Finding the best nanny was never the whole answer

The systems your household needs.
The expertise to build them.

The Formator Institute supports families, childcare professionals, and agencies through expert Nanny Training, clear system design, advanced professional development, and strong partnerships that lead to stable, high-quality care.

Nanny Training That Builds Better Childcare Together

Professional Nanny Training for Modern Childcare.

The Formator Institute supports families, childcare professionals, and agencies through expert Nanny Training, clear system design, advanced professional development, and strong partnerships that lead to stable, high-quality care.

Tell Us Who You Are.
Find the Right Nanny Training for You

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Why Our Nanny Training Model Works for Everyone

When families, childcare professionals, and agencies align through structured Nanny Training, shared systems and expectations, care becomes more consistent, sustainable, and effective for everyone involved.

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Our Mission:

Children are shaped by every caring hand in their lives. We ensure those hands work in harmony.
We train professionals in methods proven in private family environments. We coordinate care teams so your child's development compounds rather than fragments. We build systems that work—across properties, through transitions, within the complexity of your family's life. And we partner with those who share our commitment to raising what this industry delivers.
Today's children become tomorrow's parents. Today's professionals become tomorrow's mentors. Today's excellence becomes tomorrow's standard.
We're not just shaping childhoods. We're shaping generations.

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Our Values

Communication

Clear communication and aligned expectations across care teams

Professional

Professional systems that support growth and accountability

Stability

Stability and continuity for children and families over time

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Founded by Dr. Virginia Schwager

”I don't leave until every person in the room has a path forward.”

Dr. Ginny
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Dr. Ginny Schwager

Founder & Lead Consultant

Fifteen years inside private homes. A doctorate, a methodology, and a life governed by the same principles your household requires.

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Every great institution has a symbol.

Meet Marti

The pine marten is curious by nature, adaptable across environments, and fiercely devoted to those in its care. So are we. Marti represents everything the Formator Institute stands for — and everything we believe exceptional childcare professionals can become.

Trusted by Families and Childcare Professionals

Real experiences from families and childcare professionals who trust our Nanny Training and care systems.

Family and Household Testimonials

S.L., Lead Montessori Teacher for Private High-Profile Client
S.L., Lead Montessori Teacher for Private High-Profile Client
"Dr. Schwager's exceptional capabilities in team leadership and strategic planning transformed our operations. Her ability to unify diverse team members and establish structured communication channels demonstrated exactly what The Formator Institute teaches — the kind of operational insight crucial for high-level household and childcare management."
J.M., Private Family
J.M., Private Family
"The Formator Institute's approach to developmental support coordination proved invaluable for our family. With three children, including one diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and infant twins with developmental delays, their team seamlessly integrated occupational, speech, feeding, and physical therapy into daily care."
J.M., Childcare Team Administrator for Private Home Office
J.M., Childcare Team Administrator for Private Home Office
"Dr. Schwager's remarkable attention to detail — whether designing efficient systems or creating structured routines — exemplifies what The Formator Institute brings to families: meticulous planning and precision execution."
K.H., Private Family
K.H., Private Family
"Our experience with The Formator Institute exceeded expectations. Dr. Schwager was the consummate professional — discerning, dignified and polished. Her educational training and years of childcare experience made her uniquely qualified to manage both domestic and international travel across our various homes with excellence."

