By Arnab Dey
Think of having an au pair as someone in your home who assists with childcare and introduces an entirely different culture to your family.
They do not simply exist to supervise the children; they are there to bring a piece of their culture to your family.
First impressions can be deceiving, and for many parents, the option of having someone share their home and live with them to help look after their children is shocking.
However, for families who choose to host an au pair, the experience is far richer than just babysitting.
It is about forging relationships and shared culture, giving children a companion who can teach them far more than merely how to complete homework or knot shoelaces.
However, what exactly is an Au Pair? Let’s find out in this article.
What Exactly Is an Au Pair? A New Concept in Childcare
A childcare provider who is more like a brother or sister from another mother— this refers to an au pair.
Au pairs do not just care for children.
Au pairs are more like older siblings from another country, who then take care of the family, helping out with the kids.
Unlike a nanny or daycare provider, an au pair is not necessarily only there from nine to five.
They are with the family, eat with the family, and are part of the day-to-day functions.
This creates a very special attachment of the au pair to the children, allowing them to feel very special in the family.
For families interested in such an experience, Go Au Pair provides all the resources required to communicate and bring an au pair from any corner of the world, making it convenient for the family to find somebody of suitable character and background.
What Exactly Is an Au Pair Expected To Do?
Simmy had a 9-to-5 job, and she had a toddler at home. However, she did not want a nanny to take care of the little one.
Now, she learned about the Au Pair concept and, though initially apprehensive, she agreed to it.
When I asked her about the experience, this is what she shared with me.
1. AU Pair Opening the Door to a New Culture
When au pairs move in, they don’t bring their suitcase; they bring their culture too.
This includes language and food, traditions, and holidays that might never be experienced otherwise for the kids.
A German au pair could teach the children how to bake traditional Christmas cookies, while a Brazilian au pair could show them how to dance samba.
Little moments add up to big learning for kids as they become open to new ways of thinking and living.
And it’s not only the children who take advantage of this. Also, parents get a ringside view of another culture.
Whether it’s taste testing a new dish, learning a couple of words in another language, or hearing stories about life in another country, having an au pair makes the entire family become world travelers- and all within the confines of their home.
2. What Exactly Is an Au Pair? A Bond That Goes Beyond Childcare
A babysitter is one thing. An Au Pair is a different matter. An Au Pair usually, by all means, becomes a family member, and this is often the case when a family hosts an au pair.
They spend so much time together, living in one house with the kids.
They take their meals together, play and enjoy their spare time together, which helps them, in most cases, become best of friends.
The kids will consider the au pair as an elder brother or elder sister – someone whom they can speak to, share their jokes with, and gain knowledge from.
The relationship goes further than mere babysitting. It’s about another caring adult in the house who’s there to listen, cheer them on, and be a good friend.
For the au pair, it is a feeling of belonging to the family. Many au pairs are in contact with their host families after they finish their term, which helps them share visits and keeps the bonding alive.
3. Learning a New Language Without Even Trying
This is one of the best aspects of having an au pair. Kids hear another language every day.
Whether it is over breakfast, at story time, or playing a game, kids are able to effortlessly absorb words and phrases.
When it comes from an au pair, this is not considered studying. It’s simply hanging out.
Your au pair could teach your kids to say “good morning” in French or count from one to ten in Spanish. They may even sing a nursery rhyme in their native language!
The exchange also benefits au pairs who are learning English. They will also have the opportunity to practice English with a family.
They will improve their language skills based on their conversations within the family in a more natural way, with no pressure.
4. Making Memories Out of Ordinary Moments
Hosting an au pair is not just about getting extra help in the house. It is about experiences long after the au pair has gone home.
Take something as simple as a family dinner. Family dinner with an au pair may mean trying a new dish from another country or hearing experiences about what it is like on the other side of the world.
What about a rainy afternoon? Instead of just watching television, the kids might learn a game that their au pair played as a child. Or children can hear a story about a holiday that they have never heard of before.
Having an au pair makes even regular routines special. Grocery shopping can quickly become a learning experience. The au pair might share with the kids what foods are popular in their country or how they celebrate holidays.
These little moments compound together rather quickly, creating wonderful memories that everyone in the family will discuss years later.
Is Hosting an Au Pair Right for Your Family?
Choosing to host an au pair goes beyond just finding someone to help with the children.
It means opening your home and your heart to someone new and different. It means allowing another culture the opportunity to sit with your family and share in everyday experiences.
For those families who want to expose their children to life outside of their world, hosting an au pair is a unique experience. It’s a new way to understand the world through the eyes of another person.
Read Also:
