Weekend Afternoon Nanny for Montessori Twins (Del Ray, Alexandria)

Job Type:

Part-time Pay:

$30.00

•$35.00 per hour

Expected Hours:

10 per week (guaranteed)

Schedule:

Saturday and Sunday, 2:00 PM

•7:00

PM Location:

Alexandria, VA 22301 (Del Ray) — in person

Start Date:

Flexible, ideally within the next month There is potential to add occasional weekday evening shifts over time for the right person. About Our Family We're an animal-loving family of four in Del Ray with boy/girl twins who turn four this December. Both parents work from home full-time during the week, and we have a house manager and an au pair supporting our weekdays. Weekends are the gap we're hiring for. Our twins attend Montessori school and we follow a Montessori-informed approach at home where it makes sense: independent play, practical life skills, real tools, hands-on materials, and children doing things for themselves whenever they can. Our home is screen-free for the children. Books, puzzles, music, art, and outdoor play carry the day. Both twins are neurodivergent and gifted. In practice, that means two kids who are extremely bright, intensely verbal, and reliant on routine to stay regulated. They are also funny, affectionate, and genuinely delightful company when the day is going well. They still nap at school, but rarely do so at home, which makes weekend afternoons the hardest stretch of our week. Both parents have demanding careers, and navigating weekend afternoons with overtired preschoolers often leaves us all depleted. That's the window we're hiring for. What the Shift Looks Like This is a defined shift with a clear beginning, end, and handoff. You own the afternoon. We take back over at bedtime for books, tuck-ins and goodnights. 2:00

•3:30

PM:

Weather permitting, out of the house: backyard, park, adventure walk, scavenger hunt.

Otherwise:

library, nearby indoor playground, indoor scavenger hunt, yoga. Get creative! 3:30

•4:30

PM:

Return home and wind down. Calm activities like crafts, puzzles, coloring. 4:30

•5:15

PM:

Prepare and serve the children's dinner, eat with them, clean up the kitchen afterward. The twins participate in setting and clearing the table. 5:15

•6:15

PM:

Bath, teeth, hair, pajamas, with as much of it done by them as they're capable of. 6:15

•7:00

PM:

Handoff and reset. Settle the children in the nursery, read a couple of books with them, and tidy stray clothing, stuffies, and books. Parents come in for more reading, tuck-ins, and good-nights, and you reset the playroom and bath before the end of your shift. What We Value Structure, held warmly . Our kids need to know what's coming. Transitions are the hardest part of their day, and they go much better with advance warning, a predictable sequence, and an adult who remains a calm, steady presence. We are looking for someone who narrates what's next, gives real choices inside boundaries, and then holds the boundary. Loving limits . We need someone who stays firm but kind, and who doesn't need us to step in and back her up. This is the most important quality in this role. Respect for how their brains work . A meltdown here is usually dysregulation, not defiance, and it needs a calm adult rather than a consequence. Montessori's central idea is " help me to do it myself. " We'd rather a slow, imperfect first attempt at brushing teeth followed by a second round from the adult. Screen-free . No tablets, phones, or TV during the shift. Direct communication . If something isn't working, if the routine needs adjusting, if you need something from us, tell us plainly. We'd much rather hear it early. Key Responsibilities Direct care Full supervision and engagement of both twins for the duration of the shift Outdoor and neighborhood outings, weather permitting Montessori-aligned activities: practical life, art, music, books, puzzles, open-ended play Managing transitions and mediating sibling conflict Holding household routines and limits consistently Meals Prepare and serve the children's dinner Eat with the children and support table routines Kitchen cleanup afterward Evening routine Bath, teeth, hair, pajamas Children in bed and ready for reading no later than 6:45 PM Child-related household tasks Playroom and materials reset before end of shift Tidy the children's bath and bedroom This role is scoped to the children and their spaces. General household management, laundry, and family meal prep are handled by our house manager and are not part of this position. Supervision and Autonomy We will both be home for the first several weeks while you get to know the kids and everyone gets comfortable. Once trust is established, one or both of us may be out for part or all of the shift. We want to be clear up front that the long-term expectation is that you run the afternoon independently whether we're home or not. Who We're Looking For Minimum three years of professional childcare experience. Preschool and Montessori teachers, career nannies, and early childhood educators are strong fits. Experience with neurodivergent children strongly preferred. Experience with twins or multiples is a real plus. Montessori training or classroom experience is a significant advantage but not required. Current CPR and pediatric first aid certification. Safe, reliable transportation. Someone looking for a long-term fit. We'd much rather find the right person once and build a real relationship over years than cycle through people. Household Requirements Smoke-free Fragrance-free (our household is scent-sensitive) Comfortable around animals: a dachshund puppy plus birds, fish, and frogs General vaccinations; COVID and flu vaccines preferred Background check required Authorized to work in the US Compensation and Benefits $30.00

•$35.00 per hour, depending on experience Time and a half for any shift worked on Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day weekend (when it falls Friday to Monday), Labor Day weekend, or New Year's weekend (when it falls Friday to Monday) 10 hours per week guaranteed, with one exception: we may cancel up to eight weekends a year unpaid with at least three weeks' notice. These are typically weekends we're travelling or hosting family. In practice, that means at least 44 paid weekends a year, up to six of which are paid time off: paid holiday weekend closures: Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; up to 3 additional paid weekends a year for holidays you observe, selected at hire Four shifts (20 hours) of paid time off annually for vacation or illness, available from your start date Tax-withheld payroll via direct deposit (non-negotiable) Potential to expand hours over time What to Expect in the Hiring Process We'll move quickly at each stage and will tell you where you stand either way. Zoom interview (30-45 minutes). A conversation with both parents about your experience and your approach to preschoolers, transitions, boundaries, and neurodivergent kids. This is also your chance to interview us. References and background check. We contact three professional references and run a background check with your written consent. Paid trial evening (3-4 hours). A real afternoon with the kids at our home while we're around but out of the way. You'll meet the twins, see the space, and run the routine. We pay for your time regardless of the outcome. If it's a good fit for you and for us, we make an offer and send an employment contract for your review and signature.

How to Apply Please submit:

A brief cover letter telling us about your experience with preschool-age children, and how you handle a bright, verbal four-year-old who has decided the answer is no Your current childcare resume At least three professional references with contact information

Pay:

$30.00

•$35.00 per hour Expected hours: No less than 10.0 per week

Benefits:

Paid time off

Work Location:

In person