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On Par with Au Pairs
Is This Childcare Option for You?
By Hilory Wagner
Some au pairs prepare even further. For instance, those accepted into the "Au Pair Extraordinaire" program offered by Au Pair in America meet additional qualifications. They are at least 20 years old, have either studied successfully on a full-time basis for a two-year academic course in child care, or have two years previous experience as a full-time child care giver, nanny or nursery school teacher.
According to the U.S. State Department, the average cost of an au pair to an American host family is about $13,000 for the year, or roughly $250 per week. This includes fees to the sponsoring organization, room and board, the au pair's pocket money, insurance, visa, orientation and flight and the education allowance.
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Re: On Par with Au Pairs by kj247@comcast.net on 07/09/2009 11:04PM
I have tried both home daycare and the au pair program and I would definitely say that the au pair is the way to go! We are a host family with Cultural Care Au Pair. We started with Cultural Care when my youngest was 3 months old and we have hosted 5 au pairs from Germany, Russia and Columbia and there is no childcare like it! As full time working parents, not only is it affordable for us (we pay an average of $320 a week for 2 children), we truly enjoy live-in childcare and the flexibility of the au pair hours, as we set our own hours which include weekend nights and several date nights a month. Also the cultural experience that my children receive is wonderful…..my children get a “new big sister” to play with, they are learning new languages and we get to try foods from 3 different countries! For our family – having an au pair has been the best and rewarding option. Kj247@comcast.net
Re: On Par with Au Pairs by anonymous on 07/09/2009 02:30PM
I hosted 2 au pairs from Germany and had a great experience. I used Cultural Care Au Pair and would highly recommend them. The staff at Cultural Care are very informed and patient.
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Re: On Par with Au Pairs by mv on 09/24/2009 12:50AM
Au pairs certainly are a great in-home childcare solution. One-on-one childcare by an au pair from overseas offers a culturally enriching experience for your children. It is also important to prepare yourself for an au pair. To do you 'homework'. Knowing how to interview an au pair, how to set expectations during the interview process already, how to prepare an "au pair handbook/manual", and how to do effective communication are all important components for a successful au pair match. For advice from a lead community counselor with over 14 years of experience, please visit www.aupairselectionadvice.net. A website dedicated to providing advice and support to host parents, and to a smaller degree to au pairs as well. One happy match at a time. MV Lead Community Counselor Au Pair Selection Advice www.aupairselectionadvice.net