Tag Archives: nanny

14 Myths About Hosting an Au Pair

The au pair program is an enriching cultural exchange program for families and au pairs.  Au pairs learn about American culture by living with an American host family.  Host family children learn about other countries, cultures and languages. There a lot of misconceptions associated with au pairs. These range from assuming that au pairs are on a similar footing as nannies in terms of their responsibilities, and also includes the myth that au pairs are expensive, and out of the range of most families. These, and other myths, overlook the fact that au pairs are between the ages of 18 to 26 years old and are young people that participate in a cultural exchange with a family, whereby they provide light help around the house and with childcare for bed, board, and a small allowance. Before discussing common myths, below is a brief explanation about au pairs.

Au pairs are a child care alternative for families who want:

  • In-home child care
  • Bi-lingual child care
  • Flexible child care
  • Quality child care
  • Intercultural child care
  • Affordable child care

Au pairs are young adults from over 60 foreign countries participating in a cultural exchange program. They live with American host families for one year or longer.  In exchange for room, board and a weekly wage of $195.75, au pairs provide up to 45 hours of flexible child care weekly, up to 10 hours daily.  Agency program fees cover screening, travel fare to the U.S., medical insurance for one year, background checks, au pair attendance at 3 day workshop on child development and safety, and much more.  Au Pair in America also offers host families in Anne Arundel County with children in school full time the option to select an EduCare companion who provides the family with 30 hours of child care per week at a cost of $286 per week. These costs are per family and not per child.

1 – MYTH: Au Pairs Are Expensive and reserved for the rich and famous

FACT: Au pairs are not just for the wealthy. Our families come from all walks of life and have a wide range of occupations. We have firefighters, teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and pilots in our program. Our service is a tremendous help for families with twins or triplets, single parents and families with non-traditional work schedules. Au pairs are not paid a salary in the same way as a nanny, but instead receive their bed and board, and pocket money to cover expenses.   On average a host family will pay an au pair $361.00 a week for 45 hours of care and $286 a week for 30 hours of care with the EduCare program.  Our program is an economical option in comparison to hiring a nanny. Au Pair in America offers one flat rate per family not per child.

2 – MYTH: Au Pairs Don’t Work Weekends or Evenings

FACT: Au pairs have to follow the family schedule, so they may work on weekends and evenings. Au Pairs have one full weekend off each month, but they can work three other weekends. Au pairs are carefully screened and understand that flexibility and working full time is a requirement of the program. A family has the ability to customize the use of an au pairs hour per week according to their schedule, and unlike using a nanny or daycare, whose service is typically based on a set schedule, an au pair works when you need them.

3 – MYTH: Support is Not Available

FACT: Au Pair in America is part of the American Institute for Foreign Study and has received an A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. Check out the report here. Support is available from Au Pair in America, which covers everything from selecting the right au pairs, through to helping in the event of personal problems and disputes. Our business is all about personalized service and support. Our community counselors maintain monthly contact with host families and provide a social outlet for the au pairs in the area by hosting monthly cluster meetings to engage the au pairs in the local community. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service and receive high marks on our customer satisfaction surveys. We rely on word of mouth referrals from our customers to make our business grow and many of our host families are repeat customers. All community counselors are within a one hour drive from their host families and there is always someone on staff 24/7 for emergencies at 1-800-927-7247. We also offer a monthly digital newsletter for our host families filled with the most recent up to date information.

4- MYTH: Au Pairs Will Have Poor English Skills

FACT: Au pairs must have a conversational level of English before they begin to work with a family. Au pairs are interviewed in their home country and their English is assessed using an International Test for English Proficiency developed exclusively for Au Pair in America by the  Boston Educational Services measuring grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension and written expression.   However, the au pair may need assistance with verbal comprehension.

5 – MYTH: Au Pairs Will Be in the House Too Much & we will lose our privacy

FACT: Many families fear that having an au pair in the house will mean that they’ll lose their privacy, or that the au pair will take up too much personal space. In most cases, an au pair gains a social network outside of the house, and is often away during their personal days visiting friends. Au pairs take classes, make friends and develop a healthy social network.

6- MYTH: Au Pairs Act Only as a Babysitter

FACT: Unlike daycare or a babysitter, an au pair can perform all household duties associated with children, so they can vacuum a playroom, prepare and clean up after meals, do children’s laundry, make the children’s beds and organize their toys/closets/playrooms. An au pairs’ assistance with these day-to-day tasks allows you to spend quality time with your children and spouse after a long day at the office.

7 – MYTH: They let anyone into the au pair program.

FACT: Au Pair in America was the first legal au pair agency approved by the State Department in 1986. We recruit young ladies from over 60 countries worldwide. Because we care about providing the best childcare for our customers, we use our own staff overseas for recruitment, screening and orientation, instead of relying on third-party agents. During our screening process, the potential candidate is personally interviewed, tested on English competency, takes a personality profile, and submits to a criminal background check as well as personal and professional reference checks. Acceptance into our program is highly competitive.

8 – MYTH: Not having a native speaker will affect my child’s language development

FACT: Studies have shown that exposing your child to a second language enhances a child’s language and cognitive development and does not impede their ability to learn English. With an au pair you can have someone who speaks English and is also willing to teach their native language and share their culture with your family. Having this exposure can reinforce the language learning that your child has at school. Furthermore, foreign language taught in school can be reinforced at home with the au pair’s assistance!

