Child Care Solutions: Au Pair

The school year is ending, and many parents will find it necessary to find full-day child care for the summer. One solution to this common dilemma is to bring an au pair into your home for the season.

What is an Au Pair?

"Au pair" is French for "on par," or equal to. An au pair is a foreign national, usually a young woman between the ages of 18 and 26, who lives in your home to assist with child care and light housekeeping duties. The au pair is not to be considered a domestic servant, but an extended (although temporary) family member who is included in family activities such as meal times, outings, vacations, and holiday celebrations.

The au pair is often a student who wishes to study abroad. Au pair agencies offer both one-year and summer programs. The au pair your family has chosen may wish to extend her stay with you at the end of the program, or relocate to a new family in a different part of the country to broaden her experience.

The Duties of an Au Pair

The au pair is given a set number of hours she must work during the day (no more than ten hours a day, up to 45 hours per week), as well as time off on weekends and vacation time. Her duties may include dropping the children off at school and picking them up, providing child care while the parents are at work, helping them with homework, and helping the children to keep their rooms clean. She is not a general housekeeper or responsible for managing the household; caring for the family's children is her intended purpose.

The Host Family's Obligations

The au pair receives room and board for her services, as well as a stipend which is usually the current minimum wage. The host family is required to provide the au pair her own private room. Although she is to be considered one of the family, she may choose to spend her free time in her room to allow the family some privacy, or engage in social activities or sight-seeing.

Locating an Au Pair

Au pair agencies, such as Au Pair USA, will help you find an au pair that fits your lifestyle and child care needs. A reputable au pair agency will not rely on computer-generated matches, but will interview the host family to identify the qualities in a child care provider that are important to them. You will receive the au pair application to review, and may speak to the candidate on the telephone a few times before your decision is made. Your family should always have the final say when you chose to have an au pair living in your home to provide child care for your precious children.

The Benefits of Hosting an Au Pair

This cultural exchange program benefits the family in more ways than just providing reliable child care. The family can learn about other cultures, and the relationship may continue for years beyond the time the au pair lives in your home. Your children will have yet another adult who cares about them and may even come to love them. And in this day, don't our children need all the love they can get?