Caring for kids is a busy job that often leaves parents exhausted. From getting children ready for school to ensuring they attend extracurricular activities on time, there are times when it would be nice to have six extra arms.
Live-in au pairs provide families with flexible childcare that can fit around their schedules. This way, last-minute school closures or sick days won’t translate into a missed work day.
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More Time to Spend with Your Kids
The truth of parenting is that even the most minor things may become a struggle for young children. From getting them dressed and ready to go out the door to ensure they’re all fed before heading out for errands and activities, the day can be filled with chores that often take away from time with the family.
Finding last-minute childcare can be difficult when bad weather conditions (snow days) or a child is sick. This can lead to financial stress or missed work for a single parent, so having a live-in au pair gives families peace of mind that they can continue to work and have someone available to care for their children should an unexpected event occur.
Additionally, when au pairs are part of the household, they can help with household chores and other responsibilities, giving parents more time to spend together after a long day at work. Families with excellent communication with their au pair also have a better experience. This means keeping lines of communication open and setting aside a set time for them to talk.
More Time to Work
Whether you commute or work from home, having reliable live-in childcare assistance means you won’t miss critical Zoom meetings or be left scrambling to find last-minute babysitter coverage. With au pair services, you’ll have peace of mind that your children are safe and well cared for while you focus on career goals like promotions, salary increases, networking, and continuing education.
You may create a routine that works for your family when a dependable au pair is in your house. Unlike daycare centers and babysitters, au pairs have flexible hours that can be adjusted weekly. And, with the ability to provide care during school closures (like snow days), staff development days, and sick days, au pairs can help you avoid the cost of extra childcare and minimize lost work time.
Additionally, au pairs can be your children’s positive role models and mentors. They can inspire your kids to try new foods and activities, pursue their interests, and become more independent. As a result, host parents can maintain an open line of communication with their children and get daily updates about their progress.
Less Stress
Many single parents find that their lives are filled with stress, and the day-to-day activities can overwhelm them. Someone who can help with these responsibilities and tasks can make life much easier for everyone.
For example, if your child gets sick, getting them to and from school, extracurricular activities, and work on the same day can be challenging. This can quickly add up and create a tremendous amount of stress. You can feel secure knowing that an au pair will be at home to care for your sick children while enabling you to be at work on time.
Another significant source of stress for some parents is making arrangements on short notice for snow days. This can be quite frustrating and a major headache. With an au pair, you know they are nearby and will be ready to get your kids to class on time, even on delayed openings or snow days. Having a foreign language speaker living in the house can also be a great way to help your children develop international language skills.
Better Health
Having extra hands around the house can help with household chores, running errands, and spending time with your kids. Having someone to help when your child is sick, or school is closed also means less time missed from work and lower childcare costs.
Au pairs are young people from other countries who live with host families to gain a cultural experience while helping with the children’s daily routines. They typically receive a weekly stipend to cover room and board plus an additional amount for completing their required tasks and educational classes.
If you choose a quality agency, the au pair will have been trained in child development and safety. Their schedules are flexible (they cannot work more than 45 hours per week or 10 hours a day) and can begin very early or late, making them an excellent choice for working parents with varying schedules.
Au pairs are more than babysitters or nannies. They are role models, mentors, and big sisters/brothers. They bring a rich, diverse culture to your home, and the kids enjoy learning about another world.
Better Relationships
An au pair becomes a family member and, as such, is expected to treat everyone with respect. However, because au pairs are typically in their late teens and early twenties, they may be prone to homesickness and cultural shock. As such, it is essential to be clear about expectations and set boundaries. Families who communicate frequently and openly tend to have better experiences.
One of the great benefits of an au pair is that they can provide live-in childcare for your children. This means that you no longer need to rush the kids out the door to daycare or a babysitter. Plus, au pairs can help with child-related household duties such as laundry and tidying toys. They can also take your children to soccer practice, music lessons, and other extracurricular activities.
Au pairs can also be helpful in last-minute emergencies such as snow days and unexpected illnesses. They can care for your kids, and you can still go to work or school on time. This eliminates the stress of finding last-minute care or arranging to make up missed work.