9 – MYTH: Au pairs want to party, not care for children

FACT: Young adults need a healthy social life. Au Pair in America has a Code of Conduct that establishes au pair behavior guidelines.  A Handbook and Guidelines for a successful year is provided to the au pairs that covers many topics and helpful tips for families and au pairs.

10 – MYTH: Au pairs don’t drive

FACT: Au Pair in America requires au pairs have a minimum of six months driving experience. Driving varies greatly among countries.  Individual driving habits vary greatly among au pairs – from extreme overconfidence to extreme careful.  All au pairs are to arrive to the United States with an international driver’s license. Au Pair in America has partnered with AAA, the nation’s most trusted name in driver safety and instruction to offer a custom classroom course specifically designed for au pairs. Exclusive to Au Pair in America, the AAA driving course is one of a kind, tailored to the needs of the international driver and specific to the safety needs of driving children in a car.

11 – MYTH: Au Pairs need a private bathroom.

FACT: Au Pairs do need a private bedroom but they may share a bathroom

12 – MYTH: Families who rent cannot have au pairs

FACT: Families who rent may host au pairs.  However, au pairs must have a private bedroom.

13- MYTH: Single parents cannot host au pairs –

FACT: Single parent families may host au pairs.

14 – MYTH: Au Pair in America charges hidden costs and hidden fees

FACT: Au Pair In America program fees are transparent and flexible. The au pair program fess found on our website displays our fees, transparently detailing the total annual and average weekly costs.  Au Pair in America also offers an Extended Payment Plan to help make program costs financially manageable.

Time Capsule Fair Has Been Canceled

Due to the severe weather from Hurricane Irene that is anticipated on Saturday, the event will be be canceled.

If you created a time capsule to take part, please contact me (contact info. below) to arrange to receive your goody bag.

time capsule

In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Au Pair in America, we are sponsoring a time capsule fair. Families are invited to create a family time capsule and participate. Guests are also welcome to come see the time capsules on display, vote for their favorite and participate in the other family activities.

This will be a Fun Family Event featuring…

  • Time Capsule Fair
  • Story Times
  • Back to School Organization Tips for Parents
  • Temporary Tattoos
  • Coloring & Crafts
  • Door Prize Drawings

A Time Capsule is a container that includes items and information that share what it was like to live in a particular period of time. After the time capsule fair, you can seal up your capsule and mark it “Not to be opened until 2036.” It could be buried or just tucked away in your attic. It will be a lot of fun looking back at the items 25 years from now!

Download a Complete Time Capsule Activity Plan HERE

Time Capsule Fair Rules:

  • Register HERE online (preferred) or the day of the event.
  • You may use any container and include whatever items you choose.
  • You may work together as a family to create one family time capsule or each child may create and enter their own.
  • Each entry will have a 2’ x 2 1/2’ table space to display their time capsule and it’s contents.
  • Backboards are allowed, but not required.
  • Each family who enters the time capsule will receive a gift bag.
  • Time capsules should be checked in and set-up between 1:00 and 2:00 PM to be included.
  • Judging will take place at 2:30 PM.
  • Award presentations and prize drawings will be held at 2:45 PM.
  • If you want to take your time capsule home, it needs to be picked up by 3:30 PM.

For more information, please call Christine Connally at 301-860-1314 or email at cicaupair @ gmail.com (without the spaces.)

Educare Au Pairs available

banner_au_pair_balcony

AU PAIR IN AMERICA & HOWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE worked together to create a special program that fulfills the requirements to be able to introduce EduCare to Howard County.  The program is open to all students, but will make it possible for EduCare companions to earn their required education!!

EduCare Regulations:

  • EduCare is only for families that require childcare before and after school.
  • EduCare au pairs may not be placed with families that have preschool children except if other, full-time childcare plans have been made.
  • The EduCare au pair may work no more than 10 hours per day, and a maximum of 30 hours per week.
  • Au pairs participating in the EduCare component receive 75 percent of the weekly rate paid to non-EduCare participants.
  • EduCare au pairs must complete a minimum of 12 hours of academic credit or its equivalent during the program year.
  • The host family is required to provide (up to) the first $1,000 toward the cost of the au pair’s required academic course work.

Host Family Comparative Fees

Au Pair

Standard Au Pair

EduCare Companion

Program Fee

$7,295.00

$6,095.00

Match Fee

400.00

400.00

Weekly Stipend*

195.75

146.81

Education

500.00

1000.00

Average per week**

347.00

274.00

*Based on the Federal minimum wage

** Not including education allowance. Including education, difference is $3,196

EduCare in America 2011 Arrival Dates

Tuesday, July 5                                 Monday, July 25

Monday, August 1                             Monday, August 15

Monday, December 5

Annapolis au pairs go to a baseball game in Bowie

 

The Annapolis cluster met for a baseball game at the Bowie Stadium on May 20th.  For our most recent arrivals it was their first American baseball game and they had lots of fun trying to understand the rules of this sport!  The weather was wonderful and the firework show afterwards was fantastic!  What a great night for all who came out to enjoy the night.