At Au Pair in America, we love sharing all the benefits of hosting an au pair – it’s kind of our thing. But today, just to mix it up, we’ll be sharing our top reasons NOT to host an au pair (wink wink).
Wondering why not to host an au pair? Read on!
1. You want to do it alone
When you host an au pair with APIA, you have the support of our international partners around the world, to our US office in Connecticut, to your Au Pair in America Community Counselor providing support and guidance in your area. If a worldwide support network is a “thumbs down” for you, keep reading!
2. Culture Schmulture
If sharing food, culture and language with a young person from another country isn’t appealing to you, then you should not host an au pair. Cultural exchange is the beating heart of the au pair program. We recruit au pairs from nearly 60 countries. Our host families love learning about their au pair’s home country, culture, and family, while also helping their au pair experience America.
3. You hate convenience
A customizable schedule and flexible child care assistance that’s ready when you are? No thanks!
The convenience and flexibility of live-in child care can go a long way to simplify your life. Because your au pair lives with you, she’s ready to go when you are. No more worrying about getting the kids out the door to day care, or wondering how to keep your kids busy over school breaks and holidays. An extra set of hands can also calm hectic morning routines and provide stability and comfort for kids throughout the day. Hosting an au pair means no more aggravation dealing with sick days, snow days and life’s little surprises.
4. You enjoy a challenge
Do you love looking for a needle in a haystack? Then the au pair program may not be for you.
At Au Pair in America, we do the legwork of finding and screening candidates for you. All of our au pairs have at least 200 hours of recent, relevant child care experience and must pass a rigorous screening process and background check to be eligible for the program. Host families are assigned a Placement Coordinator, an expert in our candidate pool, who helps host families identify their needs and pairs them with applicants to interview.
5. You never leave it to the experts
Expert training? Who needs it!
Before arriving to the U.S., every au pair on the Au Pair in America program completes our comprehensive orientation program featuring child development training, child safety training, and customized American Red Cross training (exclusive to Au Pair in America).
6. You love chores and being your kid’s chauffeur
Do you love running a personal taxi service for your children? Or a tiny laundromat? Who doesn’t!
In addition to child care assistance, your au pair can also help out with other duties related to your children – including laundry, meal prep, and tidying up. Got extracurriculars? Driving your children to and from school, soccer practice, music lessons is no problem… they can be taken everywhere and anywhere they need to go!
7. You hate a good deal
More bad news – the au pair program is an affordable option and a great value. Unlike many other forms of child care, the cost of hosting an au pair is per family, not per child. With Au Pair in America, there is never an application fee, and we offer several loyalty and corporate discounts.
Okay, okay… you caught us. We don’t really want to talk you out of this enriching, educational, flexible and affordable program.
Ready to begin your journey as a host family?
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