Requirements to become an au pair . 1
Who to contact for an au pair stay 3
Helpful tips for those who want to live an au pair experience 5
Au pair stays allow you to fully immerse yourself in the host country’s culture, discovering different ways of life and ways of thinking. They also offer the opportunity to improve your knowledge of a foreign language. Since 1969, au pair stays have been regulated by an international agreement signed by the Council of Europe .
The term itself that gives its name to this type of experience (from the French au pair ) clearly indicates the basis on which the relationship between the host family and the girl must be built: the latter becomes part of the family (for a limited period of time) and is welcomed as a member of the family, not as a maid.
Requirements to become an au pair
Official legislation regarding au pair accommodations outlines a generic, but essential, profile of the ideal candidate:
- Age between 18 and 30. There are slight variations depending on the destination country. In England, for example, the maximum age for an au pair is 27; in the United States, it is 26.
- Basic knowledge (at least at school level) of the host country’s language . This is absolutely essential for communicating with the family, especially the children.
- Previous experience caring for children of all ages, even if not professionally. Experience caring for friends’ children or working as a childminder at summer camps or youth clubs are considered excellent references.
- Good health conditions .
Then there are some characteristics that can influence the family’s decision, positively or negatively, depending on their needs.
- First of all, it should be emphasized that, theoretically, there is no law discriminating against male au pairs in favor of female au pairs; in reality, however, female au pairs have a huge advantage, as it is commonly believed that the tasks assigned to an au pair are naturally more suited to women.
- Most of the requests are addressed to non-smoking girls. This doesn’t mean that those with different habits will be automatically excluded, but they will simply not be given priority or will be required not to smoke around children or at home.
- Possession of an international driving license may be essential in some cases, and a specific request to this effect will be made from the outset.
- Previous experience as an au pair can be an advantage. It’s assumed that the common difficulties of settling into a family can be overcome more easily; furthermore, having worked for another family in the past is an important reference.
Depending on the amount of working hours required by the family from the girl, we can distinguish two different figures:
- Au pairs
work approximately 25-30 hours a week, for 5-6 days. If the family requests it, they are also expected to babysit for 2-3 evenings. Their weekly allowance is generally around €65 (£50-£60). - Au pair plus
works approximately 35-40 hours a week for 5 days, plus 2-3 evenings of babysitting. The two days off are agreed upon with the family. They earn approximately €80-85 (£75) a week.
In both cases, the girl is entitled to at least one free Sunday per month.
When talking about au pair stays , however, it’s important to remember that working hours depend strictly on the family’s needs. They can therefore vary both in terms of the number of hours worked and how those hours are distributed throughout the day.
For example, it may happen that, during certain periods of the year, the children are absent from school (for holidays or illness); the au pair will therefore have to spend more time with them than usual. Or the au pair may be required to drive the children to and from school; her working hours will then be split into two segments: early morning and afternoon.
In any case, if the hours of service exceed those normally expected, the family will have to pay a higher amount.
Essentially, the au pair’s duties can be grouped into two categories: childcare and light housework.
Depending on the children’s age, the tasks will obviously vary. They generally involve helping them get up and get ready in the morning before school; preparing breakfast, snacks, or meals; accompanying them to school, friends’ meetings, or recreational activities; helping them with homework, etc.
The au pair should strive to establish a relationship of friendship and trust with the children: she should be both their nanny and their playmate. This will benefit both: the children will feel comfortable living with a stranger; the au pair will have the opportunity to improve her language skills by spending time with them.
The term “light housework,” on the other hand, refers to all the typical daily chores that every girl is accustomed to doing at home with her parents. These include: keeping her own room and the children’s rooms tidy; cooking for them when necessary; ironing her own and their clothes; setting and clearing the table; washing the dishes, etc.
It is important to underline that the au pair is not required to perform heavy work and therefore has every right to refuse, should it be requested.
The au pair must also respect the rules in force in the host family; she must not smoke unless permitted and must never use the home phone for personal calls, especially when abroad, without asking permission.
It’s important that anyone who decides to embark on an experience of this kind knows what they’re entitled to and what they’re not.
Food and lodging must be provided by the host family. However, it should be noted that the food the au pair is entitled to is exactly what the family is used to eating; the au pair must therefore adapt to the dietary habits of the country she is staying in. If she has any special needs (for example, allergies or a vegetarian diet), it is her responsibility to inform the family immediately.
You must be assigned a private room. Only in extraordinary circumstances, such as summer vacations, may you be asked to share a room with the children.
The au pair may, if desired, attend a language course; however, they must make arrangements with the host family to ensure that their school and work hours do not overlap.
Finally, he is entitled to one week of vacation every six months; if he needs additional days off, he will have to personally arrange them with his family.
Families generally seek out au pairs willing to stay for 6, 9, or 12 months. The reason is easy to understand: the au pair becomes a friend and a role model for the children; therefore, it’s not considered educational or beneficial to change them too frequently.
