Questions to Ask Parents when Interviewing for a Child Care Position
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Whether you are interviewing for a simple babysitting job, or you are seeking employment as a nanny, there are some questions that can be extremely helpful that you should ask parents. Some of these can include:
- General expectations. You should know ahead of time what exactly the parents expect you to do. Are you there to just watch the children? Will you be doing any cooking or cleaning? How about baths? Will you be required to dispense any medications?
- Safety questions. You can demonstrate your concern for the child or children’s safety by asking about emergency plans, the layout of the house, the location of dangerous items, and the like. If the family doesn’t have a fire escape plan, for example, you can ask if they would be willing to put one together before you begin.
- Household rules. You should try to find out what the parents expect of their children. Along these lines, you should ask how the parents view discipline, and how they expect you to handle episodes of inappropriate behavior.
- Rules for me. Is it all right if I use the TV, the computer, or the radio? Find out if it is appropriate for you to make short personal calls, or to work on homework.
- Other household residents. If the family has pets, find out if you need to do anything to care for the pets while the parents are away. Ask about how the pets get along with the children, and if there are rules for the children and how they interact with their pets. Ask about how the pets interact with people they don’t know.
- The childrens’ interest. Find out what the child or children likes to do. What are his hobbies? What kinds of games does she like to play? Is he into sports? Art? Television?
- Routines. Ask about what the childrens’ schedule is like. Do they have a specific bedtime? Do they brush their teeth before bed? Do they have a snack, and what sort of snack is appropriate?
- Medical conditions. Find out if there are any medical conditions of which you need to be aware. Ask if there are any special care needs, or medications to be given.
- Logistics of the job. Find out when they need you, and for how long. Find out if they will need you on a recurring basis, or just occasionally. This is a good time to discuss compensation, as well.
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