The start of the school year is just around the corner for most families in Seattle (parents rejoice!). In my house we have been busy checking to see what clothes and shoes still fit and what sizes we need, and getting ready to rotate summer clothes out and fall/winter clothing in.
We have a big shift this year with one kiddo heading off to a new school, and riding the school bus instead of walking. (This is also the first year his hair style matters and he wanted to choose his own clothes for school, and there have been multiple requests for a cell phone…and I don’t suppose these will be disappearing in the foreseeable future!) For us, this means a lot of schedule changes and coordinating with family and care providers.
A lot of parents rely on before and after school help with their children and will be working with a new nanny this school year. (If you are one of the many families still looking for help, please check out these tips on our Before and After School Care Map).
Perhaps you already have a nanny, but the start of the school year means your child care needs have changed. Whether you will be working with a new nanny for the upcoming school year, or you already have nanny care in place, it’s important to take the following things into consideration to ensure a smooth working relationship for everyone involved.
#1: Plan together with your nanny about schedule changes
Most families know well in advance if there will be changes in their child care needs. If your family will require more or fewer hours of care, discuss this with your nanny as soon as you know.
For some families, needing fewer child care hours doesn’t necessarily mean your beloved nanny will have to search for another position. Perhaps you can transition his or her role into more of a household management role if they are interested in that. This could mean they help with light housework, groceries, errands, home organization, laundry, dog walking, and/or meal prep and planning. Whatever changes are made in scheduling or household duties should be agreed upon and put in the contract. Keep in mind that when a nanny takes on household management duties that her rate should be increased accordingly.
#2: Plan that vacation!
Many families with school-aged children take vacations and trips during school breaks. This is a great time to discuss any upcoming vacations the family may have around during these times. Will you need more child care during winter break, mid-winter break or spring break? Is your nanny available to help out more during these weeks?
Is your family planning to be gone on vacation during any of those weeks? (If you are a nanny looking to pick up more hours during those times, becoming a Verified Nanny is a great way to fill your schedule!) What about those random days that there is no school? Keep in mind if you only need your nanny for after school care on a routine basis, she might not be available to jump in and help on the days care is needed for the full day.
#3: Have a sick policy in place
It’s a good idea to discuss sick days for both the nanny and the child(ren) they are caring for. Assuming she is feeling okay, perhaps you and your nanny are comfortable with her coming to work with a runny nose. But if she is also coughing and sneezing, or has a fever, it may be best for her to stay home.
Is your nanny comfortable caring for a child who is sick with the flu? Make sure to discuss and agree upon your and your nanny’s sick policy.
#4: Let it snow…or NOT!
It’s hard to think about when we are still savoring the warm weather of summer, but in several short months we will be dealing with cold, icy weather. Talk with your nanny about how to handle snow days. Will you follow the Seattle Public School schedule for delays and closures? Is your nanny comfortable driving in snowy conditions?
Safety should come first and foremost. Every time there is a snow day I hear about nannies who feel pressured to drive in conditions they are not comfortable with. Discuss and agree on how inclement weather days are handled.
Sometimes during snow days where school is canceled, parents still need to go in to work but care providers who may be coming from farther away can’t make it in. Last year we introduced a SNOW DAY CARE map, which helps to link up available care providers in your area who are offering back up care and are willing to walk to nearby locations. Make sure to keep this in mind if we get more of the white stuff this year!
#5: After School Activities
When you discuss changing routines on account of the school year, make sure to consider some of the following questions: Does your child need to be picked up from school with a snack in order to go directly to t-ball practice after school? What are the early release and no school days? What routine should be followed after school if there is homework? Is hosting another child for an impromptu play date okay? Would you like your nanny to make the child’s school lunch for the next day?
The school year usually means new activities are starting. It’s nice to provide your nanny with detailed information for each activity, including contact information. This way she can let the person running the program know if they are going to be late at all, or if they won’t be in attendance due to an illness. Digital copies are handy since most of us carry around a smartphone.
Speaking of all of this scheduling…
One way to make sure your nanny stays updated with any changes to the monthly or weekly family schedule with activities is to have a shared calendar. Maybe your family already does this and you can grant your nanny access to it. Printing out a weekly or monthly calendar can also be helpful. This could be something with all the activities already on it, or just a template where you can jot things down. Perhaps you email a copy to her every Sunday night.
I used to text my nanny any changes to the schedule the evening before or the morning of. (When texting with your nanny, please make sure you’re both in agreement for the hours that texting is okay, emergency situations aside).
Click this link for a great tutorial on how to set up a shared Google Calendar
#6: Be prepared for emergencies
Emergency situations happen, and the best way to navigate them is to be as prepared as possible. When you’re working with a nanny, it’s important that you have her emergency contact information and she has yours. This should include the phone number of several neighbors or friends in the area and the contact information for your nearest relatives.
It’s also a good idea for your nanny to carry a medical release or authorization to treat form (that has been signed by a parent) and current photo of each child, as well as a copy of your health insurance card. You should also include any allergy information in this paperwork. In the event urgent care is needed, this will allow your child to access care as quickly as possible.
Attaching emergency contact information to each child’s car seat is also a smart move. If the unthinkable happens and there is an accident, this will save time and allow emergency responders to get in touch with parents right away. This could be a label or a Ziplock bag with the information inside that is attached to each car seat.
#7: Back to School
I don’t know about you, but at the beginning of each school year I have a small stack of paperwork I’m required to fill out. The school usually asks you to list the people who have permission to pick up your child from school. If your child is sick and the nanny is picking him up from school, the nanny will need to be listed as an authorized person. Make sure to update this information for any new care providers working with your family.
The start of a new school year is a time with many moving parts and new routines for families. It’s easy to get busy and overlook little details than can make a big difference when they come up (and they will!). Most of these things can be discussed or taken care of in just a few minutes.
Feel free to print this blog post out and use it as a checklist to make sure things run smoothly in your household this fall!