An au pair meaning refers to something “on equal terms”, signifying that Au pair and Host Family treat each other as equals. This program is an international cultural exchange program that enables young people to spend some time abroad, learn about different cultures and languages in exchange for help with duties related to childcare.
An Au pair is provided with food, accommodation, and personal expenses. In return, the host family gets the benefits of flexible, affordable live-in child care.
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What is an Au Pair?
- An au pair is a young individual who lives with a host family to look after the children in exchange for food, accommodation, and pocket money [Reference].
- A young person from another country who agrees to live temporarily with a foreign family and help with child-care duties, housework, etc. in exchange for room and board
- A young foreign person employed to take care of children, do housework, etc., in exchange for room and board
What Au Pair Means?
This is a cultural exchange program that allows both the family and the au pairs to learn about and experience different cultures. In exchange for a monetary allowance, au pairs share a portion of the family’s childcare and housework responsibilities.
Some government restrictions apply to au pair agreements, and they usually specify an age range ranging from late teens to late twenties, as well as a preference for females.
They are only permitted to work part-time in Europe, and they are frequently required to study the host country’s language part-time as well.
Au pairs may, however, be asked to offer full-time childcare in the United States.
They are considered a member of the host family rather than a hired hand, unlike many other types of domestic assistants.
They may wear a uniform in some countries, but most au pairs adhere to the host family’s dress code and dress appropriately for the job, which frequently includes a protective apron.
An au pair’s duties may include:
- Waking up the children
- Picking up children to/from school
- Helping kids with school homework
- Playing with the children and taking them on outings to parks and playgrounds.
- Preparing light meals for children
- Doing the laundry and ironing children clothes and making their beds
- Tidying up the children’s toys
- Cleaning the children’s room and bathroom