Au Pairs
What is an au pair?
An au pair is someone who is staying in your home living with your family for a period of three to twelve months. She is not a professional carer. She is there on a type of exchange so that she can learn about another culture and live in a family. The idea is that an au pair is like a big sister. She's given pocket money, about 60 or 70 pounds a week, to do some extra chores, maybe collect the children from school. But she should never really be left in complete sole charge of your children. An au pair is between the ages of 18 and 27. So she's a young girl or boy who has come to another country to learn the language study the culture.
What is an 'au pair plus' and a 'mother helper'?
An au pair plus is someone who has been an au pair for maybe two years and perhaps their English isn't proficient enough to be a professional nanny, but they will have a bit more experience, and command a slightly higher salary than an au pair does. This means that they can have more responsibilities. You can probably feel more confidently leaving your children alone with them. A mother's help is a professional nanny without that much experience, and she works alongside the mother. She will earn a little less than a nanny with several years of experience, and possibly be a bit younger.
When should I use an au pair?
An au pair can be quite good for a family who have older children, who only need care for a few hours a day after school, because it is quite difficult to find a nanny willing to work from the hours of 3:00 'til 7:00 PM, say. And when you have older school-age children if there's a problem they can tell you, whereas, a younger child won't be able to tell you. Also, an au pair is a much more affordable option for a family if you have a spare bedroom, and she can be someone who's quite fun for the kids to have to play and help with their homework. She would probably be a bit more down at their level because she'll be younger as well.
How can I find an au pair?
The best thing to do if you looking for an au pair, is really to go to an agency because finding an au pair through a website can be tricky. Because they are not professionals and they do come from other countries - it is going to be very difficult to confirm that they have a clear police record and also to check the references that they have. Unless you speak the local language from the country that they come from, I'd recommend going to an agency to find an au pair.
What should I look for in an au pair?
When you're looking for an au pair, you don't tend to meet her before she moves into your home, but you can talk to her on the phone. You must remember, though, that she's coming to the country to learn the language, so she probably won't be able to communicate with you very well. But, you should really find out why the au pair is wanting to come to a country, and why she's wanting to au pair while she's there. She should have a direct interest in your children, as well as a nanny does.
What can I expect from an au pair?
From an au pair you can expect that you will have to teach them how to do everything, because they most likely wouldn't have had to cook for children before. You'll need to be very clear with your instructions because her English probably won't be very good, and you should spend at least a few weeks taking her through everything. If she's going to do the school run, you should accompany her to the school and back for a few weeks so that you know that your children are going to be safe. Before an au pair comes to your house, you should have a contract arranged with her that states if you want her to do cooking and any cleaning. Remember, an au pair is only there to work thirty hours a week so you shouldn't expect too much.
Why should I get an au pair?
An au pair can be a great asset to a family. She may teach your children her local language, they may learn a lot about her culture. She may be a great help with homework and be very creative, and she may even be a great cook. You can benefit a lot from an au pair without having the cost of a nanny.
Is an au pair a full time child carer?
An au pair is not a full time child carer. They are not someone who has any professional experience necessarily. They are there just be a helping hand in your home.
How much do I pay an au pair?
An au pair is between £60 and £80 per week. Some au pairs are about between £120 and £140 per week, and that's because they have probably been an au pair for a few years already.
How do I make my au pair feel at home?
You should make your au pair feel like she's a part of the family. She should have meals with you. She should go on any family outings with you. She should really feel comfortable in your home, because she is there to learn about the culture. And she has left her own home and she needs a family environment to be in, so that she's happy and stays for a long time.
What ground rules do I need to set?
Before your au pair starts, and before she even leaves her country, you should have a contract with her that states whether or not she's allowed to have any friends over to your house, because she will be living with you. You should have rules about what she's going to do with the children, if she's allowed to discipline the children or not. What her duties are expected to be. What hours you expect her to work. You should have rules about when she's allowed to go out until. Because she's living in your home, you don't want her coming home at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning every night, so you need to make sure that these things are all very clear. You should also make sure that this lady, or childminder, can take care of up to six children, and if she is planning on going to the park with six children, you should check that she's going to be able to cope with that number of children on her own.
How much time off do I give an au pair?
An au pair gets two days off per week, and she should only work 30 to 35 hours per week. She should have time to go to language school.
Will an au pair help with babysitting?
You can ask an au pair to babysit but it should be included in the 30 or 35 hours she works per week. If you want her to do extra babysitting then she should be paid extra at an hourly rate that she has agreed before she starts working for you.
What do I do if we are not getting on with our au pair?
If you're not getting on with your au pair, it's best that she doesn't stay. You could either organize another family for her to live with, or your au pair should, perhaps, go home. It's too difficult to have someone that's not getting on with you and your children living in your home.
