Put yourself in your host family’s shoes. This is especially helpful when discussing issues such as pocket money, working hours, tasks and recreational activities.
Remember why you chose to be an au pair- whether it was for a change of scenery, resume building or learning a new language. Then, remind yourself how much you have to offer your host family.
Your Host Family
As an Au Pair, you are not the family’s employee, but a close and often-loved member of the household. You live on an equal footing with the host family and are paid a weekly stipend for your room, board and childcare services. In addition, you receive a minimum of 32 hours of professional training before you start your program.
You are a part of the family in all ways, and this can be emotionally draining at times. If you are someone who needs time alone or who struggles with balancing a personal life with a job and a family, hosting an au pair may not be for you. However, for many of our au pairs and host families, this is one of the most satisfying aspects of their experience abroad!
It is a great way for a young person to become part of a new and exciting culture. Moreover, it is also a great opportunity for a family to teach their children about a different culture and language. Our au pairs are from all over the world, and they bring their languages, culture, and experiences to your home!
Pablo, an au pair from Spain who has been working with his American host family for the past year, explains that he learned more from the kids he looked after than he taught them. This is a common sentiment among our au pairs, and is one of the reasons why so many extend their stay with their host families for up to two years!
When interviewing potential host families, it is important to determine the expectations of their live-in caretaker. Be sure to ask the family about their daily routine, including any special needs or considerations that their child may have. It is also helpful to ask about what the family’s hopes are for their au pair, such as their preferred age range for an Au Pair and any hobbies or interests that they have. This will help ensure that your au pair will be a good fit for the family, according to expertaupair.com. If you have any questions about how to interview a potential host family, our team at Au Pair USA is always here to help!
Your Host Children
Whether you care for infants, toddlers or school age children, forging a strong bond with your host kids is a major component of the Au Pair experience. It’s likely that your family will expect you to help with the everyday routine, like feeding and bathing the little ones, nurturing their growing minds through games and arts and crafts, reading to them and taking them on outings to explore the local area. It is also likely that you will be asked to help with homework and to drive the kids to activities, after school clubs or appointments.
It’s important to remember that your host children are going through a big transition themselves. They may be resistant to having a new adult in their home. It’s normal for them to be reluctant at first, especially if they have been used to having a babysitter or nanny for much of their lives. But, if you are patient and you find ways to connect with them on their level, then they will warm up to you pretty quickly.
As you get to know the kids in your host family, it’s a good idea to find out what their interests are so that you can plan activities that will appeal to them. This will help to build a connection with them and they will feel valued and included in your daily life. It’s also a great idea to bring out the cultural elements of your native country so that the kids can learn about where you came from and what makes your culture special.
If you want to improve your language skills, try labeling household items with the words in both English and your native language. This will help you to practice and reinforce the words while making a fun game out of it. For example, Au Pair Marrit in Seattle has a habit of covering her house with sticky notes in Dutch, Frisian and English with things like toothbrushes and kitchen appliances. It helps her to remember the names of the items in both languages and it makes her host children laugh, too.
Your Host Au Pair
The term au pair means “on par” or “equal.” These caretakers aren’t household employees or servants, but close-knit members of the families they join. They’re here to learn about their host country and language, and provide flexible live-in childcare that works around a family’s schedule.
For this reason, it’s important for a host family to set clear expectations with their au pair from the start. This usually happens during a video call or regular phone conversation before the au pair’s stay begins, but some host families choose to write up a contract that both parties sign.
Host parents want to make sure they discuss the au pair’s responsibilities in detail, including how many hours of childcare they require each week and what duties they will expect her to complete. Depending on the host family’s needs, these may include preparing meals, cleaning the house, shopping for food and other necessities, running errands, picking up the kids from school and activities, completing homework and reading assignments, and doing laundry.
Families also often ask their au pair to help teach their children about their home country and culture, as well as the languages they speak. This can be done through cooking, games, art projects and songs. It’s also a great way for au pairs to practice their own foreign language skills!
Some au pairs have experience working with a specific age group, but even the most skilled caregiver can run out of ideas from time to time. That’s why it’s important for hosts to have a wide variety of fun activities available for au pairs to choose from. This can include crafts, field trips, indoor and outdoor activities, and more.
Because they are part of the family, au pairs generally eat dinner with the host children and attend some of the same family events as everyone else. But they should be able to have some private time, too. And for this reason, it’s a good idea for au pairs to have their own room in the host house. This might be in the form of an extra bedroom or a separate office space.
Your Host Parents
Host Parents are the people who invite an Au Pair into their home to care for their children and share culture. They provide room, board and a monthly stipend in exchange for Au Pair help with childcare and household duties. They are the backbone of your support system and are there to offer guidance throughout your stay. They are also there to help you navigate any challenges you may encounter during your time as an Au Pair.
Host families come from all walks of life, but what they all have in common is the desire to provide a quality experience for their au pair and their child or children. This experience isn’t for every family, and it is important to understand the expectations involved before agreeing to host an Au Pair in your home.
Many Au Pairs say that one of the most challenging aspects of their Au Pair experience is understanding how to interact with a new family. This is a big adjustment and can be especially hard for some Au Pairs to master if the children have any special needs. It’s also important to remember that it can take a while for an Au Pair to get accustomed to the lifestyle of a typical American family and its many quirks.
The relationship with your host children is the heart of your Au Pair experience and you will likely become an extended member of their family during your time together. This is an exciting and fun opportunity to learn about a new culture, make lifelong friends and create lasting memories. Whether you are pumpkin carving together on Halloween, baking cookies together on Christmas or building snowmen in the winter – this is a once in a lifetime chance to celebrate your host children’s interests and develop a close bond!
Having a live-in caregiver can be difficult to adjust to, but it’s vital to communicate with your host parent(s) regularly to clarify the boundaries and maintain healthy relationships. It’s also important to have open and honest communication with your au pair about their goals for their year as an Au Pair – whether it’s to build up their resume, get a change of scenery, or learn a new language. The goal is for both you and your au pair to walk away from this experience having gained improved English skills, newfound independence, and a deeper connection with the local community and its citizens.
