Au Pair Program

The au pair program is a popular program that is used by many different countries in the world, especially in Europe and the United States. In exchange for childcare and light house work, a young adult (usually a woman, but some young men take this route, as well) can acquire a visa to a foreign country to improve their education and experience immersion in a foreign culture while working on language skills. The host family provides food and shelter, and in return the au pair helps with needed child care and often light housework. Both sides benefit from this arrangement.

Different nations have different specifics in regards to their au pair programs. The United States, for example, requires more hours than any other program, but specifically stipulates the beginning of education expenses being paid and a certain number of days off. Finland offers more payment compensation for extra hours worked, at an hourly rate, and the United Kingdom accepts young adults who are thirty, while the U.S. makes the cut off age twenty-six.

This is a program that gives a chance to young adults to go to a different country in order to further their education, and possibly see a country that they wouldn’t have a chance to even visit otherwise, much less live immersed in the culture for a full year. Regardless of the individual nation’s program, there are a few things that can almost always be accepted by both sides. For the family hiring an au pair, they can expect:

• Anywhere from 30-45 hours of child care and light house work per week, emphasis on the child care. This varies by country and should be made explicit in the contract. • A worker with a flexible work schedule. • Child care that is going to be cheaper than the conventional child care center, and is provided in the safe environment of your own home. • A friendly individual from another culture to interact with

On the other side, an au pair can expect the following:

• A private room and food as compensation for work • A small monthly allowance for other expenses • To be treated respectfully • To take language classes at a local language school and/or college

Contracts are always a good thing, so each side knows exactly what to expect before starting a year long engagement. The family gets affordable child care that takes place in the comfort and secure environment of their own home while interacting with an individual from another culture.

The au pair gets the benefit of being able to study in a foreign education and extend her/his education while being provided food, housing, and just enough to get by and occasionally have a weekend off to look around and explore a foreign country. Both sides, when knowing how to treat one another respectfully, benefit greatly from the au pair program.

Au Pair |