A GUIDE
A Guide to Au Pair CHILD CARE
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GUIDE
A GUIDE
Au Pair in America offers: • •
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CONTENT Top Reasons to Choose Au Pair Child Care
PAGES 7 - 9
What is an Au Pair?
PAGES 4 - 6
10 Benefits of Hosting With Au Pair in America
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A Guide to Child Care | www.aupairinamerica.com/mommybites
A GUIDE
What is an Au Pair?
Navigating child care options is no easy task because every parent wants their child to feel safe, secure, and loved. With au pairs, parents will always know that their little one is in good hands because they become a part of the family. Au pairs have become an increasingly popular child care choice! Au Pair in America, the nation’s first and largest au pair program, has placed au pairs with hundreds of thousands of families in 43 states since 1986. Au pairs are typically young women who travel from another country to live with a host family. Au Pair in America’s global recruitment network spans nearly 60 countries on six continents, so the cultural exchange experience is an integral part of the program. Children get introduced to another culture and language from a young age, which helps them develop an appreciation for diversity and inclusion. It’s also a great way for children to learn another language in a non-academic setting. But one of the most important ways that the au pair program differs from other forms of child care is the flexibility. Because an au pair lives in a family’s home, they can more easily support busy schedules. Whether it’s after-school homework, drop-off and pickup at school, or prepping your child’s favorite dinner, an au pair is there to help. The Au Pair in America program offers up to 45 hours of customizable child care each week. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for child care. That’s why Au Pair in America offers three unique program options to meet your family’s needs. Whether your children are infants or school-aged, Au Pair in America has the solution for your family.
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A GUIDE
The key takeaway here is that au pairs meet families where they are, whether that be evening help so parents can enjoy me-time and date nights, or daily support so parents can accomplish their work and life goals. Interested in learning more about the Au Pair in America program and hosting an au pair? Visit www.aupairinamerica.com/mommybites or get in touch with their team today (800-928-7247, info@aupairinamerica.com). 6
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Top Reasons to Choose Au Pair Child Care
There are many reasons that families choose au pair child care these days. But especially for busy New York parents who are always on-the-go, au pairs can be there every step of the way. The hustle and bustle of New York is no secret, and an au pair can help make parents’ day-to-day lives a lot less stressful. This flexibility is a top reason that families turn to au pair child care. With Au Pair in America, families can host an au pair who helps alleviate their busy schedule. Between work, school, after-school activities, extracurricular programs, sports practices, and so much more, the New York parenting lifestyle can certainly take a toll. When parents host an au pair, they often find more time for themselves.
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A GUIDE
Au Pair in America requires au pairs to have a valid driver’s license, so they can take children anywhere they need to go. Because au pairs live with and spend so much time with families, they form close and meaningful relationships with everyone in the home – especially children. Parents can go about their days worry-free, knowing that their child is safely taken care of.
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And children gain something too: cultural exchange. New York, especially NYC, is definitely diverse, but it’s not every day that children get to truly understand, learn, and appreciate other cultures. With Au Pair in America’s worldwide network, children develop their global awareness, including language learning, from a young age. Families may also host an au pair to save on child care costs, especially when they have multiple children. The cost to host an au pair is per family, not per child. The flexibility of the au pair program makes it so families only need one child care provider who can cover their day-to-day needs, cutting costs for extra support. Here are a few other reasons that New York parents opt for au pair child care: • They need dependable child care that can cover their unique, varied schedule. • They have a need for their caretaker to drive, whether it be to school or extra-curricular activities. • They want more time to focus on career development, quality time with their partner, or self-care. • They’re returning to in-office after work-from-home and want to feel secure knowing that their child is taken care of during the day. Interested in learning more about the Au Pair in America program and hosting an au pair? Visit www.aupairinamerica.com/mommybites or get in touch with their team today (800-928-7247, info@aupairinamerica.com).
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A GUIDE
10 Benefits of Hosting
As the nation’s first and largest au pair program, Au Pair in America offers a strong support system for host families. But beyond their stellar reputation, there are plenty of reasons for families to host with Au Pair in America. #1 Individualized Attention: With Au Pair in America, families will receive personalized assistance from their team of placement experts, taking the time to learn about your family’s unique needs and interests. Every family is different, so Au Pair in America will find the perfect au pair for yours. #2 Flexible Options: Au Pair in America has several au pair program options, offering between 30 and 45 hours of child care assistance per week. “We chose to get an an au pair because we really needed
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With Au Pair in America
someone to watch the kids who had a flexible schedule…We needed someone who could start at 6 in the morning with kids on some days and then start at 3 in the afternoon on others,” says Kathryn C., Au Pair in America host mother from Long Island, New York. #3: Custom Scheduling: Not only are au pairs flexible, but Au Pair in America prioritizes host family and au pair communication so that you can work together to create a custom schedule. “They will get up with the children, get them ready for school, prepare breakfast for them, they’ll drive them to and from school, and then sit and do their homework with them,” explains Kathryn.
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A GUIDE
#4 Ongoing Support: Host families are not on their own once they’re matched with an au pair. Not only will you have a local, professional counselor from Au Pair in America’s extensive network who you can connect with in or near your New York neighborhood, but you’ll always have the 24/7 support of the company itself through your family’s journey. #5 Family-Focused Values: With Au Pair in America, au pairs spend so much time with host families, learning about one another’s cultures and sharing their lives, that they become family members too. “I always laugh that the au pair program has changed our lives. It really has made things so easy. The girls have been great, they’ve become part of the family,” says Kathryn. #6 Extensive Orientation: Not only do host families go through an orientation prior to their au pair arriving, but au pairs do as well to ensure that they’re more than ready to care for your children. Au Pair in America’s Orientation Program includes readings, videos, quizzes, and even a Red Cross course. That way au pairs can feel confident in their child care, and families can feel secure knowing that their children are in great hands. #7 Driving Support: Au pairs are able to drive children, assisting with rides to and from school, to sports practices, and everything in between. Au Pair in America requires every au pair to hold a valid driver’s license and complete a training in safe driving in the US. #8: Thorough Screening: Let Au Pair in America do the work for you– with such an involved screening process, families don’t have to worry about finding a qualified au pair. Au Pair in America has a three-tiered screening process with a personal interview, reference checks, medical reports, English-language assessment, criminal background check, and more to ensure the best fit for your family. 12
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#9 Insurance is Covered: Au Pair in America cares about the health and well-being of their au pairs. That’s why the company works with Aetna to provide A+ rated medical insurance to au pairs, including Telemed appointments, translation services, and emergency care. #10 Value: Au Pair in America offers so many support services that the overall value of the program is incredibly high. Families with more than one child especially love that the cost is per family, not per child. Au pairs not only take care of every child in your family, but they’ll cover your entire schedule. That way you don’t spend any extra on multiple child care providers. 13
A Guide to Child Care | www.aupairinamerica.com/mommybites
A GUIDE
Au Pair in America matches international participants with U.S. host families for a mutually rewarding, culturally enriching experience. Established in 1986, we are the original, legal au pair solution in the country, featuring qualified au pairs ages 18-26, from nearly 55 countries. Our comprehensive program includes au pair screening, personality profile, medical/liability insurance, J-1 visa, flight arrangements and au pair orientation including exclusive Red Cross child safety training. We provide professional and reliable 24/7 national support along with the services of a local counselor. Contact us to discuss your child care needs at 800-928-7247 or visit us at www.aupairinamerica.com/mommybites @aupairinamerica
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