When to start your search

– Decide how much you can afford

– Consider working with a college student

– Why a nanny share might be the best solution

…. and six other great tips that will help you find that dream summertime nanny!

The MOST important tip that I can share with you is to start your search now (late April/early May) if you plan to hire a nanny in June.

Continue reading “10 Tips to Find A Summertime Nanny” →

Before You Become A Nanny…My Top Nine Tips! – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 3

Posted on May 19, 2022May 22, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to Episode #3 in my new series, “From Babysitter to Nanny”. In this series, I will walk you through a tutorial I’ve built for how to get started as a nanny.

In Episode #2, I summarized what parents are looking for from a sitter. To watch that episode, click the image below.

In today’s video, “Before You Become A Nanny…My Top Nine Tips! – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 3”, I go over my top tips that you should consider as you transition to working as a nanny.

Click Here To Watch Episode #3

I discuss:

– Why letters of recommendation are important

– What to include on your resume

– Why you may want to take on a “mother’s helper” role first

– Ideas and resources for additional childcare training

Pro Tip: A resume that highlights your childcare experience and strength is SO important these days. Don’t have a resume yet? I’ve got you covered with a tutorial on how to write an amazing resume. Find that by clicking here.

To check out the training offered by the International Nanny Association, click here. For more info on what the U.S. Nanny Association has to offer, click here.

Continue reading “Before You Become A Nanny…My Top Nine Tips! – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 3” →

Ten Things Parents Want In A Babysitter – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 2

Posted on April 27, 2022May 19, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to my video series, “From Babysitter to Nanny”. Recently, I have been hearing from so many people who are looking to break into the nanny world. In this series, I will walk you through a tutorial I’ve built for how to get started as a nanny.

Click Here To Watch Episode #2

In Episode #2, “Ten Things Parents Want In A Babysitter – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 2”, we continue the tutorial with my top ten suggestions for what parents are looking for from a sitter. I cover…

– First Aid/CPR certification

– Meal prep experience

– Activity bins

– Communication with families

….and many other tips that will give you an advantage as you begin to offer your sitter services. Click here to watch the episode.

Pro Tip: Send a brief text message a few hours after your sitting gig ends to let the parents know that you appreciate their business and enjoyed your time with their kids. This is a surefire way to get hired by that family again!

Continue reading “Ten Things Parents Want In A Babysitter – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 2” →

How To Become A Babysitter – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 1

Posted on April 19, 2022May 19, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi everyone!

In the last couple of months, we have noticed a huge uptick in the number of people deciding to enter the nanny world. Many of these people are looking to switch careers and do something more rewarding than their current job. Some are daycare employees or camp counselors who are looking to earn a higher hourly rate.

But how to get started? I’ve got you covered with my latest series, “From Babysitter to Nanny”! In this series, I will walk you through a tutorial I’ve built for how to get started as a nanny.

First, if you don’t have any childcare experience (or maybe just light experience watching a family member’s child or working part-time at a camp), you will need to get some experience under your belt. I recommend starting out with babysitting as you can gather experience and begin to better explore and understand the sitter/nanny childcare world.

Let’s get started with “How To Become A Babysitter – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 1“. I got my start in the childcare world by becoming a babysitter at 12 years old. I fumbled around for a few months trying to figure out how best to gain experience and find parents to hire me. It was a struggle!

Click Here To Watch Episode #1

In today’s video, I cover my eight steps to becoming a babysitter. I discuss training through babysitter classes on how to find babysitting gigs all the way through setting up a digital business card and online payments to make it easier for parents to pay you for babysitting (I wish I had these tips when I was first getting started!)

Pro Tip: Start with pre-school-aged and older children. Most kids these ages are potty-trained (yeah for no diapers!) and can communicate. These age groups are easier to start with.

Continue reading “How To Become A Babysitter – From Babysitter to Nanny Series – Ep. 1” →

Watch This Before Filing Your Taxes! Nanny Tax Breaks (2021 and 2022)

Posted on April 12, 2022April 13, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi everyone!

With the federal tax filing deadline just a few days away, don’t miss out on these money-saving tax breaks if you worked with a nanny in 2021 or are currently with a nanny in 2022!

In today’s video, “Watch This Before Filing Your Taxes! Nanny Tax Breaks (2021 and 2022)”, I sit down with Tom Breedlove, Senior Director of Homepay to discuss how your family can save money on your 2021 taxes and what changes might affect you for the 2022 tax year.

We discuss:

– Child Tax Credit

– Child Care Tax Credit

– Build Back Better Act

– Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

– Who qualifies for these tax breaks

Did you know you can get a tax break if your kids attend summer camp (i.e. sports, Lego, Minecraft camps)? I didn’t and this video helped my family save money on our 2021 taxes!

I learned about several new tax breaks while producing this video and hope that you do too.

