Individuals who wish to pursue a career in childcare need to possess the right skills and personality profile, including a good work ethic, strong people skills, a diligent approach to tasks and duties, and a healthy mindset. Parents are also more likely to choose nannies whose values on childcare match their own. This test will provide insight into Deb's strengths and assets as a nanny, and highlight areas where s/he may need to develop and improve in order to be the best nanny possible.

The type below is Deb's "nanny" style. It's based on parenting style theories that encourage caregivers to be responsive yet firm.

Overall Results (score 69)

Deb has the potential to be quite successful in the childcare field. S/he possesses many of the traits that make up a well-rounded and capable nanny. Training would be beneficial if there are certain areas revealed by this test where improvement is needed.

Childcare Value System (score 67)

Deb possesses some of the values that are important for a career in childcare. People choose to pursue childcare for various reasons, but those who are more likely to want to make it a long-term career choice do so because taking care of children offers them a sense of fulfillment that goes beyond financial gain - Deb has the potential to be one of these people. In this assessment, we refer to this propensity as the Childcare Value System. By continuing to develop a strong childcare value system, s/he is more likely to find this type of career meaningful and fulfilling. Review his/her results on the specific values below for more details.

Appreciation of Children (score 70)

Deb seems to have a generally positive view of children which, evidently, is important if s/he wishes to work as a nanny. A person's attitude toward their work and the people they work with can impact performance and motivation.

Nurturing (score 80)

Deb understands that as a nanny, s/he doesn't just take care of a child's physical needs - s/he also helps them grow and develop on a personal level. S/he tries to encourage, coach, and otherwise help bring out the best in others, but may need to make this more of a priority. S/he is certainly on the right track, however.

Imagination/Creativity (score 66)

Deb has some creative potential, and is not a stranger to using his/her imagination. It seems however, that s/he doesn't make use of this ability very often, and would likely need to develop it more. Creativity and imagination come in handy not only when resolving problems, but can also be of great use when working with children. Children love to use their imagination, and being able to come up with new games, activities, and even meals can help Deb connect with the children s/he works with. Imagination and creativity will allow him/her to see the world through their eyes, which is a useful skill.

Play Skills (score 57)

While Deb may sometimes get involved in play time with children, this isn't a consistent endeavor. Developing this skill - coming up with games AND playing along with them - would be to his/her advantage. Play time not only provides the opportunity to teach children a number of skills, it also gives Deb a chance to build a rapport with his/her charges. Play skills are an important aspect of socialization for children, and one that Deb should nurture in himself/herself and them.

Educating (score 62)

Deb will take advantage of some opportunities to educate children, but doesn't seem to make learning a regular activity. This doesn't mean that s/he needs to take on the full responsibilities of a teacher. It is important however, that s/he try to find opportunities to teach a child practical and educational lessons, and make it a consistent practice.

Work Ethic (score 64)

There are some aspects of Deb's conduct at work that need improvement. Work ethic, as it relates to nannies, encompasses several practices that are considered vital to completing the various tasks of caring for children. Deficiencies in any of these areas could result in negligence or lack of productivity, which in turn can impact a child's well-being and Deb's reputation as a nanny. Review the results below for areas that require improvement.

Integrity (score 75)

Deb considers integrity fairly important, and tries to practice it in his/her everyday life. S/he may be tempted to stray from this path on the rare occasion, but will generally conduct himself/herself responsibly. Integrity is highly prized by almost any employer. With Deb's reputation on the line, s/he is aware of the possible negative impact of a lack of integrity. S/he should certainly strive to continue to be a responsible and honest person.

Respect for Family Privacy (score 60)

It seems that there are some situations where Deb feels being discrete is not warranted; s/he may feel that prying into someone else's business or sharing information about them is not always a problem, depending on the circumstances. This is a concern. Granted, there may be some circumstances (depending on country/state/province) in which some information must be shared, but these are only in extreme cases. S/he will need to practice discretion much more consistently, as a breach of confidentiality can result in serious consequences not just for Deb, but for the children s/he cares for and their family.

Energetic (score 54)

There are some physical aspects of childcare that will be tough for Deb to deal with, at least initially. Most childcare jobs require some degree of physical activity. The amount of physical exertion will vary depending on how many children s/he watches as well as their age, and whether s/he is also in charge of household duties. Childcare can be demanding on a physical level - Deb will need to prepare himself/herself and adjust accordingly.

Dependability (score 68)

Deb's dependability is inconsistent. S/he doesn't seem to be completely motivated to really give his/her all and show parents and their children that s/he is dedicated to them and to his/her job. As a nanny, families will need to rely on Deb a great deal - s/he will need to be more consistently reliable.

Diligence (score 79)

Deb is not someone who shies away from hard work, and may even go above and beyond the call of duty on some occasions. S/he understands the importance of being diligent and careful when taking care of children. Some caregiving jobs may involve less work than others, but it is still a job that requires a dedicated effort and a high level of conscientiousness. Deb generally seems to have this trait, but may need to practice it a little more consistently.

