As children get older and begin school, many families consider letting their Nanny go and hiring an after-school caregiver instead. The problem with doing so is that:
- Fewer experienced caregivers are available for after-school only jobs
- Many of these part-time candidates are in transitional stages of life, which can make long-term consistency difficult
- After-school care alone may not meet your family’s full range of needs
Transitioning your Nanny into a Family Assistant who supports the entire family, not just the children, can be the solution. The duties are heavier on household management, along with driving kids to activities, supervising homework, etc. Not every nanny will be interested or suited, but for many, moving in this direction allows for consistent support and smoother household operations.
Here are some household duties that may be included in a Family Assistant position that are not typically in Nanny positions:
- Organize spaces such as pantries and closets
- Errands like grocery shopping, returns, and dry cleaning
- Food prep including washing, chopping, and measuring
- Scheduling and calendar management
- Contractor, vendor and maintenance management
- Research items such as sports activities, summer camps, restaurants, travel, and more
- Book travel, make restaurant reservations, buy event tickets, etc.
- Make school lunches
- Seasonal projects (decorating, holiday cards, etc.)
- Handle small household tasks like bringing in mail, putting away groceries, or watering plants
Less common skills that some Family Assistants may be willing to do:
- Household dishes
- Family laundry
- Cooking and meal planning
- Sweeping/Swiffering and/or light vacuuming
- Taking out trash
- Making beds
- Dog walk
If this sounds like a transition that might be helpful to you, we encourage you to have an open conversation with your Nanny about their interest and comfort level. It is important that your current Nanny has the soft skills needed for this role, including strong communication and organizational abilities, the capacity to multitask and manage priorities, and comfort with technology for calendars, scheduling apps, or task lists. If all seems manageable on both sides, you can start by adding manageable new tasks where you provide guidance, along with feedback, as the responsibilities expand.
When you both feel certain about moving forward with the new role, it is important to update the Employment Agreement to outline the new responsibilities clearly. Depending on the extent of the duties, you may also need to adjust the compensation slightly to reflect an expanded role. As with before, you will want to keep communication ongoing to ensure that expectations are being met going forward.
Making this transition requires clear communication and mutual respect, but this transition can strengthen your existing family-nanny relationship long-term, as well as provide significant benefits to the entire household. If you need assistance, or would like to hire a Family Assistant or Nanny, please book a call with Jessica or Kimberly.