If you would like to talk to the HomePay team or sign up for their highly rated payroll services, click here. Sign up today and your first month is FREE!

Nannies – the HomePay team can answer any questions that you have as well.

Click Here To Watch!

Continue reading “Watch This Before Filing Your Taxes! Nanny Tax Breaks (2021 and 2022)” →

How To Part Ways With Your Nanny (My Eight Tips) – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.15

Posted on April 5, 2022April 5, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

There may come a time when you have to part ways with your nanny. It may be because your kids are heading to daycare, the contract with your nanny is almost over, or things are just not working out for your family, your nanny, or maybe for both of you!

Parting ways with your nanny can be difficult for everyone. Many nannies and parents experience feelings of anger, frustration, confusion, and disappointment during the process. The kids can sometimes feel that it was their fault.

In my latest video, “How To Part Ways With Your Nanny (My Eight Tips) – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.15”, I discuss how to part ways with your nanny (or with your family if you are a nanny) in a way to prevent some of these negative feelings I mentioned above.

New to our “Working With A Nanny From A-Z” videos? In this series, I am going to walk you through the entire process of working with a nanny. From deciding if nanny care is right for your family all the way through how to find, interview, hire and work with a nanny. Basically, everything you need to know from A-Z about the nanny world!

If you missed any of the first fourteen episodes, click the images below to check those out:

In today’s video, I go over my eight top tips for how to end the relationship, tie up loose ends, and (hopefully) maintain some sort of relationship with your nanny moving forward. Most importantly, never hold back payment from your nanny due to a conflict. It can quickly lead to legal action and paying some seriously large fees to attorneys!

Click Here To Watch!

Continue reading “How To Part Ways With Your Nanny (My Eight Tips) – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.15” →

Annual Review Tutorial for Nannies

Posted on March 29, 2022March 29, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi nannies! Are you concerned that you aren’t being paid appropriately? Worried that your family isn’t following legal labor standards (i.e. paying overtime)? Are more and more job duties being piled on you by the parents?

If so, it’s time for an Annual Review!

Today, I am excited to release my latest video which I call my “Annual Review Tutorial for Nannies“.

In this video, I cover why an annual review is important, how to request a review (if your nanny family hasn’t), how to provide and receive feedback, how to discuss job duty “creep” and how to ask for a raise.

Don’t forget that an annual review is important no matter how you are being paid (over the table vs. under the table in cash).

I used these tips when I was a nanny and found that the annual review process became much less scary and created a stronger bond between the parents and myself. I hope you find these tips useful as well!

Click Here To Watch!

Continue reading “Annual Review Tutorial for Nannies” →

The Annual Review (My Top Seven Tips) – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.14

Posted on March 22, 2022March 22, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Parents – are you sitting down with your nanny on an annual or quarterly basis to compare notes on how the relationship is going?

If not, make sure that you do! One of the keys to a strong, long-lasting relationship with your nanny is communication – what’s working, what’s not working, and what does the future look like for both your family AND your nanny.

I’m back with Episode #14 in our series, “Working With A Nanny From A-Z”. In today’s episode, I discuss why annual reviews are important and how best to approach them!

If you missed any of the first thirteen episodes, click the images below to check those out:

In today’s video, “The Annual Review (My Top Seven Tips) – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.14” I discuss my top tips for how to conduct an annual review so that both you and your nanny walk away feeling clear and positive about the status of your relationship. Click here to watch the episode.

Don’t forget to pay your nanny for the time it takes to conduct the annual review!

Continue reading “The Annual Review (My Top Seven Tips) – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.14” →

The First Week: 10 Conversations You Need To Have – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.12

Posted on March 8, 2022March 8, 2022 by Laura Scoccolo

Hi everyone. Happy almost spring!

It’s Laura back with Episode #12 in our series, “Working With A Nanny From A-Z”. In today’s episode, I discuss ten conversations you should have with your newly hired nanny during the first week of working with your family!

Why have these conversations the first week? Because, if these topics aren’t covered early in the working relationship, they can get weird and awkward.

A good example is “saliva sharing”….are you okay with your nanny sharing a spoon or fork with your child? Or kissing your child? Most parents are not and it can feel a bit awkward to bring it up. That’s why you should discuss it before it gets weird!

If you missed any of the first eleven episodes, click the images below to check those out:

In today’s episode, “The First Week: 10 Conversations You Need To Have – Working With A Nanny From A-Z”, I discuss topics that you should cover with your nanny during their first week on the job such as:

Food in your home. What can the nanny eat or not eat?

Cell phone use. What’s okay and not okay?

Meal and rest breaks. How will your nanny handle taking breaks during the day?

Inclement weather policy. What happens if there is a snowstorm or flooding?

Continue reading “The First Week: 10 Conversations You Need To Have – Working With A Nanny From A-Z Series – Ep.12” →