It should be noted that the required period for accommodation in the US is one year, no less. For such long-term accommodations, it is advisable to depart in the months of September, January, or March-April.
During the summer, shorter stays (three or four months) are possible, typically from May-June to August. It should be noted that language courses are more difficult to attend during the summer months, partly due to the lack of available courses due to school closures and partly because parents, busy with work, often require the au pair to work longer hours.
Who to contact for an au pair stay
There are two ways to apply to be an au pair .
The first is, so to speak, “do it yourself” and involves responding to ads. There are numerous websites that allow you to connect directly with families. This way, you can choose your desired destination country and browse the profiles of host families looking for au pairs. Once you find one you like, simply send them a message and get to know each other. Here are some useful websites:
- au pair.com
- au pair care
- new au pair
- aupair world
- au pair placement
- my au pair
With this process, the stay abroad is not fully guaranteed, as there are no intermediaries to ensure the good faith of the people the girl entrusts herself to. Furthermore, if an official contract is not drawn up, she runs the risk of being suddenly left without food and lodging if serious problems arise with her family. It should be noted, however, that direct contact with the host family does not entail any extraordinary expenses.
This latter option is available if the application is made through an agency. The guarantee of only connecting with carefully selected families, listed in a private database and therefore guaranteed to be trustworthy, comes at a price. Should the prospective au pair decide to pursue this route, she simply needs to contact the nearest agency. After an initial interview with the employee, the registration process will begin; the au pair will need to submit the following documents :
- The application form
is a sort of personal document with which you will present your application to families. It includes your personal information, your desired departure date and expected length of stay, your destination preferences, some information about your family members, information about your studies, previous experience with children and housework, hobbies, and health conditions. - A cover letter is
a short text, written in the host country’s language, in which the applicant talks about herself, the reasons why she wants to become an au pair, her dreams, her experiences, her family, etc. - Reference letters,
preferably referring to childcare-related work, but also other activities, must be written in the host country’s language or translated into English. - The health certificate
must be recent, i.e. no older than three months prior to enrollment. - Criminal record certificate
- Identification
- Photos with children
portraying the girl with the children she took care of for work or other reasons. - Passport photos
- Payment receipt
Once all the documentation has been collected, the agency will contact its foreign offices, who will distribute the girl’s profile to available families. As soon as one of these families expresses interest, the candidate will be notified of the family’s characteristics and a contact call will be arranged between the two parties. If both parties agree, all the details of the agreement will be finalized.
Agencies generally charge between €170 and €300. They include: registration; intermediation and collaboration between the Italian office and the foreign correspondent for finding and assigning a host family; and assistance before, during, and, if necessary, after the stay.
There are numerous centers that organize au pair placements . These are just a few:
- au pair international
- au pair arch
- au pair Florence
- Celtic Child Care
- easy london
- 3 Ss
An important international reference point is the IAPA association , which specializes in coordinating au pair stays around the world. It provides a comprehensive list of agencies in various European and non-European countries.
Helpful tips for those who want to live an au pair experience
Leaving home and immersing yourself in another culture isn’t always easy, especially at first. Therefore, the au pair must be fully aware and confident in the step she’s decided to take.
It’s a good idea for the girl to stay in constant contact with her host family, perhaps via email, in the period before departure; this will give her the opportunity to get to know them better and establish a good rapport.
It is important that the young woman arrives in the foreign country with all the necessary documents; she should therefore inquire personally or seek advice from the agency. Generally, two certificates are essential: the first is the E11 form, which guarantees healthcare in European Union countries and must be requested from the local health authority (ASL) of her municipality; it is not essential in England, where basic healthcare is guaranteed. The second, required only for stays in the United States, is the J-1 visa, valid for 13 months.
It’s highly recommended to leave with enough money to cover any issues or special needs. If things don’t go as planned, and the girl decides to return home or move to a new family, she’ll need the money to pay for her flight or to support herself for a few days.
Initially, it’s common for au pairs to feel strongly homesick. Spending as much time as possible with their host family members can help speed up their integration; calling family and friends at home to hear familiar voices is also incredibly helpful.
For those traveling through an agency, it’s helpful to contact the local agency to obtain a list of local au pairs, including their phone numbers and addresses. This way, you can begin to make friends with other au pairs who are also going through the same experience.
Enrolling in language courses is also a great way to improve your knowledge of a foreign language and meet new people.
If problems arise with the family, it’s advisable to try to resolve them through dialogue; small misunderstandings can often be resolved quickly. However, if the differences become irresolvable, it may be time to end the relationship peacefully. The official contract requires at least two weeks’ notice (from both the woman and the family) before a final goodbye.
Gentilissimi
Chiedo informazioni al trattamento relativo all’assicuraione sanitaria per aupair provenienti da paesi extraeuropei che vogliano soggiornare più di 3 mesi.
Cosa bisogna fare? Iscriversi al SSN, fare un’assicuraione sanitaria? Se si dove, in Italia o nel paese di origine? A chi rivolgersi per le i fo?
Grazie
Irene