Over the last couple of years, many of my friends who stayed at home began returning to work. Their child care options ranged from day cares to nannies to au pairs. Although the families had different needs and budgets, each of them had to feel comfortable with their decisions.
Going back to work was stressful and it took some time for them to get back into a routine. Knowing they looked at all options and chose the best one according to their needs helped tremendously and gave them peace of mind.
My friends who have gone back to work, have either used a nanny or an after school program. So, when my friend, Susan, told me she was working for AuPairCare, I was interested in finding out more about their program.
I was surprised to find out it was more affordable than I had thought. In addition, I loved hearing about the different experiences and cultures the au pairs were able to share with families. Plus, I didn’t realize some of them were available to drive your kids to after school activities. I knew how important that would be to families with elementary age children.
I think it is important for parents to be educated and make the best choices for their families. I asked AuPairCare if they could share a typical AuPairCare experience for those that may be looking into child care options for their family.
Au Pair Program is the Right Choice for Today’s Family’s by Arienne deVassal
Heather and Brian Belk of High Point began weighing their childcare options in January, 2010 when their sons, Graeme and Emerson, were just one and three years old. They thought about daycare, but instead decided on hosting an au pair, feeling that this choice would be an ideal fit for their demanding work and travel schedules. They were also anxious to have their children experience the cultural exchange benefits of having an au pair care for them every day.
The Belks chose to work with AuPairCare Live-in Childcare, one of the first agencies designated by the Department of State to place overseas au pairs with American families, having placed over 30,000 in the last 20 years. Working with AuPairCare, the Belks were assured that all of the agency’s au pairs had childcare experience, completed a rigorous application, interview, and screening process, were background checked, and completed additional training.
The Belks and all host families are able to interview by email and on the telephone with young adults in the program who come from 40 countries around the world. Heather described some of the benefits of having an au pair care for her sons at home: “We wanted our sons to spend their days together, and daycare would’ve separated them into two classes. We wanted our boys to have one-on-one care with only one person.”
Some of the other childcare benefits include the flexibility of having the person who cares for your children living in your home so they can be there early in the morning or late at night if needed. They can stay home with children who are sick when mom and dad can’t. Au pairs’ hours are flexible as long as they do not go over Department of State limits of 45 hours per week or ten hours per day. Au pairs can even drive children to activities and lessons and pick them up from school.
The program is also affordable at about $340 a week per family, which includes program fees to AuPairCare to pay the au pair’s health insurance, travel expenses, training, and local support, and the stipend payment to the au pair. The $340 per week cost is per family, not per child.
Families often don’t realize how much they will enjoy the cultural exchange aspect of the program too, but the Belk’s said this has been one of the best parts of their experience. As for her children, Heather said, “Our sons have been exposed to Portuguese, Brazilian dishes and customs, soccer, and many other wonderful new experiences that they would not have if we had not chosen the au pair program. The most important things they have gained are the lessons they have learned about love, respect, friendship, and caring that only come from living with the person who cares for you.”
As for their au pair, Priscilla from Brazil, she felt “the first month was hard to be away from practically everything I’m used to.” She mentioned the food and the culture here being the most interesting things, but the food being the most shocking to her when she first arrived. “Now,” she says, “I learned that this is the best way to immerse into the American culture…you end up being a member of the family, and you’re able to join their habits and holidays and family activities.”
Priscilla will improve her already excellent English with her time in the U.S., and will add her experience here to her resume. The Au Pair Care au pairs are all high school graduates, with many either in college and some already finished.
If you want to learn more about this flexible childcare option and its cultural exchange benefits, visit Au Pair Care at www.aupaircare.com.
Please comment below and let us know what is important to you when you are looking for child care?
Cammie Moise