The New Balance of Power.

There are plenty of very well-trai­ned educa­tors and pedago­gues, but if the essen­tial and important emotio­nal aspects and values do not complete the over­all picture, it will not be suffi­ci­ent for child­care within a private house­hold. Because here, nothing can be acted, preten­ded, or simu­la­ted – that cannot be sustained. Here, authen­ti­city is the key.

Empa­thy. The special ability and willing­ness to put ones­elf equally in the posi­tion of child­ren and parents. To perceive rele­vant needs before they are expres­sed. To elimi­nate problems before they arise. To receive moods early, like an antenna. To see the world through the eyes of the other. This is an important quality of a good nanny.

Emotio­nal stabi­lity descri­bes another essen­tial charac­te­ristic: the ability to remain calm in stressful situa­tions. To radiate secu­rity when much around you expres­ses the oppo­site. Because child­ren regu­late them­sel­ves through the stabi­lity of their attach­ment figure. And that is often the nanny. Just as dogs sense emoti­ons, a child’s inner state orients itself to the body language of the nanny. When she convin­cin­gly signals – ever­y­thing is fine – it trans­fers to the child.

Pati­ence is equally an important charac­ter trait of a nanny. Every deve­lo­p­ment takes its time. Repe­ti­ti­ons, defi­ant phases, inse­cu­ri­ties – all of this requi­res inner compo­sure. It will work out. Pati­ence proves that things can emerge, can deve­lop, that fail­ure is the path to crea­tion. Pati­ence gives the child the important secu­rity that it may reach a goal at its own pace.

The neces­sary sensi­ti­vity. Reading between the lines. Reading body language. Sens­ing moods. Knowing when to step back. When to appear. When to let go and when to step in. The wonderful ability to observe 360º without being noti­ced. To have ever­y­thing in view. Sensi­ti­vity is irreplaceable.

The nanny’s ability to bond. To allow closen­ess without crossing boun­da­ries. This is a charac­te­ristic that is extre­mely important in a private house­hold. To build a relia­ble rela­ti­onship – profes­sio­nal and warm at the same time. Within the neces­sary distance, to build, foster, and main­tain a credi­ble, trus­ting closeness.

The ability for essen­tial self-reflec­tion. To fully reco­gnize, evaluate, and regu­late one’s own emoti­ons. To have ones­elf under control. Not to allow ones­elf to be provo­ked. Not to react out of one’s own ego. To conti­nuously reflect on one’s thin­king and actions. And to discuss them repea­tedly in coaching. To always ques­tion one’s own actions respon­si­bly. To always protect the trust that has been placed in you.

The resi­li­ence of a nanny. This means being able to deal profes­sio­nally with tran­si­ti­ons, fare­wells, chan­ges, and trans­for­ma­tion. Not allo­wing ones­elf to be emotio­nally influen­ced by these aspects. Remai­ning exem­plary and stable in chan­ging envi­ron­ments. On the one hand, being the rock in the surf, and at the same time, as orien­ta­tion, the light of the light­house. Resi­li­ence does not mean having to suppress, but being able to master.

After the emotio­nal compon­ents of a nanny’s super­powers come the values. A nanny should have inter­na­li­zed a solid compo­si­tion of certain values from home.

Trust. Discre­tion, loyalty, and inte­grity form the foun­da­tion upon which ever­y­thing is built. This applies to all enga­ge­ments of a nanny, but espe­ci­ally to the High-Profile Nanny and the VIP Nanny. Because here, not only forces act from the inside out, but also from the outside in. This must be parti­cu­larly shiel­ded and protected.

Respect. On the one hand, towards the child as an inde­pen­dent perso­na­lity. And on the other hand, towards the family’s educa­tio­nal philo­so­phy. Always acting in harm­ony with and in aware­ness of the family. This neces­sary respect is parti­cu­larly valuable because it radia­tes calming secu­rity in all directions.

A compre­hen­sive sense of respon­si­bi­lity. Actively shaping the complex deve­lo­p­ment of a child indi­vi­du­ally accor­ding to incli­na­ti­ons, talents, abili­ties, and inte­rests is a great task. Offe­ring the child many opti­ons and oppor­tu­ni­ties in order to disco­ver possi­ble strengths as playfully as possi­ble. And this in all areas – from art and music to sport and educa­tion, culture and history, science and society. From the big picture to the smal­lest detail.

A strong under­stan­ding of relia­bi­lity. Consis­tency is essen­tial for child­ren. Punc­tua­lity. Keeping one’s word. Provi­ding struc­ture. Main­tai­ning rules and order. It is of great advan­tage when a nanny lives all of this hers­elf. When one lives what one expects from the child. This form of emotio­nal conti­nuity and consis­tency is the best orien­ta­tion for a child.

Making healthy appre­cia­tion visi­ble. Always spre­a­ding a posi­tive atti­tude. Streng­thening child­ren. Support­ing the child as an inde­pen­dent indi­vi­dual. Encou­ra­ging their inten­ti­ons and aspi­ra­ti­ons. Convey­ing to the child the credi­ble feeling that it holds a very important role within the family struc­ture. Trus­ting them with some­thing. Entrus­ting them. Sharing with them.

Clarity in action. Convey­ing loving consis­tency. Provi­ding orien­ta­tion. Setting boun­da­ries. Rules should be clear, under­stan­da­ble, contem­po­rary, and meaningful. The nanny must ensure clarity. She must make sure that, for exam­ple, beha­vior and rules are unders­tood. Commu­ni­ca­tion must be child-appro­priate. The clea­rer the rules of toge­ther­ness are, the more secu­rely and freely the child can deve­lop and move within its own living space.

A clear educa­tio­nal orien­ta­tion. Encou­ra­ging essen­tial curio­sity. Enab­ling lear­ning. Accom­pany­ing deve­lo­p­ment. Being a role model ones­elf. The foun­da­ti­ons – inte­rest and the joy of educa­tion – are laid from the very begin­ning. If all roads lead to Rome, then all infor­ma­tion leads to educa­tion. Educa­tion is the joy of know­ledge, of connec­tions, of contexts, and of history. Working things out inde­pendently in a playful way. Under­stan­ding how some­thing works. Being allo­wed to try things out. All of this is funda­men­tal for the joy of learning.

Taken toge­ther, all of this forms the super­powers of a modern nanny. Many aspects she brings with her from home. Some are lear­ned. Others are deepe­ned. In our own Nanny Academy, all of these toge­ther always form the compass by which the profes­sion is guided. By which we evaluate appli­cants. And depen­ding on their expres­sion, we clearly reco­gnize which nanny fits which family.

Would you also like a nanny with super­powers? Then simply get in touch. Nothing stands in the way of the perfect match.