FACT: Training and education of caregivers is one of the most important factors associated with the quality of the child 
care they provide. This is especially true of caregivers who are not associated with a professional organization like NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
Take a minute to really think about that. It’s pretty amazing that investing a couple of hours a few times each year can have such a powerful effect on how well a nanny does her job. It’s also pretty amazing, in a shameful way, that we as an industry haven’t demanded that basic and ongoing training be a requirement for working as a nanny. We’re the only segment of the greater childcare industry that hasn’t stepped up and set standards for our caregivers.
The ongoing conversation about domestic workers rights keeps bringing me back to the idea that yes, we have rights but we also have responsibilities. We should expect fair and legal treatment from employers but they should expect us to put in the time and effort it takes to be a quality provider. I can almost hear the chorus of “You can’t teach a person to love a child!” out there. And of course that’s true. But we’re not getting paid to love a child. We’re getting paid to provide quality childcare. And yes, there is a difference. Ask any nanny who’s left a job and had to explain to a child that although she won’t be taking care of her anymore, she will love her forever.
So while we’re out there fighting for our rights, let’s start accepting our responsibilities. Agencies, start requiring the nannies you place to have a solid childcare knowledge foundation and start offering and requiring regular ongoing training. Online sites, start educating parents that training is a critical part of the qualifications puzzle and start offering training opportunities. Organizations, both nanny and domestic worker, start offering trainings in formats that support and help your particular members. And please don’t use language, education level, time, or cost as a reason not to do it. In every state across the country caregivers working in other settings, from every ethnic background, with a wide variety of written and verbal skills, who are busy and can’t afford a whole lot, are taking training. If they can do it, we can too. Parents, start hiring nannies that have passed a basic childcare training course and are committed to continuing education. Then invest $100 or $150 a year to pay for it. Nannies, get trained. Attend classes through your local nanny agency, resource and referral agency, community college, favorite online site, conference, whatever. Just do it. We can’t keep proclaiming we’re committed to children or demanding to be viewed as professionals or raging against unfair treatment if we’re not willing to step up and do our part.
Remember training doesn’t have to be at a college level or take months to complete or be really expensive. Two classes on a Saturday morning with a fun and engaging trainer and other caregivers who really understand what’s it’s like to be a nanny can make a big difference.
To support this goal, I’m organizing a National Nanny Training Day. It will be an annual event on the last day (Saturday) of NAEYC’s Week of the Young Child. This year’s that’s April 28th, 2012. My goal is to get businesses, support groups and individuals to come together and plan a training event open to all in-home caregivers in their local communities or regional areas. By working together we’ll increase the visibility of the event, make new connections in our local areas and promote quality nanny care and the important role training plays in the big picture. This ties in perfectly with The Week of the Young Child’s purpose to “focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.” WOYC already draws national media attention so this a great event and organization to hitch our wagon to.
Don’t know about The Week of the Young Child? It’s is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association, with nearly 80,000 members and a network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates.
NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we – as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation – will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.
If you want to be involved with an event, please let me know. The official planning won’t start until after the first of the year but it REALLY helps when I know what cities are in. I’ve created a new facebook group and email list to get us connected.
As always, if you have any questions please email me. I’m excited about this new project and I think it can lead to some great things.
Please help me spread the word by sharing this posts with other that might be interested. Thanks!
Training and education most definitely empowers every professional to continue growing and obtaining knowledge in your field. It sets you apart while so many are vying for a position in this very competitive market. I stick to my mother’s ole adage, “Whatever you do in life, strive to be the best!”
As a teenager, many years ago, I remember being taught a falsehood, that it was okay for babies to sleep on their tummies. Because of those soft spots, they could get flat heads. This was the thought when I went into my first nanny postion. Then the “back to sleep” campaign and studies happened in the 1990s. Even a few years ago when I went to work for some young parents with their newborn child, the grandparents had to be told by mom and dad, “no he’s not supposed to sleep on his stomach. (Grandparents included a doctor and someone with an ECE background at one point.)
