If you have already found and invited an Au Pair, one important step is done already. Nevertheless, there is still a lot coming. Before the Au Pair arrives, there are a few things you need to take care of and prepare. The following advice can be very helpful if this is your first Au Pair, but also if you have some experience with Au Pairs. You should think about the following points before the Au Pair arrives, or in the first days with an Au Pair.
Before the departure, there are still a few formalities you and your Au Pair need to take care of. Who is going to pay for the travel expenses? In most of the cases, the Au Pair is responsible for it. However, you could still refund the costs once the Au Pair joins your family.
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Moreover, the Au Pair will need to get information about the validity of her
health insurance abroad. You could support your Au Pair by gathering all the important information, organizing the most suitable insurance for her/him, and ensuring that it will be valid from the first day on. Do not forget to make a
contract with the Au Pair and sign it. It is important that you discuss all the contract details in a video call with the Au Pair, and both of you
sign it before the beginning of the stay. This way, you will
avoid misunderstandings and get your stay off to a good start.
Even before the Au Pair arrives you should stay in contact with the Au Pair to get to know each other better and improve the relationship. Skype and phone regularly or write E-Mails to each other. Having regular contact with your Au Pair will help you
build a relationship with her even before she arrives. That way, when you pick her up at the airport, you will feel like you are picking up someone you already know, not a complete stranger! Beginning your Au Pair experience with a level of trust is crucial to a successful stay, based on mutual respect and communication.
Especially if this is your first Au Pair, you need to prepare your children for the new situation. Explain who this new person is who will be living with you, and make it clear that the Au Pair
will be a family member, almost as a big sister/brother, but that the kids also need to respect the Au Pair.
Show the children pictures of the Au Pair and let them meet in a video call. This way, also their relationship will start to have a foundation and your child will be excited to meet the Au Pair.
Make sure that
the Au Pair’s room looks welcoming and is well furnished before the Au Pair arrives. Make repairs, clean, and tidy up the room. Decorate the room with something you know she or he will like and buy some flowers or
a small gift. This small gesture will make all the difference in your relationship!
There are also a few things you should think about during the first few days after the Au Pair's arrival that may help you. Make sure that the Au Pair feels
comfortable and welcome, and try to be understanding of her or his situation. The Au Pair needs time to adjust to the new situation with a new family and a
new culture and you need to respect that.
Take your time with the Au Pair. It is a good idea to take the first few days off so that you can spend as much time as possible with the Au Pair to get him/her closer to the people, neighborhood, and tasks. Show the Au Pair the important routes, e.g. to school and nursery, and introduce the Au Pair there. Explain how the public transportation system works, as well as how appliances work in your home.
Do not forget to make family rules and a weekly plan, so the
Au Pair routine is clear to all family members. According to your country’s regulations, plan in advance to register the Au Pair with the responsible offices and a
language school and open a
bank account.
Duties of the Host Family
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