The trend of hiring a nanny to look after the child/children during the absence of their parents is not new to the world. It is one of the common activities in the current scenario when both the parents are working they are compelled to their child/children in the supervision of a nanny. Understanding their requirements today there are lots of nanny agencies that provide the service of nannies for hire to the parents willing to hire a nanny for their family.
Hiring a nanny offers them relaxation from the tension of their child’s care and provide them peace of mind that their child is secured in safe hands. Yet there is one question which troubles to most of the parents, especially if they are hiring a nanny for the first time. Such parents normally get confused between the terms nanny and a governess. However, both of them are appointed to look after the children, still, there is a huge difference in their duties and responsibilities. Where a nanny is responsible to take care of a child in a safe and encouraging environment. A governess is appointed to look after the child above the age of 5 years to help them in studies.
Well, after understanding the basic difference between a nanny and a governess, let us understand the types of duties performed by them.
Duties performed by a nanny: As a general practice, a nanny is appointed to take care of a child after four to six months of his birth. They are responsible for performing all types of nursery duties. Some of the common duties that are expected to perform by all the nannies are mentioned below.
1. Looking after the regular needs of the baby including feeding time, changing diapers, dressing them, bath, etc.
2. Cleaning the area used by the child.
3. Washing clothes.
4. Sterilising the milk bottles used for feeding the child.
5. Playing with an infant and ensure that he is enjoying the games.
6. Developing the habits of going to the toilet.
7. Making meals for the child according to his age.
8. Going out with a child and getting him involved other children of his age group.
9. Planning appointments for meeting with the doctor, for playdates, etc.
Apart from these above-mentioned duties, a nanny will perform all those duties that you expect from her and on mutually agreed terms and conditions. As the age of a child grows the responsibilities and duties of a nanny changes depending upon the requirements of the parents.
Duties performed by a governess: The main duty of a governess is to make the child learn different things whether it is study, eating, meeting with others, etc, and therefore they are mainly hired for the children who are above 5 years of age. However, there are lots of parents who hire the services of a governess even when their child is just three years old. Similarly, there are lots of parents who hire the services of both the nanny and a governess to look after their child. Where the nanny is responsible for his safety and doing different work related to him, a governess helps him in learning social etiquettes.
The major duties performed by a governess are mentioned below:
1. Make sure that follows his routine working accordingly after coming from school.
2. Ensure that he learns etiquette and manners of meeting with other children and adults.
3. Determine a fixed schedule for the child including his time of the study, playing, taking rest, participating in social activities, etc, accordingly.
4. Stay in touch with parents about a child’s progress.
5. Stay in touch with his teachers (in school and the one coming to home for tuition).
6. Making the child ready for exams and various activities performed in school.
7. Developing good habits in a child.
From the above-mentioned duties of both the nanny and a governess, it is clear that there is a huge difference in their duties. Where a nanny is responsible for taking care of the child and his safety a governess is responsible for developing his personality.