Ongoing training is vital, we as caregivers need to keep up with research, development, studies etc. on the development of children in all areas and stages. We are the ones putting in the most time with them, we owe them this if we are going to say we are the best childcare situation the children can be in. Our childcare centers require training and continuing education. It is ridiculous that we don’t expect of our selves to be training, certifications, credentials, etc.
It should be documentable and verifiable, and information that has been approved by places that have been approved by our states. THIS IS EASILY OBTAINABLE. This is something that matters to me on the behalf of children in our country, and so I have gone out time and time again to prove that there should be no excuses about time, expense, etc. There are affordable online programs. Some are even free. There are some communities that offer workshops at no cast for area childcare workers, they don’t mind if you are a nanny instead of working a day care.
A few years ago I paid $49.00 to acquire over 100 clock hours toward a Child Development Associate’s program. Literally half a day’s pay at that time. Yet, it boosted my resume and income potential moving forward. But more importantly it served me in becoming an even better nanny to children.
Education is empowerment. So often I see nannies come on to discussion boards, asking questions that seem kind of common knowledge. Well at least to experienced caregivers, and definitely to those that have taken course work. When one is empowered there is less stress in the work place.
I have learned all types of techniques and strategies through my educational pursuits, I really enjoy my jobs a lot easier than what I used to. And my jobs and volunteer work with children have generally even gotten a lot tougher than what I was used to.
Many professions require training, even fast food workers. And generally we still make more than what they do. So I whole heartedly support National Nanny Training Day. Let me know how I can help.
Great idea! I’m sure ADCAN will be a part of this national event. Kudos Lora for all your work.
This is such a great topic to cover. It is so true that as Professionals we need to keep up with our trainings and education. Please let me know how I can help bring our community together as professional nannies!
Thank you and Many Blessings,
Ashley R. Hayes
I think it is important and I know that every level of nanny can benefit from training, from entry to executive. Glad to have you on board!
Good idea, Lora!
And end of April is at a fairly calm time of the year, too, when holding an event doesn’t conflict with holiday prep or the beginning of a school year, etc.
I’m sure that Boston area will do something…I’d be glad to help out…I know there have been others itching to put on a nanny training here, and I’ll support their efforts however they want me to.
Yeah, Boston is like nanny heaven.
I love the area, you have great agencies and tons of nannies. And there’s you and all the great things you do for nannies in that area. And now Jenn. Thanks for your support!
MAPN is in! We’ll figure something out! The Domestic Workers United in NYC holds a training institute several times a year that does just this. It’s several weeks long–held on weekends–and focuses on Health Standards (proper lifting, avoiding illness etc), Child Development, Basic CPR and First Aid, State and Federal Rights, How to Negotiate Contracts, and other topics. It’s basically like Nanny School. MAPN is part of the MA Coalition for Domestic Workers and the Coalition been thinking about how to do something similar in Boston. I think nannies and other domestic workers need to know their rights (which ones they DO and DON’T have) as well as have some industry-wide expected skills (newborn and infant training, etc). Training and education go a long way to better the industry for EVERYONE.
Jennileen,
I’m so excited Boston’s in. AND that Domestic Workers United in NYC already does this training during the year. I’m going to repost that on Facebook because I think it’s an important part of the domestic workers discussion that hasn’t been talked about. That was the point of the whole thing: that we need to have both sides. Advocating for our rights but also taking responsibility for being trained nannies.
Lora, exactly. If the industry was more regulated in general, we would be accountable for training and certification, that at this point, we are not. Streamlining our rights means being more responsible as an industry about training. Good things all around.
I am please to hear that some of the workers groups are doing the training. Just as I was told by a former charge’s grandmother who is involved in a community college is she is seeing a lot more minority students enrolling in ECE programs. She feels if they do become nannies then they are bringing a lot more to the table too all around. It’s ironic that there are some American nannies that are slow to embrace the training, and that the accountablility is now coming from this direction too. IF one wants to be really competitive in the long run, and demonstrate they care enough about kids to get an education, they are going to be a better nanny candidate for a job.