Changing the Game of the Childcare Industry
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of Black women’s struggles and successes.
By Hadiatou Wann | 07/03/20
An identical twin and youngest of four, Hassanatou Barry has become a credible leader within the childcare industry, and has secured a spot in the hearts of many parents and sitters.
Hassanatou and her siblings were raised to be independent and goal-driven. At just 15 years old, she began working at The Staten Island Children’s Museum, in addition to babysitting to pay off her senior dues.
Throughout high school and while in college, Hassanatou babysat. She quickly recognized that she enjoyed working with children. At first, she pictured herself designing shoes and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology to obtain an Associate’s in Fashion Merchandising. To her surprise, her courses mainly focused on different departments of merchandising, buying, fabric count, understanding customers’ demands, etc.
After realizing that wasn’t the career path she wanted to stay on, Hassanatou continued her Bachelor’s in Advertising Marketing and Communications which would equip her with the skillsets necessary to grow any business.
You might be wondering, what is the difference between a babysitter and nanny?
Hassanatou says that a babysitter provides supervisory care and are responsible for keeping the children safe while parents are away. Whereas a nanny provides coordinated care and is hired to partner with parents in raising their children. Anyone can become a babysitter as early as 11 years old. However, in order to become a nanny, the role requires more education.
She says, “Once you work with a family, you become a part of their family. Your name will often pop up in their conversations with the kids and amongst family and friends. She also adds that children observe everything. Whatever you say or do will influence them directly.
The relationship between the families and Hassanatou is so strong, that they were not ready to let her go for as long as she resided in the same state. However, once her contract ended at her full-time job, Hassanatou embarked on her entrepreneurial journey. With the intention to build something of her own and appeal to a larger market, she founded The Babysitter Guru, LLC in 2019.
With an overload of information on the Internet, many parents are overwhelmed when it comes to finding the right babysitter. The Babysitter Guru is an informational hub for both babysitters and parents to seek guidance and resources on their childcare journey. At only 23 years old, Hassanatou has become an expert for people seeking additional knowledge or clarification about childcare. Although she is young, her level of expertise and passion show them that she can provide value.
A few months ago, out of curiosity, she created a survey on Facebook which asked parents, “Why do you fear hiring a sitter?” The number one response was that they did not have enough trust in a babysitter to watch their children. Hassanatou took the data from the survey and decided to launch a 2-week course called, “A Baby Sitter’s Training Guide to Success.” She also launched a YouTube channel providing helpful tips for babysitters.
She teaches babysitters how to negotiate pay rates, get certifications, come up with engaging activities for children, create healthy communication with parents, resume building and so much more. This allows both parties to understand the role they must play in the child’s life without crossing boundaries.
Rhea Quiñones managed Hassanatou when she was an AmeriCorps Volunteer Coordinator on the Community Engagement Team at Reading Partners. She expresses, “Hassanatou was incredibly reliable and self-motivated. I could always count on her to complete a project or task in a thoughtful, thorough way. [She] was responsible for answering all-volunteer emails and calls. She was very patient with volunteers, always polite and incredibly professional.”
“Hassanatou was also an incredible event planner. She was responsible for planning several important events to celebrate volunteers at Reading Partners. She always had a ‘vision’ for what the event should look like and feel like, and they were incredible every time! It is a true pleasure to work with such a capable person as Hassanatou,” Rhea said.
One way Hassanatou creates trust with parents is by communicating with them throughout the day via text, email, or direct video to put their minds at ease while they are away from their children.
At a time when the world struggles with racism, Hassanatou says, “Parents need to talk to children about racism.” This year, a 5-year-old child she cared for made a comment regarding the color of her skin. The commentary was not swept under the rug, as Hassanatou immediately spoke to the parents about it.
The Babysitter Guru expressed that racism stems from fear. For the next generation to be more open-minded, she states, “Parents should put their children in an environment where they are exposed to people who don’t look like them. For example, taking them to parks where a diverse group hangs out, buying them toys that are of a different race, and educational books that address race.”
As a woman who is determined to reach her full potential, Hassanatou isn’t afraid to take on other roles or projects for as long as her cup is not full. In May, she became Director Parent Sitter Relations at MySuperSitter. Then in June, Chief Operating Officer at Nanny Sitter Education Fund, a non-profit that alleviates the economic burden for nannies and babysitters looking to further their education.
Age is nothing but a number! With over 8+ years of babysitting experience under her belt, Hassanatou decided to ditch the norm and start a business around her strength and passion. Over the years, she has developed her skill set while adding value to others. She has created a shortcut for those who are less experienced and aims to do more speaking engagements, baby expositions and changing the game of the childcare industry.
Welcome to Hassanatou’s World
“Go for your dreams. It’s scary when you don’t have support, but still go for it! ”
“I am most proud of my upbringing, my religion and the village of supportive family and friends around me.”
“A child’s unique personality is the icing on the cake for me. It’s always something I look for.”
“Google Calendar is your best friend! In college I was a procrastinator, but always got the job done. My first full time job I started to look at time management differently.”
Hassanatou shares how to be disciplined as a babysitter in the video below. Watch and SUBSCRIBE!
Connect with Hassanatou:
Facebook: The Babysitter Guru
Instagram: @thebabysitterguru
Email: thebabysitterguru@gmail.com
Website: https://www.thebabysitterguru.com/
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