How to Choose the Right Yaya (Nanny) for Your Child:Traits to Consider
From the archive. This post was first published on the original Green Eggs and Moms blog and is kept here as it was.
Do you choose a yaya based on an immediate need? Or because she seems like a nice lady from her interview? What really goes into your selection process? Do you know how to choose the right one?
Find out what other moms and dads answered after being asked what they consider when choosing a caretaker for their children.
What is a Yaya?
(This section is for readers outside the Philippines.)
A yaya is someone who takes care of children while parents are away or at work. She usually lives with her employer and helps out in other household chores such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, etc., if time permits.
If you are a working parent, your child gets to spend a tremendous amount of time with the caretaker, which is why you should put a premium on finding one with certain traits and characteristics suitable to your preferences. In no particular order, here are:
12 Traits to Consider When Choosing a Yaya
1. Is she patient?
Your child can be handful at times which is why having the patience to calmly deal with their antics is essential for a yaya to have.
2. Is she caring
Showing genuine concern for your child is an important trait to have. Chances are if she sincerely cares about your kid, she will prioritize his or her needs and safety.
3. Does she speak English?
Some parents prefer yayas that are able to converse in English to help improve their kids’ proficiency in the language. However, if you prefer your yaya to speak with your child in the local dialect, you can skip this trait.
4. Is she proactive?
Most busy parents prefer a yaya who can think on her own instead of waiting for instructions every second. Having common sense is an equally important trait for proactiveness.
5. Does she have experience with caring for children that are the same age of as your child?
Depending on whether your child is an infant, toddler, pre-schooler or school-age, the yaya must have experience in taking care of kids with the same age as yours.
Some parents even prefer that a yaya has kids. The premise is that she can already anticipate the needs of a child and more importantly, treat the kid she cares for as her own.
6. Is she able to follow your instructions and rules?
This perhaps is the most important trait of all. Yayas need to able to follow your instructions well even if it goes against their own beliefs in raising children.
The yaya should always implement your rules unless these violate your child’s rights such as starvation, abuse or neglect.
Some parents prefer getting younger yayas over experienced ones because the former are more pliable. But do note that there are experienced yayas who are able to follow your instructions to a T.
7. Does she have a good memory?
Related to the previous point, yayas should be able to remember your instructions. It helps to give them a small notebook where they can jot down their to-do’s in case they fall short on this trait.
8. Does she have a pleasant personality or is she positive?
If you’re a working parent, your child will always be with the company of his or her yaya. Having a yaya who is always happy and smiling can help instill positivity in your child. Who doesn’t want a happy child?
9. Is she trustworthy?
This is very important. You have to be sure that you can trust your yaya well-enough to leave your child alone with her for long periods of time. That she will not hurt or harm your child, steal anything from your home or lie.
10. Is she able to anticipate your child’s needs?
Your yaya has to have a mother’s instinct to properly care for your child. Usually, yayas who either have children or long years of experience in caring for kids possess this trait. It is noteworthy to mention that there are young yayas with no children who also have the knack for anticipating what kids need.
11. Is she clean?
If a yaya is clean and orderly, you can expect your child to be stopped from eating soil, insects and worse, poop (yes, some kids do this). A yaya’s cleanliness is also key to your child’s hygiene.
12. Is she authoritative?
A yaya must be able to enforce your rules instead of giving in to your child. She has to be firm; be able to say no when necessary or get your child to follow what she says.
Conclusion
A yaya spends many hours caring for your child daily. Because of this, selecting the right one suited for your child and household is crucial. Use the list above as a guideline to get the best yaya who will love and care for your precious one.
Want to share your thoughts on how to choose a yaya? I’d love to hear what you have to say so please leave a comment below.
Thank you to all those parents who gave their 2 cents’ worth on the topic.
Photo: Creative CommonsList – from Artois Bibliothèques
Smiley – from laerte
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