Nanny

A nanny or childminder is a person who looks after the child or children of another family. Childminding differs from nannying in that a nanny goes to the house of the child in order to care for it; childminders look after the child in the childminder's home. Modern nannies may live in or out, like other domestic workers, depending on their circumstances and those of their employers. The traditional nanny was a servant in a large household and reported directly to the lady of the house. A governess, in contrast to a nanny, concentrated on teaching and training children.

For some parents, the word "nanny" conjures visions of beloved, magical storybook characters such as Mary Poppins and Nurse Matilda. Their real-life counterparts share some of their essential traits — and, if you're lucky, can seem to have a magic touch with your child.

A nanny may perform tasks such as:

*Providing childcare during the hours agreed upon with the employing family
*Supporting the physical, social, emotional, creative, and intellectual development of the children of the family
*Protecting the children of the family from harm and ensuring that they have a safe environment
*Preparing appetizing and nutritionally-balanced meals and snacks to the children of the family
*Maintaining good communication with the parents, informing them of each of their children's development and concerns in behavior
*Maintaining the cleanliness and neatness of the house as affected by the children of the family