Nannies care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation.

  • Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
  • Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.
  • Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact or play with unsafe objects.
  • Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.
  • Perform first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required.
  • Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.
  • Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
  • Observe children's behavior for irregularities, take temperature, transport children to doctor, or administer medications, as directed, to maintain children's health.
  • Regulate children's rest periods and nap schedules.
  • Meet regularly with parents to discuss children's activities and development.
  • Organize and conduct age-appropriate recreational activities, such as games, arts and crafts, sports, walks, and play dates.
  • Transport children to schools, social outings, and medical appointments.
  • Work with parents to develop and implement discipline programs to promote desirable child behavior.
  • Assign appropriate chores and praise targeted behaviors to encourage development of self-control, self-confidence, and responsibility.
  • Supervise and assist with homework.
  • Help develop or monitor family schedule.
  • Keep records of play, meal schedules, and bill payment.
  • Perform housekeeping and cleaning duties related to children's care.
  • Shop for groceries, clothing, and other items needed for children's care.
Work Context
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 79% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 72% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 66% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 69% responded "Every day".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 41% responded "Some freedom".
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 40% responded "Very important results".
  • Frequency of Decision Making — 58% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Provide for basic needs of children.
  • Purchase products or services.
  • Administer first aid.
  • Develop daily schedules for children or families.
  • Discuss child development and behavior with parents or guardians.
  • Prepare foods or meals.
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Knowledge

English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Skills

Social Perceptiveness
  • Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Computer based training software
  • Educational software
Calendar and scheduling software
  • Scheduling software
Internet browser software
  • Web browser software