Host Family experience: How to host an Au Pair?

Host an Au Pair: Testimonials

Embracing and teaching cultural differences

Try to integrate aspects of the other culture, such as a typical dish, music, etc. In this way, you make it easier for the Au Pair to get used to the new culture and you benefit from the new impressions and get to know new tastes.

Tolerance is an important point: Maybe your Au Pair belongs to a different religion or is shy or even very affectionate at the beginning. Try to understand your Au Pair and tolerate foreign habits.

Always remember that an Au Pair is not an employee but a new member of the family. So the more you learn from each other, the better your experience as a Host Family and the Au Pair experience in general will be.

Finding a suitable Au Pair

Finding a suitable Au Pair can be more complex than you think. Hints in the Au Pair profile give you important clues as to whether the Au Pair is a good match for you and your family. Take this point very seriously. Only if the Host Family and the Au Pair really fit together, you can guarantee a stable relationship and a positive Host Family experience. Here, too, it is worth taking a look at the testimonials of our former or current Host Families. Most parents emphasise how important it is to get to know each other properly before the stay, not only via chat, but personally in a video interview.

Through the profile of your potential Au Pair, you will get a first impression of the person. Look at the description - this is the heart of every profile. Au Pairs with short, meaningless or no description at all do not give any information about themselves. Look for Au Pairs with a complete description instead.

Experience

Experience in childcare is also an important factor. Au Pairs who have had to take care of their younger siblings or cousins are promising candidates. Experience working with children is also a big plus. Meanwhile, you can take notes on the individual Au Pairs and think about what questions you would like to ask during a video interview with your future Au Pair.

Hobbies

Another important point is the hobbies or sports activities of the Au Pair. Hobbies give a good insight into the Au Pair'spersonality and skills. From this, potential leisure activities with the children can often be deduced. For example, a football enthusiastic Au Pair fits in with children who would like to play in a club. Even if your children are not enthusiastic about sports, an active Au Pair may be able to spark their interest.

Driving licence

Depending on where you live, it may be important that the Au Pair has a driving licence. Some Au Pairs are used to city life and never needed a car. However, it may be an advantage to look for an Au Pair who has a driving licence.

Response rate

Also have a look at the response rate. In the Au Pair's profile you will see three circles, one of them with a percentage. This is the Au Pair's response rate. The higher this rate, the more committed the Au Pair is in his/her search.

Experience abroad and language skills

Last but not least, Au Pairs who already have experience abroad are used to not living at home. Therefore, you do not have to worry about the Au Pair getting homesick. Au Pairs who also learn the language of the host country show a great interest in the new culture and usually have fewer problems integrating into the new environment and the new family.

Nevertheless, you should always arrange a video call with your potential Au Pair to get to know them better and to see if the first impression was right. If you can have a good conversation right away, you have found the right Au Pair. Then you will certainly have a lot to talk about during your Au Pair experience.

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