Every year university students use their long summer break to earn a bit of extra cash to support them through their studies. Often young women, although some young men too, who like children see spending a summer as a nanny as the perfect solution. Students can be a great alaternative if you’re considering a summer au pair, but there pros and cons to weigh up.
Pros:
- Lots of free time before and after the school holidays means they don’t mind working full days for 6 weeks.
- Plenty of enthusiasm and energy. Being out and about with children is a refreshing change to sitting in a lecture theatre or a library.
- High level of education. Going to university means they have at least A-levels or equivalent and one or more years of higher education behind them. This means they’re literate, numerate and may be studying something relevant to childcare or that your children find interesting such as music or drama.
- Cost-effective. A student will probably cost you less than an experienced nanny (but there are reasons for this – see cons).
- Flexible on location. Many students are prepared to work in either their home town or where their university is, and some will travel across the country for a live in position.
- English Mother Tongue, so no need to factor in language lessons or anticipate difficulties communicating with your children.
Cons:
- May lack experience, and with experience comes wisdom. A nanny with no previous experience of childcare may suddenly discover that they hate doing it, and may not know how to handle children day to day.
- Expensive to insure on the car may mean trips out are limited to walking, bike rides or public transport.
- May need guidance/hand holding. If they’re not too sure what to do they may prefer to seek guidance than risk getting something wrong (as would any young or inexperienced nanny). You may also need to provide a list of appropriate activities for them to suggest.
- Different expectations. A student may not know what the full role of a nanny is, and if you’re expecting them to fill that role you may be in for a bumpy ride. Good communication should sort this out, as will modifying your expectations to match their experience.