Nannies are trained workers who care for and attend to children's needs as well as perform various chores in the homes of the families that employ them. They prepare the children's meals, do grocery shopping for the children, accompany children during meal times and sometimes need to clean up after their meals.
When caring for an infant, the nanny ensures that bottles are properly washed and sterilized, changes the infant's diapers (nappies) and sometimes also washes it's clothes. Nannies need to ensure that the child's clothing is packed away tidily. Once the child is old enough, the nanny teaches them to organize their possessions.
The nanny baths and dresses the child / children and teaches them proper grooming skills, such as how to brush their teeth regularly. A nanny is not only responsible for training the child / children but also acts as their guardian. The nanny plays games and plans educational activities, and ensures that the child / children grow up with respectable ways and manners.
The nanny may also plan birthday parties, vacations and field trips. Most of the time, the nanny will accompany the employers on vacation. Nannies need to be detail-orientated, since they act on behalf of the parents and need to teach the child / children how to behave in public. Parents must have the assurance that their child / children are in good hands.
Satisfying Aspects
- being able to raise children and teach them the basic life skills
- seeing various places
- many nannies make lifelong friends with the families they work for
Demanding aspects
- working long hours
- frustration when children are difficult or disobedient
Requirements
- love children, able to give of yourself
- patient, kind, tactful, responsible
- friendly, helpful, natural and sincere
- get along with various types of people
- ability to adapt to various environments
- love the idea of making a real difference in someone else's life
Training
A certificate in Educare is offered at the following Colleges for FET: False Bay, Flavius Mareka, Northlink, SW Gauteng
Some areas covered in the courses include:
- Day Care Administration
- Child Health
- Career Orientation
- Educare Theory
- Educare Practical
In-service training is also possible, under the supervision of the child's parents
Employer
- private families
- employment agencies specializing in au pairs / nannies
Contact
Any of the above-mentioned Colleges for FET or specialist employment agency