What exactly is the job of a Sky Nanny?

What is considered "experience" when looking for a job as a nanny?

• I have never had a proper job working in a daycare center. However, I have taken Early Childhood classes (I will have my certificate in Early Childhood Education by the time I am ready to start looking for a nanny position), and I volunteered in my high school daycare center for 4 years. I also might be volunteering at a homeless shelter working with young children within the next couple of months. But does any of that count as "experience" when parents say that they want their nanny to have (for example...) at least 2 years experience working with children? I also have a couple of strong references who have seen me work with children that I can give to the family. So basically my question is this--- what exactly qualifies as "experience" when looking for a job as a nanny? Thanks!

• Answer:

  When parents ask for child care experience, it ranges all over the board from babysitting to daycare experience, to nanny experience, to caring for their own children, being a foster parent, volunteering in a church group, working as a camp counselor or a coach. It really depends on what the individual family thinks is good experience. I own a nanny placement agency and am the moderator of the Ann Arbor Nannies group on Yahoo. Your certification in Early Childhood Education is great! That is a plus that is above what another candidate might not have. It also depends on how much the family wants to pay their nanny. If they want lots of experience, they know they have to pay more. If they want to pay bare minimum, they are willing to accept less. I know that I usually look for someone who has been in a supervised child care position. They have worked in a daycare, have worked as a coach or in a day camp. But I also look for someone that has had previous nanny experience. If they were successful and stayed with the family. If they gush about the kids that they took care of, if they are enthusiastic about the jobs that they have had. A nanny has to love kids and it shows when they talk about them in the interview. I am not sure if all that is clear, and it probably doesn't say half of what I want it to say. I hope it helps you define yourself a little more. Sandy