Working as a nanny can often feel isolating. Social media nanny support groups have the potential to alleviate this problem providing you with virtual co-workers and connections to industry peers. There are probably hundreds of Facebook groups dedicated to supporting nannies in the industry. Many of these groups are local to a specific region or are focused on a particular niche within the industry. However, many of them are also open to nannies from all over the globe.
These support groups have an important role in the industry and can also be a valuable place to turn when you need help solving an issue you are having with a charge (nanny kid) or an employer. The INA supports its members use of these as tools to improve your career as well as to garner help for the difficult work you do. Unfortunately, these groups can also be a source of stress and conflict often becoming more frustrating than helpful to the professional nanny. Here are some basic tips for you as you navigate these groups.
- Read the rules for the group you have joined. Most of these groups have guidelines that they ask all those who join to follow. Make sure you know what the guidelines are and that you are following them. If you believe that someone else in the group is not following the rules given, it is best to send a private message to the group admin or moderator so that he or she can address the issue. If you find yourself in a group where you do not agree with the guidelines, it might be best to leave that group and find one that aligns with your personal expectations for professional behavior.
- Never share personal information of the families you work for. One benefit to these groups is the ability to get advice from others who might understand what you are going through. However, you have to be very careful that you don’t give full names and other personal information of the parents or the children. It is best to speak in generalities rather than specifics. Many nannies have confidentiality clauses in their work agreements, but even if you don’t, as a professional nanny, you should always keep your employer’s information in the strictest of confidence.
- Stay positive looking for real solutions to your problem. The goal of these groups should be to problem solve issues you are having with like-minded individuals who have been through the same type of problem. Discussions that don’t have a “problem-solving” focus can quickly become a place for people to unload the stress of the job. This is not helpful to the nanny and it all too often crosses the line of confidentiality.
- Respond to other’s posts in a collaborative and encouraging manner. If someone posts a question or comment that you don’t agree with or that you have a solution for, remember to comment in a way that tells the person that you understand where they are coming from but also offers a potential solution to their problem. Avoid suggesting that your solution is the only way to solve the problem or that the person is unprofessional because they acted in a way that you don’t agree with.
- Feel free to just not comment on a post that you feel strongly opposed to. If you know you are likely to become argumentative regarding a situation, it is ok to just ignore that conversation altogether. Sometimes it is also easy to get pulled into an argument when you simply intended to share your opinion. It is always ok to pull yourself out of that conversation as well.
- Don’t get personal. If you see a post from someone that you disagree with either ignore it or comment about how to solve the problem. Avoid attacking the person’s personal life choices or belittling them. Use any difference of opinion as a way to understand an alternate perspective a bit more. You will likely get a lot of potential solutions to your problem but only you can decide which is best for you.
- Write posts and comments with the perspective that a potential employer or placement agency might see it. While you might think that what you write is private to only a few people that you can trust, the reality is that it is very easy to share, screenshot, or save the words you type. And even if you delete a comment, it is not completely gone. Potential employers and placement agencies search social media when doing background checks. A good rule of thumb is that if you are not ok with the world seeing it, it is best to not post in on a social media group or page. You can easily damage your own career as well as that of someone else.
- Be a role model for those in your care. Cyber-bullying is a problem often associated with school age children, but it happens to adults as well. As individuals entrusted to care for children, not only should nannies be setting a good example, but setting the bar higher.
Using social media groups in your nanny career has helped thousands of individuals get the assistance they need to be better nannies. These groups have also helped our industry grow and be more connected to each other. However, they need to be used in a professional and appropriate manner. We all want to elevate standards and awareness to this industry. That starts with us working to communicate effectively and with pride so that the world will take our industry seriously.