September is for fresh fall starts! Children are settling into new classrooms, school calendars are filling up, extracurricular activities are beginning, and families are adjusting to a very different rhythm than the slower pace of summer. For nanny families, this transition is also a wonderful opportunity to pause, reconnect, and make sure everyone is on the same page.
A regular nanny family check-in can make a meaningful difference in creating a positive and productive working relationship. Open communication allows families and nannies to talk about what is working well, identify areas that may need adjusting, and plan ahead for the busy months to come. The goal is not to create another meeting on an already full calendar. Instead, it creates space for honest communication and collaboration so everyone can begin the fall season feeling confident and supported.
Whether you have worked together for years or are beginning a new nanny family relationship, September is an ideal time to establish or refresh expectations. Here are 10 conversations worth having this fall.
1. Schedule Changes
The transition from summer to the school year often brings changes to everyone’s schedule. School drop-offs and pickups, extracurricular activities, appointments, playdates, and family commitments can all affect a nanny’s daily responsibilities.
Take some time to review the family’s current schedule and discuss any anticipated changes. If the nanny’s hours will shift, talk about those changes as early as possible. This is also a good opportunity to clarify expectations around occasional schedule adjustments, additional hours, date nights, or changes to the children’s school calendar.
Clear communication about schedules helps prevent last-minute surprises and gives both the family and nanny the opportunity to plan ahead. One of our favorite resources to keep everyone aligned is the Skylight Calendar!
2. School Expectations
Every school year can bring new expectations. Children may have a different teacher, classroom routine, homework policy, or communication system than they did the year before.
Families and nannies should discuss what the children are expected to bring to school, how school communication will be handled, and whether there are specific academic or behavioral goals the parents would like the nanny to support.
For nannies, understanding the family’s priorities allows you to become an even stronger partner in your children’s school experience. For parents, communicating expectations clearly helps your nanny support your children consistently throughout the week.
3. Homework and After-School Routines
For many families, the hours immediately following school can be some of the busiest of the day. Children may come home hungry, tired, overstimulated, or ready to tell you everything about their day all at once.
Talk together about what the ideal after-school routine looks like. Should children have a snack and decompress before beginning homework? Is there a designated homework space? How much help should the nanny provide? When should screen time or play happen?
There is no single right routine for every family. What matters most is creating an approach that reflects the children’s ages, needs, and the family’s expectations.
4. Activities and Transportation
Fall is often when calendars really start filling up. Soccer practice, dance classes, music lessons, tutoring, playdates, and other activities can quickly turn an afternoon into a transportation puzzle.
Review the children’s activities and transportation needs with your nanny. Make sure everyone understands pickup times, locations, carpool arrangements, equipment requirements, and who is responsible for communicating schedule changes.
It can also be helpful to talk about how much activity is truly appropriate for the children. A nanny can offer valuable insight into how children are handling a busy schedule and whether they are still getting enough time for unstructured play and downtime.
5. Screen Time
Screen time is another topic that benefits from clear communication. Families may have different expectations for school days, weekends, travel days, and sick days. Some schools may utilize screens for portions of homework, while other schools and homes may have screen-free policies in place.
Rather than leaving screen time decisions to the moment, discuss the family’s preferences ahead of time. Talk about which devices children can use, what types of content are appropriate, when screens can be used, and whether there are specific limits, homework, or bedtime, and days of the week.
When parents and nannies have a shared understanding, children receive more consistent boundaries from the adults caring for them.
6. Meals and Snacks
Back to school often means back to packing lunches, preparing snacks, and managing everyone’s hunger between activities.
Families should communicate their expectations around meals and snacks, including foods the children enjoy, foods they should avoid, allergies or dietary considerations, and how much independence children should have when preparing or selecting food, as this is ever-evolving!
This is also a great time to discuss whether the nanny is expected to help with meal preparation, grocery shopping, lunch packing, or introducing new foods. When responsibilities are clearly defined, mealtimes become much easier for everyone.
