Whether your children are very young or school-aged, hosting an au pair can help further their intellectual development and education!
Here are the top 3 educational benefits of hosting an au pair:
1. Academic support
Although au pairs are not formal tutors, they can provide assistance with homework for school-aged children. In addition to academic assistance, au pairs can help children learn time management skills by maintaining an afterschool routine and ensuring children spend enough time focused on their studies. Au pairs can also assist with getting children packed and ready for school on time, as well as driving children to and from school activities.
2. Global skills
Au pairs can help children understand the world beyond their own town, state and country. Through sharing songs, stories, favorite meals and holidays, au pairs can help children better understand the size of the world and learn more about other cultures. Au pairs are also involved in their host community and help educate locals about their home country and culture. For example, German au pair Emily showcased her home country at the Girl Scouts World Thinking Day celebration in Maryland. Girl Scout leader Sarah valued Emily’s contributions to the event:
“Emily did such a great job presenting at world thinking day! She made 200 pfannenküchen and talked to the girls about castles, sausages, the autobahn, and lots of fun facts about Germany! She was a huge help in finishing up our SWAPS and getting our backboard together. The kids thought it was really cool to hear her say ‘Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder’!” – Sarah, Girl Scout Leader
3. Language & intellectual development
Hosting an au pair can help children develop their language skills. Whether your au pair is monolingual or multilingual, au pairs can help foster increased vocabulary and cognitive function through providing children with one-on-one attention. Studies show that the more words that are spoken to young children, the faster their language, vocabulary and IQ develop. Au pairs are able to give your children individual attention and increase the number of words they hear when you are not able to be with them.
If your au pair knows a language other than English, then children can also learn or improve their international language skills through games, stories and songs shared by their au pair. One of our host parents commented on her experience hosting au pairs from three different language backgrounds (German, Spanish and Chinese):
“The cultural enrichments stemming from understanding the language itself are an excellent foundation for all the years of global awareness and travel yet to enter into our twins’ lives. Our au pairs are giving our girls a gift of a life time, and we are so humbly grateful for these opportunities!”
Are you interested in giving your child(ren) an intercultural child care experience?
