The hard questions

[Anonymous]

We are interviewing for our 1st nanny.
Does anyone have a list of questions that you would ask a potential nanny? Like scenario questions? How do you handle this/what is your view on this? Etc.
Thanks in advance

[Anonymous]

That's a pretty vague question you have. Can you give us more information about the job?
How many kids? Their ages?
How many hours per week?
Will the nanny have to drive them?
Are their parks/libraries nearby?

[Anonymous]

Good preliminary questions, PP.

[Anonymous]

Sorry.
It is 2 kids. Ages 6 and 4.
6 year old is in full time school and 4 year old goes to school twice a week until 2 pm. So she has 3 full days with 4 year old from 8-5 and then two days just 2-5. Its about 30-35 hours. Yes she will drive them.

I meant like: what would you do if 4 year old had a tantrum? how would you handle it? Questions like that. The questions that truly test if they know children and aren't going to freak when my 4 year old cracks it over something silly.

[Anonymous]

No need to be sorry! It helps with questions though. You don't need to ask questions about bottles and naps, for example, because your kids are older.

Similarly, consequences for a 4 year old are different than say, a 10 year old.

[Anonymous]

This is in a slightly different direction, but I'd ask questions to determine if she really wants these hours or is just going to make do until something full time comes along. So ask what works for her and doesn't work for her with this schedule. If she has another job or will be looking for another job. Would she like to be offered additional hours (say if 6 yo is sick) or not.

With part time work, if you find a good match hours wise, you are in good shape. But you are at high risk finding something who really wants full time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry.
It is 2 kids. Ages 6 and 4.
6 year old is in full time school and 4 year old goes to school twice a week until 2 pm. So she has 3 full days with 4 year old from 8-5 and then two days just 2-5. Its about 30-35 hours. Yes she will drive them.

I meant like: what would you do if 4 year old had a tantrum? how would you handle it? Questions like that. The questions that truly test if they know children and aren't going to freak when my 4 year old cracks it over something silly.

I'd say anyone that really knows children knows that there isn't a cookie cutter response to "how will you handle a tantrum?"
She has no idea what your child's tantrum are like. Does he/she cry? Stomp feet? Kick? Scream? Spit? Swear? Throw himself/herself on the floor? Throw toys? Bite? I'd be a bit dumbstruck if a parent wanted me to tell them how I handle tantrums if I knew nothing about the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry.
It is 2 kids. Ages 6 and 4.
6 year old is in full time school and 4 year old goes to school twice a week until 2 pm. So she has 3 full days with 4 year old from 8-5 and then two days just 2-5. Its about 30-35 hours. Yes she will drive them.

I meant like: what would you do if 4 year old had a tantrum? how would you handle it? Questions like that. The questions that truly test if they know children and aren't going to freak when my 4 year old cracks it over something silly.

What types of activities will you do with my children?
How will you manage homework time with a 4 y/o running around?
How would you manage fighting or bickering between my children?

[Anonymous]

As a PP said, you want someone who knows that every child, family and relationship is different. Rather than ask, "How do you handle a tantrum?" Or "How would you handle it if my 4-year-old throws a tantrum over dinner?" I think a more productive question would be, "What ages have you worked with? How many children my child's age have you dealt with? Give me an example of a time when a 4-year-old in your care did X. How did you respond? Why?"


I have nannied for 4 four-year-olds. For the first, a tantrum meant that she needed to sit with me and do a relaxation exercise until she was calm. For another, she needed to be ignored, but in the same room where her sister and I would continue. For another, he needed to be put in a short (1-minute) timeout, then he needed to sit on my lap and go through what he could have said/ done differently. For the last, she needed to be sent out of the room until she was calm, then she needed to discuss strategies for coping. I could easily tell you why each of these children needed that particular thing. But without knowing your child or building a relationship with him, I couldn't tell you what he would need.

[Anonymous]

I would ask any potential nannies to tell you what a typical day would be like w/the children.

To see how much experience she actually has w/that specific age group, I would ask her what age appropriate things she likes to do w/kids this age.

Also, how does she handle conflict. When if the children get into an argument over something and need her intervention....How would she handle things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry.
It is 2 kids. Ages 6 and 4.
6 year old is in full time school and 4 year old goes to school twice a week until 2 pm. So she has 3 full days with 4 year old from 8-5 and then two days just 2-5. Its about 30-35 hours. Yes she will drive them.

I meant like: what would you do if 4 year old had a tantrum? how would you handle it? Questions like that. The questions that truly test if they know children and aren't going to freak when my 4 year old cracks it over something silly.

I'd say anyone that really knows children knows that there isn't a cookie cutter response to "how will you handle a tantrum?"
She has no idea what your child's tantrum are like. Does he/she cry? Stomp feet? Kick? Scream? Spit? Swear? Throw himself/herself on the floor? Throw toys? Bite? I'd be a bit dumbstruck if a parent wanted me to tell them how I handle tantrums if I knew nothing about the child.

So - Potential employers just want to know how YOU tend to handle tantrums in your past jobs. If the child has a behavior problem or has mental/emotional problems I'm sure the parents will let the potential employee how they'd like her to handle their kid but for the most part, they just want to see how you'd typically handle a normal, child tantrum.

[Anonymous]

I'd be sure to have each parent tell you how they handle the problems.