Childcare Professional and Student Testimonials

Brittany G., Certified Formator
Brittany G., Certified Formator
"The Certified Formator Course gave language and structure to work I was already doing intuitively, while deepening my understanding of developmental science, documentation, communication, and employment practices. It helped me connect the dots between how children develop, how families function, and how thoughtful systems support everyone involved. The biggest insight: Professionalism and care are not at odds — they support one another. Clear communication and sound employment practices create the stability that allows me to be more present, relational, and effective in my caregiving. This training gave me a clearer sense of purpose and direction. I feel more grounded and confident in how I position myself professionally."
Brit A., Certified Formator
Brit A., Certified Formator
"I'm a career nanny specializing in ultra-high-net-worth families and international travel. After experiencing serious burnout, I was truly questioning my place in the industry. Speaking with Dr. Ginny and being introduced to the Formator Institute gave me such a refreshing view of my role and career. It really gives me hope — both for industry standards and for all the new caregivers to come."
Ashley S., Certified Formator
Ashley S., Certified Formator
"Learning about the history of nannying was really interesting. Diving into the problems that exist within our industry — regarding confidence and being able to convey all that we do to families — was so eye-opening and validating."
Allison T., Certified Formator
Allison T., Certified Formator
"The SBAR and LISTEN frameworks were eye-opening. They helped me see that I have a much more developed skill set when it comes to child-focused problem solving than I originally assumed. I was already doing this work — I just didn't have the language for it."
Brittany G., Certified Formator
Brittany G., Certified Formator
"The Certified Formator Course gave language and structure to work I was already doing intuitively, while deepening my understanding of developmental science, documentation, communication, and employment practices. It helped me connect the dots between how children develop, how families function, and how thoughtful systems support everyone involved. The biggest insight: Professionalism and care are not at odds — they support one another. Clear communication and sound employment practices create the stability that allows me to be more present, relational, and effective in my caregiving. This training gave me a clearer sense of purpose and direction. I feel more grounded and confident in how I position myself professionally."
Brit A., Certified Formator
Brit A., Certified Formator
"I'm a career nanny specializing in ultra-high-net-worth families and international travel. After experiencing serious burnout, I was truly questioning my place in the industry. Speaking with Dr. Ginny and being introduced to the Formator Institute gave me such a refreshing view of my role and career. It really gives me hope — both for industry standards and for all the new caregivers to come."
Ashley S., Certified Formator
Ashley S., Certified Formator
"Learning about the history of nannying was really interesting. Diving into the problems that exist within our industry — regarding confidence and being able to convey all that we do to families — was so eye-opening and validating."
Allison T., Certified Formator
Allison T., Certified Formator
"The SBAR and LISTEN frameworks were eye-opening. They helped me see that I have a much more developed skill set when it comes to child-focused problem solving than I originally assumed. I was already doing this work — I just didn't have the language for it."

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about our approach and services

What is the Formator Institute?

The Formator Institute is an education, consulting, and advisory organization that supports families, childcare professionals, and agencies in complex private households.

The Formator Institute serves families, experienced nannies, and agencies seeking stronger childcare systems and professional standards.

The Formator Institute supports nannies through professional training, certification, consulting, and career development services.

The Formator Institute provides certification programs, professional training, consulting, and systems support to help nannies succeed in private households.

You can get started by selecting your path on the homepage or scheduling a consultation.

The next step is a conversation.

Tell us where you are. We will take it from there.

Dr. Ginny
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Dr. Ginny Schwager

Clarity about who I am arrived early. A quiet life has called to me since childhood — gardening, long walks with my border collie, evenings by a wood fire, a village in the Alps I return to each year because it reminds me what unhurried feels like. That disposition — attuned, observant, drawn to order — is what I carried into fifteen years inside private homes. And it is what allowed me to see what others overlooked: that fractured systems were destroying the very conditions children need most — calm, play, and consistency. The Formator Institute exists because it didn’t have to be that way. The families we serve tend to find us when they are ready for something different.

Academic Credentials:

  • Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology, Springfield College
  • M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, Springfield College
  • B.A. in Psychology, University of Connecticut.

Professional Certifications:

  • Leadership Principles, Harvard Business School 
  • Performance Coach, Heroic PBC Certificate 
  • Parent Facilitator, Circle of Security 
  • Life Coach, Optimize Certificate 
  • Adoption Competency, C.A.S.E 
  • Maternal Mental Health, Seleni Institute 
  • Fertility Counseling, Covington 

A thought leader and speaker for the private service industry, she has been featured on the Easemakers Podcast discussing strategies for reducing turnover and building support systems in high-net-worth households, and has presented on “The Evolution of Childcare Operations in Private Homes” for the childcare professional community.