Many people assume hosting an Au Pair is solely about childcare, but the benefits go far beyond that. Welcoming an Au Pair into your home can bring many benefits for your entire family. While the primary role of an Au Pair is to assist with childcare, their presence creates a broader, more enriching environment for everyone involved.
We’re excited to share 10 life-changing benefits your family can enjoy when you welcome an Au Pair into your home.
1. Ability to be a more effective parent
Au Pairs play a vital role in lightening the load for parents by helping with the daily childcare responsibilities that consume a significant amount of time. This support leaves parents with time to devote to their kids.
This extra time allows parents to build stronger emotional bonds through one-on-one time with their children. Without the constant pressure of daily household tasks parents can focus on nurturing their child’s development and creating lasting memories.
2. Cultural exchange
Hosting an Au Pair gives you the unique opportunity to introduce a new culture into your home. It offers both you and your children the chance to explore new traditions and perspectives. At the same time, you’ll be able to share your own family’s culture, fostering a deep and meaningful connection with your Au Pair.
Parents find their children learn to celebrate and explore cultural diversity from an early age.
45% of our Host Families choose Au Pair childcare for the enriching cultural exchange experience it provides.
Kids can try different cuisines, learn new songs and folklore, learn traditional games, and to celebrate cultural holidays and festivals they wouldn’t be able to experience with traditional childcare.
"We learned how important shared meals and family connections are in Isa's culture. She has shown us the value of spending quality time together, whether through simple meals or casual conversations. We often talk about our cultures, comparing traditions, food customs, and local sayings. These conversations have given us a deeper understanding of where she’s from and brought us closer through shared experiences."
3. Maintain a routine schedule
Parents can find it difficult to maintain their daily schedules while keeping their kids in a good routine. Au Pairs live in your home offering you the ability to maintain your children’s busy schedule. From morning routines to after school activities, your Au Pair has it covered.
Kid’s schedules change from one season to the next, Au Pairs can work up to 45 hours per week and 10 hours per day. This gives parents the ability to change the schedule and keep the kids on a routine.
No parent wants their children bored at home all summer long or during winter break when parents have to work. An Au Pair changes that by engaging with your children daily, creating activities to keep them busy and having fun.
4. Create a unique family bond
The Au Pair program is designed to create a family relationship with your Au pair. Au Pairs contribute daily to your family dynamic and create a bond with the children becoming like an older sibling.
Parents not only receive the benefit of reliable childcare but, they find their Au Pair becomes a family member they trust and love to care for their children.
76% of our Host Families choose to extend their Au Pair's stay for an additional year, thanks to the strong bond they've built.
"My host kids see me as a sister. They often joke about how Sofi, the previous au pair, is the “first sister,” I’m the “second,” and they’re next in line. Their love for me feels so real and unconditional."
5. Help with household tasks
As a parent it can be difficult to juggle all of life’s daily needs. Au Pairs make life easier by helping with childcare tasks that parents find difficult to get to each day.
Au Pairs can help with:
- Children’s laundry
- Meals for the children
- Driving children to and from activities
- Keeping children’s rooms and spaces clean
- Help with homework
- Organizing children’s items
- Planning activities
An Au Pair helping with these daily childcare tasks leaves time for parents to focus on work, spend more time with their children, and free time to relax.
6. Chance to focus on you
Hosting an Au Pair gives busy parents the ability to take time for themselves. This is unique from other child care because your Au Pair is living in your home and is directly involved in your family’s daily routine, providing hands on care.
Many parents find that with extra support they are able to take personal time to relax, pursue hobbies, and focus on career growth without feeling overwhelmed. This gives parents a sense of balance and they don’t have to feel guilty about taking time for themselves.
"I am at a point in my career where I have a lot of momentum, I was promoted to a much more demanding position during my maternity leave which I was able to hit the ground running with and totally excel, that career momentum opened up another career opportunity and because of the support I knew I had at home and could continue to have with au pair program I was able to accept my new role which I LOVE!"
7. Learn a new language
Kids and adults in your family have the unique opportunity to learn a new language right in your home. If your children are participating in a language immersion program your Au Pair can help support that language growth.
A big part in sharing culture is sharing language. Au Pairs enjoy sharing words, phrases, songs, and stories in their native language with their Host Family.
There are many benefits to children learning a second language like:
- Improving reading skills
- Boost self-esteem
- Improve cognitive abilities
- More future career opportunities
Exposing children to a second language early in their development is key for understanding and fluency. Au Pairs help expose children to a new language as a native speaker right in your home.
8. Help when life deals and unexpected challenge
Life doesn’t always go as planned and that is especially true as a parent. Traditional childcare like daycare have set hours and policies that don’t always align with the unpredictable nature of family life. A nanny may not be able to stay late for an urgent situation because they priorities are not invested in the family like an Au Pair. Hosting an Au Pair gives families the benefit of coverage they need when something out of the ordinary happens.
As a live-in childcare provider Au Pairs offer families the unique ability to be more flexible with the childcare schedule. 40% of our Host Families consider Au pair childcare the best option for flexibility.
40% of our Host Families consider Au Pair childcare the best option for flexibility.
When life throws an unexpected wrench in to your plans your Au Pair is there to help when you need them.
9. Affordable childcare
One of the most significant benefits is the cost-effectiveness of the program. Compared to hiring a nanny or enrolling your children in a daycare, hosting an Au Pair tends to be more affordable for personalized and flexible childcare.
Many families with more than one child choose the Au Pair program because the price doesn’t change based on how many children you have. 45% of our Host Families say they choose Au Pair childcare over other childcare options because of the affordability.
45% of our Host Families say they choose Au Pair childcare because of the affordability.
10. Children become more independent
Conventional childcare offers a more uniform and structed approach while Au Pair childcare is deeply personal and centered on cultural exchange. Au Pairs bring different ways of thinking and problem solving into the home giving children a greater capacity to feel more confident.
"I think my stay here has impacted the life of every person I have met, especially my host kids, both Arya and Loughlin I have felt how I have been present in their lives, the way they develop their autonomy, communication and knowledge of their emotions and being able to express them is something that I have tried to develop in them and of course, I could not have done this without the help of my host parents, we have worked as a team to impact the lives of children in a way that their growth is good, happy and healthy."
