Au pairs are used by families from all over the world who are looking for someone to look after their children while they are at work. This is also an opportunity for someone with childcare knowledge and experience to live with a family, learn a new culture, and experience a new city, town, or country.
To be an au pair, you need more than just the ability to cook or clean, you need to have the necessary childcare skills to give host families peace of mind and help you secure a suitable position in the area that interests you.
Some families will have one child, others may have three, even four. You will be responsible for taking care of the children during the day with some possible work at night. If you live in the house, you can also expect to be asked to babysit from time to time, which will allow parents to attend functions and events.
The first thing you need to do is find a reputable au pair agency. This will allow you to join and be part of the selection process whenever a host family is looking for someone to join their household and care for their children. The agency is an important part of the process and can provide security for you and your family, rather than going directly to the family and making your own arrangements. Au pair agencies provide you with support, help you with the transition to a new city or country, and have a team available to help you with the relocation process.
It is imperative that you understand the duties associated with this type of role. Each household may have different requirements, but one of the most common requests is someone with childcare experience who has a driver’s license. Remember that you will be responsible for the children, this means that you will have to take them to school, pick them up when school is over, take them to sporting events and also accompany them to doctor and dentist appointments. If you don’t drive, this can be a serious problem, especially in the more rural areas outside of the city.
You will need to have some experience in the kitchen. You are expected to prepare meals for the children when they get home from school, and on occasion you may have to prepare dinner for them. A good understanding of healthy eating can be critical to ensuring children get a good, well-balanced meal.
After the children have eaten, you may need to help them with their homework. You will have to help them with their reading, arithmetic, writing and more while the parents are at work. You will need to let parents know when they get home that homework has been completed correctly and that the children are ready for the next day.
You will be required to work while the children are at school. This is not a moment of relaxation, but it can vary from one home to another. Your au pair agency will provide you with a full list of your expected duties. In most cases, you will be expected to clean the children’s rooms, do their laundry and even do some house cleaning, washing dishes and general dusting.
As an au pair, you want the best for the children and this includes planning some activities for once the task is complete. If you are caring for a baby, you may want to join a baby group in the area to stimulate the baby. If you are caring for older children, planning fun afternoon activities can ensure that the children have a great all-round experience.