A Great Childcare Solution, the Au Pair

Parents of young children, especially those with two or more children, know how difficult it is to balance life, family and work. Many parents need an extra set of hands in the form of a nanny or childcare to help give their children the care and attention they need. Finding the right childcare provider is one of the most challenging decisions parents make as the childcare provider they choose has a direct impact on the safety and wellbeing of their children. Parents need a trustworthy caregiver that also offers the affordability and flexibility a busy family requires.

One affordable and flexible option that is available to busy parents who need childcare is hosting a live-in au pair. Au pairs are young people from abroad who are adventurous and educated. They travel for one year to America to share their love for children with their host family. Au pairs are interested in experiencing and learning about American culture by living with a host family, taking part in the community, and taking local college classes. An au pair is a great childcare solution for many families, especially those who love to travel and learn about other cultures. If you want to educate our children about the world and other cultures, a cultural exchange through an au pair is a great way to do so.

Au pair programs in the United States are regulated by the U.S. Department of State. This gives parents who host an au pair the peace of mind that their children are in trusted and qualified care. Typically, an au pair lives and studies in the U.S. for one year with a J-1 cultural exchange visa that requires them to provide 45 hours of childcare per week. The U.S. Department of State also requires that au pairs be between the ages of 18 and 26 and must speak proficient English. Au pairs must complete a comprehensive application that includes references related to childcare, personal references, a criminal check, a medical examination, and an essay about why they want to join the program.

Hosting an au pair is usually a very affordable option, especially for families with more than one child who would have to pay for both children to attend daycare. Hosting an au pair usually costs about 300 dollars per week. Having an au pair gives your children a caring environment with one on one attention. Au pairs provide flexible and affordable childcare as well as teach children about the larger world around them. Hosting an au pair gives you the opportunity to help a young person experience the American culture as well as gives you a great child care solution.