“The continuity of having an au pair brought my family peace of mind knowing we had someone helping us each and every day.” says the White Family. This sentiment is shared by busy American families throughout the nation as more people discover the benefits of live-in childcare. Hosting an au pair provides families with tremendous value. Not only do they benefit from having in-home childcare provided by a carefully screened au pair, they find the program is economical in comparison to other types of childcare. The average weekly cost is about $340 a week (or $7.50 an hour) for up to ten hours per day and 45 hours of weekly childcare regardless of the number of children in the family.
Families who have tried other forms of childcare agree that the au pair program offers the best flexibility while providing a rich cultural experience for the entire family creating relationships that last a lifetime. Au Pair Nicole from Germany describes herself as respectful, dependable and creative. She became interested in the au pair program to fulfill her dream of combining the opportunity to perfect her English skills, learn about American culture and make a difference in the lives of her host children. Because of her rewarding experience she went on to become a primary school teacher when she returned to her native country and continues to correspond with her host family.
Host families find the diversity of the au pair applicants allows them to choose an au pair with the childcare experience, special skills, interests and personality that will best fit their family’s lifestyle. The screening process provides host family’s peace of mind knowing each applicant has had their childcare experience, personality, skills and motivation for becoming an au pair prior properly vetted prior to being accepted into the program. Although all agencies are regulated by the Department of State not all agencies provide the same quality of customer service. When researching which au pair agency is right for your family be sure to check the Better Business Bureau’s website to see which agencies received an A+ rating. You should also look closely at the training offered to each au pair as they arrive in the US. A quality agency provides au pairs with a special program designed to focus on childcare and safety topics as well as American culture and what they can expect when living with an American family.
Most agencies offer the opportunity for host families and au pairs to extend their program six, nine or twelve additional months beyond the first year but only one agency offers an Infant Specialized program which is uniquely designed to train au pair’s in the American style of care giving and development for infants and is especially important for families with twins or triplets. The Curkowski family says, “Camilia’s training put us at ease. Not only did she have great experience caring for children, but she was also trained by Au Pair Care, which gave us peace of mind. Most moms are nervous about having someone take care of their baby, so peace of mind is worth a lot.” In addition to bathing, bedtime and car seat safety Au Pair Care’s 4-day hands-on Infant Specialized training program includes infant CPR certification, infant massage and baby sign language. Infant specialized au pair’s arrive in their host family homes with an advanced skill set and ready to fulfill their host family’s expectations.
Each family dynamic is unique and the au pair program offers a customized childcare fit. The Curkowski’s speak for a typical family noting, “Our family needed one-on-one and hired our au pair to spend most of her time with our baby. With the new baby, we didn’t want our older children in daycare where they would be more prone to get sick.” In today’s economy look for an agency that offers a family friendly payment plan that fits your budget. Talk to the local Area Director living in your community who is a great resource providing ongoing support to both you and your au pair. The au pair program is a wonderful cross cultural experience your whole family will benefit from and a great childcare option that fits your budget.
To learn more about the au pair program visit www.aupaircare.com or call 800-428-7247 to speak to a program advisor.
