An au pair’s daily responsibilities include playing with the children, helping them with homework, and getting dressed for school. They might also help with garden work and occasionally vacuum the house.
It is also common for au pairs to participate in family activities on weekends and holidays. Asking about their hobbies and interests is a great way to learn about an au pair.
Light Housework
An au pair from Go Au Pair is not just a babysitter but an individual who will work for a family in exchange for a room and meals. She may be required to do light housework such as cleaning, vacuuming, and laundry.
She will probably be expected to help prepare meals and snacks for the children. Inquiring about any dietary restrictions or preferences is recommended at the outset.
An au pair will likely be asked to support the family with homework, including helping the child to understand their school lessons and assist them with any work they are struggling with.
An au pair may also be expected to weed, water, and harvest the family garden. She may also be expected to do some grocery shopping. Au pairs will also be expected to clean and tidy their room.
If the family has a washing machine and dryer, an au pair must learn how to use these. An au pair must be prepared to deal with household emergencies – whether it is Jeffrey getting his head stuck in a toy or the cat eating the host’s favorite sweater!
She will need to be able to think on her feet and have solutions. Discussing emergencies with your au pair when she arrives is a good idea, as this will help them feel more comfortable in their new home.
Childcare
Working with children requires a great deal of mental and physical preparation. It’s essential to consider the practical details involved in your responsibilities, like packing comfortable clothes and shoes you can wear for hours or keeping a pair of slippers at home for indoor/outdoor temperature shifts and muddy walks.
You’ll also need to be prepared for childcare duties, such as helping kids with homework, making meals, or washing and drying their clothing and towels. Your host family will outline these responsibilities in your au pair contract and weekly schedule.
This way, both parties know what you’ll be doing and when. Generally, au pairs are expected to provide up to 10 hours a day/45 hours a week of childcare. This role is crucial to providing a fun and safe environment for the children in your care.
This may include planning activities, playing games, reading stories, or taking them on outings and errands. Your host family will also expect you to help prepare children for school and assist them with their daily routine, including getting ready in the morning, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and completing homework and lunch boxes.
Socializing
An au pair is considered a family member and should be treated as such, so don’t be surprised to be invited to dinner parties, social events, or other activities. It’s an opportunity to get to know the host family and learn about their culture and your own.
An essential aspect of being an au pair is to make a real connection with the children in the family you are working with. This means getting to know them well, as well as being able to engage the children with a variety of fun and exciting activities.
Keeping the children entertained is also essential without being overly strict or disciplined. Being a good au pair also entails being able to perform some light household tasks such as laundry, cleaning the children’s rooms and organizing toys, making meals for the family, running errands (that pertain to the kids), grocery shopping, and taking the kids to appointments.
It’s essential to ensure that the childcare and household responsibilities are clearly defined within the au pair contract and weekly schedule so that both au pairs and the family are clear on expectations.
One of the best ways to see if an au pair will be a good fit for your family is by asking about their experiences working with kids. Asking them what age range they are comfortable with and what activities they can help give you a sense of their style.
You can also ask them about their own families and what sort of relationships they have with their siblings.
Travel
An au pair’s work hours are limited to no more than 45 a week and 10 hours a day, so there is little room in her schedule for running errands. Yet, many families expect their au pairs to do just that occasionally – dropping off dry cleaning or picking up food on the way home from work.
If you are looking for an au pair who can run errands besides her childcare duties, you must ask them about it during your interview process. It’s also good to talk with them about it before they arrive, so they know what is expected of them and clearly understand the boundaries that should be established.
Au pairs need a support system, just as it is for any family member. This can help them feel more comfortable living in a new household, especially far from their homes and friends. Find out what types of friends they enjoy spending time with and see if you can connect them with people from their area.
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