The Au Pair

What Is An Au Pair?

An Au Pair is usually a young adult from a foreign country who provides child care and possibly a small amount of "light" domestic work for a family in exchange for room and board and a chance to learn the family’s language. The actual term “Au Pair” is French and, literally translated, means, “at the equal”: Au Pairs should be treated as part of your family, living and eating with you, helping around the house and partaking in family events, much as a teenage son or daughter of a great friend or relative would if they were staying with you. 

What Is An Au Pair Expected To Do?

An Au Pair is not a trained nanny, and will probably not be trained at housework either! We have had Au Pairs who were natural and relaxed with our young children, and others who were ill at ease and uncomfortable. In the same way we have had tidy Au Pairs who enjoyed cooking, washing up and ironing, and an Au Pair who regularly ruined every load of washing she put on (until she was stopped and I started to do her washing as well as our own). Please be prepared to train your Au Pair, teach them what you expect around the house, and give them ideas for playing with your kids. Don't expect them to look after very young children entirely on their own, for long hours. An Au Pair is a helping hand, not a nanny.

What Is An Au Pair Paid?

An Au Pair should have their own private room, a television, all food provided, easy access to a bathroom, and some "pocket money", currently around £50 a week in the UK. For that they will work a maximum of 5 hours a day with one full day off and one or two evenings' babysitting required. They must have time to attend language classes if they wish.

Great For The Kids?

The advantage of simply having your child care provider live with you and your family can be enormous, especially for the children. Having an Au Pair adds consistency to your children’s care. They will come to think of the Au Pair as a friend or extended family member, rather than simply a baby sitter or someone who substitutes for their parents when their parents can’t be there. This results in seamless care for your children. Often the most difficult part of child care can be the transition, for example, when you are dropping the kids off at the child care facility or at the babysitters. With live in child care in the form of an Au Pair, transitions like these are smoothed out. An Au Pair can have the energy and enthusiasm to take the kids to the park or to play endless games in the garden, when you might have given up long ago!

Getting The Chores Done

Au Pairs offer help with light housework and other household tasks. While it is important to set rules and respect your Au Pair’s needs and limitations, most Au Pairs are more than willing to take on some chores that will help the family have more quality time together, like laundry, some cleaning, cooking and helping to prepare meals.  Au Pairs will definitely help to keep your children’s rooms tidy, ensure that children are doing their part to contribute to household chores and help with homework, which will in turn help you to focus on your work.

Learning About Other Cultures

Perhaps the biggest advantage to hosting an Au Pair is that Au Pairs may come from all over the world and therefore they can offer a unique cultural exchange for you and your family. This sort of cultural exchange can enrich your children’s learning experience and expand their knowledge of the world around them. An Au Pair can be an excellent option for families that are seeking to introduce a foreign language to their children or who want to emphasize the importance of travel and knowledge of the world as an important part of their children’s education. 

Help For Large Families

If you have several children, having an Au Pair can be an effective and flexible solution to your child care challenges.  Au Pairs will care for more than one child and because they live with your family that care will be more specific and more targeted to your families needs.  Let’s face it, finding care that is specific to your families needs can be a challenge no matter what size family you have.

Whatever reason you may have for choosing an Au Pair, it is important to remember that, ultimately your child’s care is always in your hands.  You set the rules, with your children and with the Au Pair.  However, in order for an Au Pair to feel like a member of the family and give care and support like a member of the family she should be treated as one. This will not only help your Au Pair to give the best care she can, but will help you kids to think of her and respect he as a part of the extended family. Treat your Au Pair as you would wish your own teenage daughter or son to be treated if they were an Au Pair in a stranger's house, and you shouldn't go wrong.

Coming Soon

Finding an Au Pair

Setting The Ground Rules For An Au Pair

What To Do When Things Turn Sour

Au Pair Agencies - Are They Necessary?