You’re no doubt already aware of the many benefits of hiring a nanny as a childcare solution,
including the consistency and flexibility of care, which can be precisely tailored to your needs as
family.
But a nanny is so much more than someone who is just there after school until you get home from work. These professionals also have a key role to play in building a child’s confidence and self- esteem – at a time when, according to the Children’s Commissioner for England, more than 500 kids a day in England are being referred to mental health services for anxiety, more than double the pre-pandemic rate.
Here’s how a nanny could help:
- Consistency of routines: Children like and benefit from a structured routine, so if you create a predictable environment with set times for feeding, sleeping and playing, you’ll engender feelings of stability and security which are vital to confidence and wellbeing in your little ones. And a nanny can be key to building a regime like this. Your kids are also with the same carer all the time, helping establish bonds of trust.
- Emotional support: A nanny will provide comfort if things are feeling a little tough and allow the child to express themselves. They will listen actively and offer an empathetic response. And because the child will grow to know their nanny well, they will feel very comfortable opening up to them about their feelings and emotions.
- Encouraging independence: Nannies can help kids learn to do things for themselves, enabling them to become more independent and promoting self-confidence. At the same time, nannies run challenging yet age-appropriate activities and encourage exploration when their charges are in their care, so children can feel proud of what they have achieved. And, rather than giving children an answer right away if they’re pondering a question or problem, a nanny will encourage children to think something through and arrive at an answer or solution themselves, again encouraging resilience.
- Social interaction: Your child doesn’t have to be alone with the nanny all the time. These carers can organise social activities such as playdates which help kids build their social skills and confidence in dealing with others.
- Benefits of multilingual nannies: If you hire a French-speaking nanny, you can definitely grow a child’s confidence in this language. After all, they’ll be immersed in it every day. And if your child is a native speaker rather than a learner, and French is your family’s first language and perhaps you’ve just moved to the UK, being able to speak it with the nanny can be hugely comforting for the kids.
