Everything You Need To Know About Getting a Summer Nanny.
Don’t do this summer alone! Here is everything you need to know about summer nannies.
The summer months are upon us and while it’s undoubtedly a time to relax, soak in the sun, and build memories, it can be a bit stressful without help. That’s where summer nannies come in! Summer nannies only work for the summer season, around three or so months. These nannies tend to be college students coming home for summer break looking for work and ready to take on job opportunities.
If you’re scrambling trying to figure out what you will do this summer for childcare, here is everything you need to know about getting a summer nanny.
Summer Nanny Versus Babysitter
First things first, assess your schedule and be realistic about your childcare needs. Having a clear idea of the days and times you need coverage will help you to know whether you should hire a nanny or babysitter.
Babysitter
Do you need one-off care every once in a while? Then you may want to go the babysitter route. Babysitters tend to be a more casual on-call form of childcare, only coming when you need them. This usually involves you reaching out a few days before needing them and seeing if your babysitter is available to help. This may seem simple enough, but the downside is that a babysitter won’t always be available when you need them to be since there is no set schedule in place. They likely have other families they’re working for as well. This system works well for some families, but for others, they may need a more reliable and stable form of childcare.
Nanny
Nannies prioritize working with one family and provide a level of reliable childcare that compliments many families' lifestyles. Nannies can be full-time or part-time depending on your family’s needs (although many summer nannies tend to take on a full-time role and work the hours children would typically be at school.) These full-time roles involve a set weekly schedule and guaranteed hours, meaning they get paid a certain amount of hours a week whether they work or not. To learn more about guaranteed hours and why you should offer them, read our blog post **link to guaranteed hours blog**.
When to Start Your Search
Timing your summer nanny search right is key to having childcare lined up before your children even get out of school. Starting your search too soon or too late can leave you lost, wondering, “Where are all the nannies?” In either case, with fewer candidates to choose from, you’ll risk working around the remaining nannies’ schedules, aka, not finding your ideal summer candidate that matches all your needs. Depending on when school lets out, the best time to search is April and May. June is too late, and many nannies have already found their summer positions.
Clear Job Description
A clear job description is vital for finding the best fit for your family. To avoid leaving any room for confusion, here are some details to include in your summer nanny job description.
The Basics:
Schedule (days and hours you need childcare)
Pay rate (hourly and overtime)
Live-in or live-out
Family description and number of children
Experience necessary
Education Level
Special skills (languages, special needs experience, etc.)
Exact Start and End Dates
Firstly, make sure to be clear that this is a temporary position to avoid wasting time during the search and interview process.
It can feel odd putting an end date on a job from the start, but that’s just the name of the game when it comes to summer nanny positions. Exact start dates are more common than flexible ones because many families need care immediately after the school year ends. End dates are especially important for summer nannies to know so they can ensure their schedules align with your family’s. Even being a week or two off can lead to a stressful end to the summer. You don’t want to get to the end of summer and be left without childcare!
Vacations
Does your family plan to take a summer vacation? Would you like a nanny you can bring along for some extra help, or is this simply a family trip? This is important to note in your job description, as only some nannies are able and willing to travel. Another aspect to consider is that regardless of if you take your nanny along or not, you’ll likely be paying them their **link guaranteed hours** anyways. Do you have to pay them? It’s standard that you do, but if you decide not to, that’s something to bring up at the beginning of the hiring process. You’ll also be paying the nanny’s total travel expenses. If you decide you would like the extra help and want to take a nanny along for the ride, this is something to make a non-negotiable in your job description. For tips on traveling with your summer nanny, check out our blog **Tips on traveling with your Nanny**.
Transportation
In summer, adventure awaits! But not if you don’t have a way to go out and find it! It’s important to note that if you are comfortable with your nanny taking your children on summer adventures, they will need transportation. Do you have an extra vehicle to provide your nanny with as needed, or do you require your nanny to have their own? This is a common deal breaker when it comes to family and nanny compatibility.
If you need help finding your perfect summer nanny, check out Your Nanny Now.
Summer Calendar and Schedule
Just because the school year is over doesn’t mean schedules go out the window. Sometimes, summer can be more jam-packed with activities and events due to the newfound freedom of endless summer days. It’s a good idea to have a family calendar visible to all so both nanny and parents can stay organized with summer sports/activities, playdates, events, and outings. You know the saying, ‘If you don’t put it on the calendar, it’ll never happen?’ That statement rings true time and time again for families who don’t prioritize organization and schedule communication with their nanny. Be ahead of the game!
Discuss Acceptable Summer Activities
Being on the same page with your nanny when it comes to summer activities is a must. With a lot of free time comes great responsibility to use it wisely. That means getting children outside and not just spending time in front of screens all day. What activities are you comfortable with a nanny doing with your children? What is your nanny comfortable with? Be mindful that you and your summer nanny will need to be in alignment with expectations for appropriate activities. Could they go to the pool, on a nature hike, explore museums, community fairs, or attend events? The list goes on! Let’s say you’re an open book, and all activities are free to be explored, but your nanny isn’t comfortable doing some of the activities. The secret is balance and communication. As long as you and your nanny can come to an agreement and know what each other expects the summer to look like, it’ll be smooth sailing.
Taxes
Yes, you will still need to take taxes into account, even though this isn’t a long-term position. Consider working with North Sound Nannies Agency to walk you through the steps of legally and effectively hiring a nanny.
Here's to a lively summer! If you do happen to find the perfect summer nanny, consider staying in touch– you may have childcare needs for many summers to come. For help with your summer nanny search, check out Your Nanny Now is a course designed by an agency owner who helps families find ways to shorten, streamline and simplify their nanny search. This course will give you everything you need to hire a nanny quickly, correctly, and effectively.