Au pairs are a great alternative to full-time nannies. Most au pairs bring new and fresh ideas into the family. The children will gain some understanding of a foreign culture while also having somebody who is young and active to play with.
While it is possible to ask around and invite an acquaintance, it is fairly easy to find a great au pair through an agency. Most agencies help to match the family with a fitting au pair, but nobody knows better than yourself what kind of help would be best for the family.
Job description and qualifications of an au pair
First of all it is important to define the duties the au pair should help with. Does she just have to watch the children? Should she help with light household tasks such as cleaning and cooking? Does she need to pick up the kids and bring them to various activities and therefore needs a driver's license? Does she have experience with children? Which age group is she confident to work with?
Think about what the children would enjoy. Do they like to run around, listen to stories, do crafts, or cook? Match the au pair's interests with the interests of the children. Also don’t forget to ask her if she has any other skills that she would like to share with the kids, i.e. language, arts, sports, or music. How good is her English? Does she need or want to take classes?
Also don’t forget to think about the every day life the au pair will have to adapt to. Does the girl rather want to stay in a big city or does she prefer nature? Can she deal with a busy schedule? Does she have to take care of a disabled child? Does she care if someone in the family smokes? Does she smoke? Does she like pets? Does she have allergies? Should she join the family going to church or doing other activities? Are there any activities and classes for her to attend? Make a list of what the family expects from the au pair and also a list of what the family can offer.
It is the wrong approach to just think what the family could gain from the au pair. Always be aware that each au pair is also someone’s child, and that her family also wants her to have a good experience being abroad, especially if it is the first time she is away longer from home.
Find au pairs through websites
There are several websites which allow families and au pairs to post descriptions about themselves. One very good one is Au Pair World. On this website users can post personal profiles for free and also search the content. To access the contact information of the au pairs, families pay a one-time fee of 39 Euros, which is good for 90 days.
This way families and au pairs can get to know each other way ahead of time. It is very reassuring for both sides to be in touch for a little while before the au pair arrives. After several letters, emails and phone calls, she won’t be a stranger anymore. The kids know her from photographs and will sure be excited to see her finally in person.
Older au pairs tend to be more independent and are the right choice if there are babies or very little children to watch. Very young au pairs tend to need more guidance and it is very helpful to be clear which duties they will have, before they arrive. Finding the perfect au pair is a two-sided process. It is important that she also chooses the family she is going to stay with. Therefore everybody will be happy.
Finding the perfect au pair is the first step. Learn here about the regulations and visa-requirement for the USA.
Josefine Köhn-Haskins - Josefine Köhn-Haskins is an award winning journalist, author and correspondent.
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