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How important is a babysitter
in a child’s education (and in the balance of their family)? Without compromising Mary Poppins, this figure plays an increasingly central role in the household, including surprising or disturbing setbacks. They remind us of the recent It doesn’t happen, but if it does…, the film in which Charlize Theron, a candidate for the presidency of the United States, chooses as support in her election campaign a flaky journalist whose only advantage on her resume is having been taken care of by her.
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The babysitter? Degree
And the collection of short stories by Robert Coover The Babysitter and Other Stories, published by NNE, where the neighbor’s schoolgirl turns on erotic male imagery. A candidate who would certainly have been rejected by a California mom who recently posted this ad online: “Seeking a graduate who knows how to stimulate logical and mathematical intelligence, an expert in preparing vegetarian recipes and using software, empathetic, organized, and into sports programs.
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Even Italian parents today are no longer satisfied with hiring the neighbor’s daughter. And even those who appreciate the idea of a territorial babysitter look for one on neighborhood sites, like Vicinimiei, Next Door, or Toctocdoor. Portals and apps that discuss the merits and flaws of a neighborhood in the city, share needs and ads, often also use nannies to share or exchange information about different profiles. It’s clear: in 2020, moms and dads find the phone much more useful than verbal tam.
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Word of mouth no longer works
“Word of mouth is no longer used, since if a mom gives us the number of a babysitter, it’s generally a second choice, because she has taken another,” Martina Monaco, founder of Sitterlandia, an online platform that connects nannies and parents and involves 110,000 caregivers and 54,000 families. “Currently, families are not satisfied with having someone stay with the little ones, they are also looking for added value.”
In the English CV and first aid
They need a nanny who has a degree in education or at least studies in the field and who can speak languages. In the ideal ranking of the most appreciated qualifications, knowledge of English ranks first. Then comes competence in emergency room skills and the ability to play an instrument. A trend copied by Anglo-Saxon countries, where families focus on the benefits of artistic and creative disciplines for the development of imagination and motor coordination.
They may have the example of Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, the super nanny who takes care of the three children of William and Kate of Cambridge. Trained at Noreland College in Bath, she teaches children’s languages, is an expert in handling dangerous situations, knows how to fend off paparazzi, and even what to do in case of an attack by terrorists! There is no information about her salary, but it is certainly money well spent.
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Those working in the industry confirm that most parents have no problem paying a higher rate if it means a babysitter takes the children to the museum or teaches them to play a musical instrument. What are the figures? Last year, on the city portal of Milan, it was mentioned that the rate was 18 euros per hour. Certainly too much, and in fact, the ad was hastily and angrily removed from the site. The average price this year was 7.90 euros per hour according to data from Yoopies, the international platform that deals with access to childcare services. Although it should be noted that costs vary from region to region.
The highest-paid nannies are in the Aosta Valley at 8.67 euros per hour, the cheapest in Basilicata at a cost of 6.98 euros per hour. Among the most expensive areas are Liguria (8.32 euros per hour) and Lombardy (8.23 euros per hour). If a reasonable price range provides rates between 7.50 and 9 euros per hour, the determining factor is precisely the skills, confirms Martina Monaco again. “For a native speaker or someone with specific experience and qualifications, you spend more, that’s clear. And then there are parents looking for a male babysitter, because they have boys and want someone who can follow them in sports and engage in more physical games.” And even this profile, let’s say if niche, has a higher cost.
How much it costs to put it in order
All elements corroborate the impression that the role of the babysitter has shifted from a supplementary job to a qualified profession, requiring multiple skills. This is also evidenced by the experience of Le Cicogne, a company founded in 2013 from a contact site between caregivers and families, recently acquired by the employment agency Orienta spa.
“Degrees and qualifications are the fundamental element — says Monica Archibugi, who is the creator. Parents ask for them, and those who do babysitting are happy to provide them. In recent years, the training courses we have offered have always been very well attended and concerned, for example, pediatric CPR, first aid, and assistance for diabetic children.” The market is growing and candidates on the sites show their certifications to gain more recognition and obtain job guarantees.
“There is a lot of misinformation in the sector,” explains Archibugi. Few, for example, know that to put a babysitter in order, the employer, that is, the family, pays one or two euros more in contributions but can be reimbursed 70 percent in their tax return.” Employment contracts are precise and guaranteed by both parties: with 8 days of mandatory notice if you decide to suspend the collaboration, vacation, severance pay, thirteenth month, and the possibility of using a confiscation system if hours exceed 25 per week. Details to consider when doing the math at home.
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Many coworking offers
According to data from Assindatcolf, a family spends about 8,000 euros per year on childcare after school ends, unless they have grandparents or parents to rely on. Or perhaps alternative shared babysitting formulas. How to equip coworking spaces where mothers and fathers rent offices and services, for those who take care of small and large children. They create many realities around Italy, offering parents the opportunity to purchase packages and cards, and of course play and animation spaces for children at reduced rates. Among them, Kilowatt Bolognais offers workshops and activities designed in collaboration with the University of Bologna.
An address that might also interest Meghan Markle, a super-demanding babysitter hunter (in the sense that she seeks them but also sends them away in a flurry) for her Archie. As she stopped representing the English royal house and flew to Canada with her family, she always ended up relying on her friend and fashion designer Jessicamulroney.
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