Safety Consciousness (score 70)

While Deb may understand the importance of safety procedures in the care of children, s/he doesn't appear to be completely dedicated to practicing them. With children, there are many situations in which negligence or lack of awareness of safety practices can result in serious consequences. Deb will need to be more resolute when it comes to playing it safe. This is not an area that can be taken lightly.

Organization (score 75)

Deb has the ability to stay organized, but still has the potential to slip up occasionally - most likely when s/he is particularly busy. When it comes to staying organized, s/he needs to find a solid method that works for him/her and do his/her best to keep it up. S/he will need to keep track of multiple tasks, duties, and information when caring for children, which makes the ability to stay organized very important.

Sound Judgment/Common Sense (score 91)

Deb has a good head on his/her shoulders - a parent's mind would be at ease knowing that their child was in his/her care. S/he made sound decisions when dealing with the nanny scenarios on the assessment, erring on the side of caution and making choices based on what is best for the child. S/he recognizes that when working with children, s/he will need to navigate and resolve certain dilemmas very carefully, whether it's a tantrum or a case where a child's safety is in question.

Mental Strength (score 82)

Childcare is field that can take a psychological toll on a person. It is not uncommon for nannies to be treated rudely by parents, to deal with difficult children, and to have to handle many duties per day as well as long hours. Deb generally seems to have what it takes to deal with these challenges, although there are some areas that s/he will likely need to work on. Review his/her results below for more details.

Stress Tolerance (score 90)

Facing stressful situations can be a major challenge for anyone, but the methods used to deal with them can make all the difference. Fortunately, Deb seems to be someone who can cope with stress and hardship. Since stress cannot be avoided entirely in fields like childcare, practicing healthy methods to cope with it is the next best thing.

Self-Control/Self-Monitoring (score 74)

When faced with emotionally-intense situations, Deb is usually able to maintain his/her composure, although it can be a challenge for him/her sometimes. S/he is likely to face many emotional ups and downs as a nanny, so being able to regulate his/her feelings and maintain his/her composure at all times is important. Deb can further improve his/her emotional control with practice and with a dedicated effort to be more self-aware, and to keep upsetting situations in perspective.

People Skills (score 68)

In order to work in a nanny position, Deb will need to be able to interact and create relationships with others. This requires strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and a certain degree of comfort dealing with even the most difficult of people. Deb's people skills are reasonably good, but there is still room for improvement. Review his/her results below for more details.

Empathy/Social Perceptiveness (score 90)

Deb is very empathetic, and knows how to use this ability effectively. S/he makes an effort to empathize with children, which puts him/her in a better position to approach them in a manner that is productive to his/her relationship and to their care. They will be more at ease in his/her presence.

Communication Skills (score 68)

Deb is usually capable of sending a clear message across to others and is generally aware of how s/he comes across. There is still room to improve, however. When communicating with people, especially children, it is essential to be as clear and concise as possible. Miscommunications and misunderstandings could result in confusion. In addition, many parents will want a nanny who communicates regularly with them about the care of their child, so it would be well worth the effort for Deb to continue to improve in this area.

Helpfulness (score 50)

Being helpful isn't a natural inclination for Deb. This doesn't necessarily mean that s/he will totally ignore those who ask for assistance, but s/he doesn't often extend help of his/her own accord. Being helpful, even if s/he gets nothing in return, can make Deb feel good; it's a reward in and of itself. Moreover, the nature of a nanny job is helping and being there for others - for both the children s/he cares for and their parents. Deb should nurture this trait, as it will make his/her job more meaningful.

Enthusiasm (score 43)

Deb needs to spend some time figuring out why s/he wants to be a nanny and what s/he loves about the job. At this point, while s/he seems to enjoy his/her work to some degree, s/he is generally not very enthusiastic about it. This could in turn give parents and children the impression that s/he doesn't really love what s/he does, which will make it difficult to find and keep jobs. Without a strong sense of passion for his/her work, getting through difficult days will be a challenge.

Preferred Characteristics of Childcare Cases

According to Deb's responses, these are the characteristics of the children s/he would prefer to work with:

Number of children

Age range of children

Special needs children

Discipline Style

In terms of disciplining children, Deb indicated that:

Comfort with Nanny Responsibilities

According to Deb's responses, these are the responsibilities s/he is willing to take on as a nanny:

Regular Responsibilities

Additional Responsibilities

Impression Management (score 0)

This scale assesses the degree to which results on this test are distorted or manipulated. Many people will try to present themselves in a better light, especially if the stakes are high.

Test-taker answers are compared to responses obtained from a large sample of the general population. When someone systematically selects socially desirable responses that are rarely endorsed by others, there is good reason to believe that a positive self-presentation bias is at play. A score that is suspiciously high may indicate that a person is lying, which may invalidate that whole test.

There was little or no indication in Deb's results to suggest that s/he was lying or trying to present himself/herself in a favorable light.