Everything you need to know about life as an au pair.
- Abbie
- Feb 16, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: May 9, 2019
Life as an au pair certainly has its challenges for sure, not every day is all rainbows and butterflies but you form these extremely strong and special bonds. You’d be quite surprised how quickly they become a massive part of your life. My kids never fail to make me smile and they make me laugh every day, honestly, I couldn’t imagine my life without them.
Most of the time when I tell people who aren’t au pairs that I’m an au pair, their first question always is “what is an au pair”,the first thing an au pair says when they find out I’m an English au pair is always “why are you an au pair”
Firstly, what is an au pair?
An au pair is a young person usually ranging from 18-26 years old and they are typically women. There is the odd guys who become au pairs and in the au pair world we call them bro pairs. An au pair will move from their home country to another country the most common places for au pairs to be are: United States, Australia, Germany, China, South Africa, Sweden and Denmark. Being an au pair and becoming a part of a cultural exchange programme is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You gain a new sense of freedom, independence, experience a new culture, make amazing friends, most importantly you get a second family and a home away from home.
An au pair is definitely different to a nanny, for me a nanny is someone who does house chores and is just seen as employer someone who goes home after a days work well thats definitely not what being an au pair is. As an au pair you live with the family and you’ll most likely spend every day with them. They open their home up to you and you find that it very quickly becomes your home, you’ll see them every day so you’ll become a part of their family and you’ll form bonds with them that will last a lifetime.
Your priorities, job role and schedule as an au pair will vary and be different depending on the family that you are with but the main part of the “job” is KIDS!
Secondly, what is an au pair’s role?
Every au pair’s role is different as each and every family’s requirements are different but there is one whole base that always stays the same no matter what family you are with – the kids
As an au pair your main priority is always the kids and you have to remember that as you are in their home and with the kids almost every day you HAVE to set a good example, be an excellent role model and be someone that they can look up to. Some days you can spend more time with the kids than the parents do so it requires you to show them love and affection when they need it the most but also that you are in charge and you give discipline out when necessary. Another role as an au pair is getting the kids to respect you and also respecting them back in return (which is easier said than done). Sometimes being an au pair means you being the “bad guy”,nine times out of ten parents always give in to their children. As an au pair one of your roles is to do your best not to give in. Stand your ground and don’t be a push over, if they scream let them, eventually they’ll stop. They may tell you that they hate you, that you’re the worst person in the world and that they wish you would just go home but they don’t mean it, they’re just kids and they’re upset because they haven’t gotten their own way, but they will get over it. Your role is to provide a healthy balance of fun, affection and discipline for the kids which can often be tricky. it definitely takes some practice and time but at the end of the day when they tell you that they love you, give you a cuddle because you’re sad or say something absolutely crazy that makes you laugh so much you cry, you realise that it’s all totally worth it.
Next, au pairs job duties & schedules.
As an au pair your job duties will more than likely always involve the kids but with every family your duties will be different. Each family has different needs and so this means each au pair’s job’s will be different. For example an au pair who is looking after kids between 3 months – 2 years old their duties will be different compared to an au pair who looks after 4 – 15 year olds and they will more than likely have very different schedules.
The au pair who is looking after 3 months – 2 years old their job duties may include; taking them to baby classes, teaching them how to talk or walk, feeding them bottles, changing their diapers, settling them down for naps, tidying up toys or bedrooms, giving them lots of cuddles and arrange play that’s fit for they’re limits depending on their age and abilities. The au pairs who look after younger kids will often have a busier schedule, they tend to be with the baby or younger ones all day because they don’t attend day care or school. Whereas an au pair who is looking after 4 – 15 year olds will have different duties to fill. These duties might include; getting the kids up and dressed in the morning, feeding them breakfast, walking with them to the bus stop, driving them to school or extracurricular activities, assist them with help for their homework, still playing with them but arranging activities fit for their age and abilities, making sure they’ve tidied there rooms and just all round making sure they’re behaving and that they have done everything that needs to be done. The schedules for an au pair who is looking after kids between the ages of 4 – 15 years old tend to be less busy, the kids attend day care or school meaning the time there at school is your time to spend doing whatever you please.
Finally, are there any types of requirements needed to become an au pair?
Experience with children is required for you to become an au pair, you will have to provide some type of proof of having experience with children. You have to have had at least 200 hours of childcare experience. If you are wanting to take care of babies then you have to have more hours of childcare experience but I’m not entirely sure on the exact amount.
You have to be finished in high school and graduated to become an au pair but I think that in terms of qualifications thats all you need (but don’t quote me on that). Although the more qualifications you have the better especially when it comes to being childcare related. The chances of a family wanting you is much more likely if you can provide qualifications and extra knowledge based on or involving childcare.
There are some other requirements needed for you to become an au pair; you must hold a drivers licence, be committed to doing the programme for 12 months, have basic English skills, be in good health and have no criminal records.
My first post is done and I’m super happy with what I have written. I hope you guys like it and find all of it interesting and helpful. If anyone is interested in being an au pair or know anyone who would like to. I’ve put a copy of a link below to the website for the Cultural Care programme.
Please share this with friends and family that you think might be interested in my blog or interested in the au pair programme. Also I would love to hear your feedback so please comment or reach out to me personally I would be more than happy to offer some advice or answer any general questions you have.
Happy Blogging!
Abbie xo
Love this Abbie Well done. Super informative
I hope you’re well and are having the best time
Lots of love 💗