How to tell your au pair what to do

Host families: How to tell your au pair what to do

Balancing family life and a job can sometimes be difficult. An au pair can help with this. But as a host family, how do you integrate the au pair properly? The following 5 tips will help you to give your au pair a better understanding of their tasks.

1. Let your au pair see how things work in your family.

A new au pair has so much to learn when she or he joins a family. It's everyday life for you, but it's all new for the au pair.

Dedicate time to orienting your au pair during their first week - it will definitely pay off.

Make use of the AuPairWorld Family Handbook that comes free of change when you purchase a Premium Membership at AuPairWorld.

The handbook is an interactive PDF that provides a clear, structured way to introduce your family to a new au pair. It helps your au pair get up to speed quickly and smoothly.

Once you've filled in your details, print the handbook and give it to your new au pair for easy reference.

2. Set up clear routines for regular family life.

Clear routines simplify tasks and reduce stress for the whole family. When routines are established, tasks are done with less effort.

Identify regular activities related to the children and the household (for example, packing school lunches, helping with homework, weekly appointments, etc).

Put these regular activities into a schedule that everyone has access to. Again the Family Handbook is a perfect way to do this.

Make it clear to your au pair exactly what her or his role is in the various routines.

3. You are the "big boss". Your au pair is a team leader.

Think of your au pair as a family team leader, reducing your parenting workload and freeing you to focus on important family and professional matters.

The parents are the "top management" who set up general goals and structures.

Your au pair works together with you to realise these goals and maintain these structures by interacting positively with your children.

You are not there to micro manage things but to provide a structure where the au pair can spend time happily and creatively with your children.

4. Explain your au pair the "why" of tasks.

Understanding the "why" behind tasks makes them easier to engage with. Explain to your au pair how their activities benefit your children and meet their needs.

Give your au pair some background about your parenting philosophy so that they can share in the family goals more fully.

Give your au pair a clear impression how specific activities with the children relate to your positive vision of good family life.

5. Asking for input works better than giving orders.

As your au pair integrates into family life, they may spend more time with your children than you, becoming an expert on their well-being.

Use that knowledge and empower your au pair to bring her best potential into her au pairing activities.

Instead of simply telling your au pair what to do (particularly for problem solving), ask the au pair what he or she thinks might be the best way to handle a situation.

Show your au pair that you value her or his opinion. Your au pair will appreciate the fact that you take her or his input seriously and you might even learn some important things about your kids that you weren't aware of.

Especially at the beginning of an au pair stay, schedule a regular meeting with your au pair to share information and stay up to date with how the cooperation is developing.