4 Reasons for Setting Clear Expectations for Your Summer Care

With swim floaties in hand and goggles on, your kid is ready to dive head-first into summer.

The question is: Are you as ready as your little one is?

The arrival of summer means that your tried and true school-year schedule goes out the window. Now, one of the most important items on your to–do list is figuring out child care arrangements for the summer months. And this task brings with it a whole array of options to choose from:

Do we need a babysitter or a nanny?
Or do I go with a day care?
What type of summer camp would they enjoy? Should we try a day camp or an overnight camp?
Should I get them a summer tutor, or would they prefer having music lessons?
Which weeks will be out of town and won’t need care?

[RELATED: “Your 7 Options for Summer Child Care“]

Whatever you decide, you’ll want to be sure your children are with someone who will take care of them and have fun with them when you can’t.

So, when you’re searching for the right care for your kiddo, you’ll want to make sure that you’re crystal clear about your expectations up front. That way, your caregiver knows the logistics of the job (hours, time off, pay) and the needs of the kids (activities, rules, outdoor guidelines). And letting your caregiver know what her duties are — especially in the summertime, when there is a whole new genre of activities to explore – helps her prepare for the season-long duty.

Plus, setting out these expectations is super important for a successful summer care arrangement, but having this understanding in place will no doubt help your relationship even when the leaves start to change.

Here are four reasons for why you should set clear expectations with your summer caregivers from the very beginning:

1) It Keeps You Covered

With a new schedule in place, it is important to detail the exact hours and time commitment that you’re expecting of your caregiver. That way, you can plan according to her schedule as well. For example, coordinating a trip to the grandparents during the week that your nanny is on vacation.

Speaking of vacation…How do you intend to approach your family vacations with your caregiver? Will you offer to bring her along or will you pay her for the week she’s not working? Also, remember that a summer nanny is likely going to be more involved than a date-night babysitter. So, it is helpful to outline what kinds of activities and rules you want the nanny to follow.

2) It Sets a Foundation

There is actually science behind setting and meeting expectations; studies show that setting expectations has a positive impact on getting the results you want. One way you can discuss these expectations is in a formal written agreement. This opens the door for questions, comments, and respectful communication. It also makes it easier to hold each other accountable, which you can do through weekly check-ins and following up with one another. In turn, you may avoid the puzzling communication gap that can sometimes exist between caregivers and employers, and it gives your caregiver more time to spend with your kids to make their experiences richer.

3) It Acknowledges That Caregivers Are Professionals

It’s easy to think of caregiving as informal, especially during a break time like the summer. But, caregiving is a job. Like in most professions, you should be told what is expected of you — preferably in writing. Would you start a new job without first reading a description, talking to your boss and making sure the expectations for your role are clear? There’s no doubt that people connect written documents to professional transactions and relationships: buying a car, entering a lease, signing a record deal. No one would do these things without getting it in writing. The same thinking goes for care for your family. Having a discussion with your caregiver helps her understand the responsibilities of the job. On the flip side, it’s also crucial for your understanding in your role as an employer.

4) It Creates Long-Lasting Relationships

If you want to keep your nanny as part of your family, you’ll want to avoid miscommunication, which is one of several reasons that nannies leave their jobs. And in order to do that, you’ll want to be clear, even if the things that you expect seem like technicalities that you’ll decide as you go on. This way, the nanny isn’t picking the kids up from swim camp when they’re actually at soccer practice. And, she’ll know not to serve your lactose-intolerant daughter ice cream for dessert. You may not be able to read minds, but you can help each other by communicating the details of your family’s everyday routine. For example, schedules, dietary restrictions, allergies, bedtime, etc. And, giving the nanny your tips and tricks will ultimately make your kids feel more comfortable and have more fun with the caregiver. If your nanny knows your kids favorite story or activity, it’ll help her connect to your child to give her the best experience she can. Really, laying out the details helps to make sure that this new relationship will remain healthy and strong over time.

If you want more information on how to deal with tricky communication issues, click here.

Remember, if you and your caregiver already know what your expectations are and you’ve created a strong relationship, then that positive working relationship could keep going long after you’ve put the floaties in storage.

NEXT STEPS