7. Household Responsibilities
One of the most important parts of a successful nanny-family partnership is making sure everyone understands the nanny’s responsibilities.
As the school year begins, responsibilities may naturally change. A nanny who previously spent more time focused exclusively on childcare during the summer may now be helping with school organization, children’s laundry, lunch preparation, activity bags, or keeping backpacks and homework materials organized.
Families and nannies should revisit the job description and discuss whether responsibilities have shifted. This conversation is especially important when a nanny role includes family assistant or household management responsibilities.
Clarity creates confidence. When everyone understands what is expected, the nanny can focus on doing their job well without wondering where the boundaries are.
8. Communication Preferences
Good nanny-family communication does not mean communicating constantly. It means knowing how and when to communicate effectively. With the addition of school communication, apps, and emails, it is a wonderful time to ensure important messages are not missed.
Talk about what works best for your family. Does the family prefer a quick text during the day? Would a shared calendar be helpful? Should the nanny send a daily update? Would a weekly check-in be useful for discussing longer-term topics?
It is also important to discuss how feedback should be shared. Families should feel comfortable providing constructive feedback, and nannies should feel comfortable sharing observations, questions, and concerns. A respectful two-way conversation builds trust and helps prevent small issues from becoming bigger ones.
9. Upcoming Travel
Fall and winter often bring family travel, school breaks, holidays, and visits with extended family. If travel is coming up, talk about it early.
Discuss dates, schedules, childcare expectations, packing responsibilities, travel logistics, and whether the nanny will be traveling with the family. If the nanny is expected to work additional hours or travel overnight, discuss those details well in advance.
For professional nannies and families, planning ahead is especially important when travel affects the nanny’s regular schedule or responsibilities.
10. Holiday Planning
It may feel early to talk about the holidays in September, but it’s one of the best times to start.
The months ahead can become incredibly busy with school events, holiday parties, family gatherings, travel, shopping, and time off. Starting the conversation early allows families and nannies to discuss vacation requests, holiday schedules, childcare needs, and any changes to the regular work schedule.
This is also an opportunity to talk about family traditions and how the nanny may be involved. Whether that means helping children prepare handmade gifts, organizing holiday activities, or simply keeping their routine consistent during a busy season, advance planning makes the holidays much more enjoyable.
Making Check-Ins Part of the Routine
A nanny family check-in does not have to be a formal meeting every time. Sometimes it can be a 15-minute conversation at the kitchen table or a quick weekly discussion after the children are settled.
What matters is creating a regular opportunity to ask simple questions: What is working well? What could be easier? Has anything changed? Is there anything either of us needs from the other?
The strongest nanny family partnerships are built on mutual respect, trust, and communication. A nanny is not simply someone who manages the children’s schedule. A professional nanny becomes an important part of the family’s support system, and creating space for collaboration allows that relationship to thrive.
As we head into fall, take a moment to slow down and check in. A little communication now can make the busy months ahead feel much more manageable.
A Note for Nannies
September is also a wonderful time to advocate for yourself as a professional. If your responsibilities have changed since you were hired, your schedule has shifted, or the family’s needs have evolved, this is an appropriate time to have an open conversation.
Professionalism goes both ways. A great nanny brings flexibility, initiative, and thoughtful communication to the role, while a great family provides clarity, respect, and appreciation. When both sides approach the relationship as a partnership, everyone benefits, especially the children.
A Note for Families
Your nanny is an important member of your childcare team. They see your children’s routines, personalities, friendships, challenges, and successes up close every day. Invite their perspective and make room for their observations.
Sometimes the best solutions to a busy family schedule come from the person who is right there in the middle of it.
Here at Educated Nannies, we believe the best nanny placements are built on more than finding the right person for a position. They are built on creating a strong, lasting partnership between a family and their nanny. This fall, make communication part of your routine and give your nanny-family relationship the attention it deserves. 💜
