Inspiring Conversations with Erica Bender of Childhood FUNdamentals

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Bender

Hi Erica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Growing up, I knew that I wanted to work with children. My mom owned her own childcare center and I followed in her footsteps. I got my first job fresh out of high school as a Montessori teacher and from there my career started and kept going.
During that time, I gained experience in multiple areas of early childhood such as special needs, conscience discipline and curricula, to name a few! I went to school and obtained my Child Development Associate and continued my education and obtained my degree in Early Childhood Education. When COVID-19 hit and all the childcare centers and school shut down, I had no idea what my next move was. The only thing I knew was teaching. That’s when it hit me, become a nanny! The whole world was at home but parents still needed to work and children still needed education. I landed my first Nanny job in Shaker Heights, Ohio and I fell in love with my new position. I would do everything I’d typically do in a classroom and the parents loved it! I had a zero screen time policy and we learned and played all day. I was already well known for my creativity and artistic skills and my “learning through play” approach but as a Nanny, it felt appreciated 10x more! I would hear stories of nannies spending the day on their phone or watching tv or just not engaged with the children. After hearing so many stories, it hit me again! I’m starting an agency! So I did! I knew nothing. About running a business. About the Nanny industry. All I knew was that I wanted to help other nannies become better. To help them grow. And to provide parents with quality care. By my surprise, Childhood FUNdamentals took off. Quickly. But I wanted to be more than just a nanny agency. I wanted to inspire. So I offered other services like weekly lesson plans, 90 day replacements, childcare memberships, parent education, curriculum, babysitting services. The list goes on. During all of this, I’m still learning the industry. And i learned about the lack of laws and support that domestic workers have. So then I started Ohio Nanny Association, a private organization for Nannies in Ohio. We plan to fully launch in 2025 and will provide trainings, conferences, Nanny playdates, meet ups and an abundance of other great benefits for Nannies in Ohio.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think the hardest part for me was the business side of it. I had to learn everything myself. I started this journey alone, so I literally had to figure things out along the way. Thanks to my established reputation as a teacher, referrals were at my feet and I didn’t have a hard time getting clients. Also thanks to social media. I share a lot of my crafts, education, certifications, and my personality in general for parents to easily get a glimpse of who they’re working with, and that has helped me tremendously. But when we start talking about marketing, SEOs, finances, taxes and all that good stuff I had to educate myself. I appreciate the journey, but man it was hard!

As you know, we’re big fans of Childhood FUNdamentals. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Childhood FUNdamentals is a Professional Nanny placement agency that specializes in assisting parents in finding their “Mary Poppins”. We recruit, train and vet our Nannies to provide trusting care and provide lots of FUN. We are known as the agency that “sticks around” beyond placements. After a successful placement at Childhood FUNdamentals, both parents and Nannies are provided ongoing support including contract assistance, payroll, lesson plans, discounted childcare memberships, conflict management and more! Our ongoing support is what sets us apart from other agencies. Our goal isn’t just placements, but to provide a loving, nurturing environment for all parties including the kiddos. I am most proud of our efforts to make sure children are provided developmentally appropriate activities and hands on learning right in the comfort of their home. “From the classroom to the living room” has been my go to quote that best describe my vision for my company. Ensuring parents that opt for in home care that their children don’t have to miss out on classroom experiences.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love partnerships! I love connecting with my community and other businesses to create magical childhood memories. We do an annual back to school drive that has been a success and I love it when other businesses are involved. I am a believer that it takes a village. During our full launch for Ohio Nanny Association, I am hoping to connect with more educators and trainers to provide nannies in ohio as much knowledge as possible to support their career. I also look forward to connecting with other Nannies in Ohio for our play dates and meet ups.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.childhoodfundamentals.com