The foundation to building and maintaining any solid relationship is communication.
Communication is fundamental to working collaboratively.
Sharing information is key when caring for children.
A communication diary is the perfect tool to aid as a component in effective communication.
Whether you call it a nanny diary, diary or communication book, this tool provides an invaluable aid to communication.
A diary is one form of communication and, of course, is not to replace one to one communication.
Ideally there is still time at the beginning and end of the day to discuss things, however, often given that these times of the day are generally the busiest, sometimes there is just not the chance to discuss thoroughly and therefore a reference point can prove the critical difference to a family.
A nanny diary is a perfect tool for busy families.
It is a fantastic reference point for all involved in the care of the child.
The actual make up of a communication diary will depend largely on what is important to the individual family. A good suggestion is to work out what is important information to be correlated as it will differ between families and establishing right from the get go is key to the development of an effective and useful communication tool.
A general recommendation for a good diary would be to allow a page a day to write the important events of the day in as much detail as wanted (or requested) regarding the child.
There should be a place for important friends, what they have eaten, groups they attend, etc. If the care is for a baby it is particularly helpful to note down for future record for the parents (and nanny’s reference) just what they have done during the day & night in relation to their sleep, what they have eaten and what bowel movements they have done, etc.
It’s a vital tool to keep track of things when there is more than one carer for a child. It helps with the transition of one shift to the other and the transfer of the information.
The front of the diary is generally a good spot to allocate essential names and addresses the parent or nanny requires, such as doctors, dentists, parent’s work telephone numbers, and emergency contact numbers, etc.
A diary provides a perfect point to aid communication between the nanny and the parent.
It is simply is a written form of tracking and remembering the changes in the child as they develop but can be priceless.
It can give a parent peace of mind. It can also ensure that information is passed across without any miscommunication between the family and the nanny.
Should a parent return home to an empty house, one only needs to look in the diary which shows where the nanny and child are expected to be at that particular time which can greatly allay any fears or it can help in understanding a child’s temperament- if they are cranky because of a very busy day, if the baby hasn’t moved their bowels properly, etc.
If a temporary nanny is required, it also helps to make a smooth transition for that period, as the temp nanny can refer to the permanent nanny’s notes and vice versa when the permanent nanny returns.
Even simple things like meal times can be made easier, as the parent or nanny can avoid repeating the same menu the following day, simply by looking at the day’s record.
It is a great point to be able to track developmental milestones as well. It also good as at the beginning of each month; there is an area to write notes on goals for the following weeks (if this is applicable in your position).
It allows you to record events of each day such as: