b'How Nannies Can Navigate parents Working from HomeCaringforchildrenwhentheirparentsareworkingfromhomecanbechallenging. Many parents are still working from home, though stay-at-homerestrictionsaroundthecountryarestartingtoeaseup.Whenparentsaresuddenly present at home most of the day, the rules of authority, schedules, andmore can become complicated for both children and adults. If youre a nannyworking alongside parents who are now working from home, communication,honesty, and understanding can help you and the family get through thesetryingtimestogether.Here,JenniferHassett,MasterofEducationandowner of A Perfect Fit Nanny Agency, shares tips to help nannies work withat-home parents during the pandemic.Create a communication systemWith COVID-19 news changing our lives frequentlysometimes dailyyou mightfeel as though you dont have control or cannot plan your nanny duties ahead oftime. Frequent and honest communication with your employers can help makethings feel more manageable. To start, schedule quick daily check-ins with youremployerassoonasyouarriveandbeforeyouleave.Thesecheck-inswillensure that the parents workday isnt interrupted unless its an emergency. Theydont need to be more than a few minutes long. If you are sheltering in placewithyourfamily,youcandesignatespecifictimesduringthedaytochat.During morning check-ins, ask parents to share their expectations for the dayand any last-minute changes or requests. Before you leave, talk about how theday went, what you or the kids struggled with, and what you want to improve inthe future. Being an effective communicator is a vital skill as a nanny. Not onlywillthesecheck-inshonethatskill,theyllalsostrengthenyourprofessionalrelationship with your employers. Discuss schedules and activitiesQuick daily check-ins are important, but you should also schedule a longermeeting with the parents as soon as you can, preferably when the children arenapping or asleep so youre not disturbed. In your meeting, discuss everythingthat has been changed or affected by COVID-19: the parents work schedules,childrens activities or playdates, routines, and so on. Askyouremployerabouttheirwork-from-homeschedule.Learnwhentheirworkday begins, when it ends, and when they typically take breaks. Will theyspend breaks with the kids or remain in their office or workspace? For example,maybe theyll spend short breaks catching up on emails, but theyll spend theirlunch hour eating with their kids. When you know their preferences, you canprepare the children accordingly.If the children are homeschooling or taking summer classes, learn about theirschoolschedules,assignedwork,andvideomeetingswiththeirteacherorclassmates. Check to see whether they need help turning in their homeworkassignments online. If the children are not currently in school, make sure you touch base on theirschedules and which activities are appropriate. This is especially important iftheir usual summer activities are postponed or canceled because of COVID-19.Maybe the parents have set up virtual playdates with friends. Or they may beallowed to play in the backyard and go on walks around the neighborhood, butthe parents would still prefer to avoid public spaces. NannyMag.com15'