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There are many reasons why families seek help from nannies. Helping with child care at home: Because of full-time work activity, because they need help at home, because of travel, for health reasons or because they have to be absent in the evening.
“Children are a very big responsibility and it means completely different care schedules depending on how much time the parents have and the age of the child.”, emphasizes clinical psychologist Carolina Peñafiel Torres. “A babysitter can fill in the gaps when parents are unable to take care of their children due to work and relieve their burden,” emphasizes psychology professor at the Catholic University of Santiago in Guayaquil.
To this end, the respondents believe that we should talk about Quality of time, not quantity. Parents, no matter how late and tired they come home, must invest in the quality time that a babysitter is not responsible for providing.
What role does a nanny play in a family?
“We have to make it clear that she can have a role, but the responsibility (of parenting) lies 100 percent with the parents. We can’t put the burden entirely on someone outside of the family system,” Peñafil clarified the nanny’s role in the family.
The expert said the role of a nanny is understood to be tasks that must be performed under detailed supervision and include:
- Provide differentiated activities based on the age and needs of the core children of the family. “Children from a few months to one or two years old are easier to handle because they do not need entertainment, although it is ideal that they can be stimulated from a very young age so that they develop their skills,” explains Penafiel. You should avoid distracting your child with screens. You must give him 100% of your attention as long as he stays awake, the report states.
- Diet also varies according to age. “A babysitter may be responsible for raising and feeding a toddler, but the responsibility for directing what to eat, what portion size to eat, and how often to eat is the responsibility of the parents.”
- Cleaning. Many times, this action is usually, and even should be, the responsibility of the parents, as it is considered a moment of sharing and bonding with their children. “Children build confidence in the bath, because it is a space where we can calm down and play with them, talk to them and tell them things. If this is something that the parents cannot do, the nanny can take over, but it is the parents’ responsibility to control how and with what accessories these actions are performed,” says the psychologist.
- A babysitter can help out at certain times during medical appointments, such as with the pediatrician, social gatherings, etc. All of these are the explicit responsibility of the parents, Peñafil stressed.
- For older children, it can accompany them while they do their homework. Again, the responsibility for monitoring whether the behavior is correct falls on the parents.
Psychologist Peñafil believes that these behaviors are the most important, although more behaviors may be mentioned under joint work and supervision.
How to find the right nanny for your family
The ideal approach is to first determine the needs of the family and why they need the services of a nanny. Generally speaking, many parents look for recommendations from acquaintances and other relatives when looking for a nanny; others turn to nanny agencies, a service that seems to be growing in Ecuador.
“Although hiring a nanny is sometimes urgent, we can not leave out an in-depth interview and references from previous jobs. In this way we can support what kind of person will come into the house and share it with the children,” says psychologist Carolina Peñafiel.
He added that, if possible, given the important task of caring for children, it would be ideal to assess the psychological and psychopathological aspects of the candidate to understand whether we are handing that care to someone who is mentally healthy.
“Another important aspect is not to hire someone under false pretenses, telling them in the interview that they will do something, but in reality we give them countless more things to do. This creates a sense of discomfort, so the most important job, which is caring for children, is neglected or even viewed in a bad way,” the expert emphasizes.
Hiring a nanny through an agency
One service that is emerging in Ecuador is the nanny agency. One example is the company Nannys Home, which has operations in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca and has 17 years of experience. This service is aimed at families of middle and high socioeconomic levels, especially foreigners as well as Ecuadorians. Their nanny They work full-time or part-time, depending on the requirements of families with children under 6 years old.
Its legal representative, Andrea Puedmag, elaborates on the candidate selection process, which reflects the series of steps that need to be followed to guarantee the best talent for such a job. It all starts with reviewing resumes, where experience and background are highlighted. Everything must be verifiable, including your references. “Their resumes must be impeccable because they take care of children, which is important for us because we are mothers too,” details Puedmag, a clinical psychologist specializing in children’s issues. Human Resources Department.
Once the first screening is passed, the agency will interview and evaluate the interested party and conduct psychological tests, including knowledge tests. If necessary, even graphological studies can be applied. “See if the writing fits her personality and all the information we have to connect the dots.” Pudmager said it is crucial to ensure the emotional state of a future nanny, so these assessments are very important.
Through the company, applicants can get training on different topics, including early stimulation, speech therapy, first aid and nutrition. “All nannies must undergo training, it is an obligation and policy of the nanny house,” Puedmag stressed of her candidates, who start at the age of 22.
Respondents noted that understanding the profession of the job is crucial when choosing a nanny, and one way to notice this is to look at their sweetness and patient treatment, and of course their affinity with children. These are all good signs of choosing a good nanny.
Characteristics of a Bad Babysitter
When interviewing potential nannies, psychologist Andrea Puedmag pays special attention to the candidate’s behavior and treatment style. If you notice something out of the blue, or bragging about your experience, or not being able to verify what you claim in your resume, then this person is probably not suitable for the job. “We always recommend that families review (the applicant’s information) carefully, investigate everything they can, and if they can get advice from the person, even better,” Puedmag emphasizes.
Once you have chosen a babysitter, watch out for sudden behaviors in the child, such as mood changes, sudden fears, phobias, enuresis (urinary incontinence), coprophagia (involuntary bowel movements), nail biting, etc. Caolina Peñafiel says these are warning signs of possible abuse, either from the babysitter or someone else who has had contact with the minor. Another sign, he says, is that the child avoids becoming attached to the babysitter and cries every time he is alone with the babysitter.
Sudden weight loss or excessive weight gain and difficulty eating are also cause for concern. “It could be that he is not being fed correctly or that he is not comfortable when eating. This part is very important. Children often have difficulties when introducing food; it takes a lot of dedication and patience to consolidate correctly.”
Furthermore, we should not focus only on the obvious negative aspects. “It must be taken into account that overprotection or overcomplacency are also inappropriate aspects, as they can make children willful, angry, selfish and gratuitous. They are used to getting what they want when they want it, and many times, in order to avoid problems, the nanny may become complacent, which must be avoided by the parents.” (F)
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