While babysitters are usually local people from within your own community, an au pair is generally a young international visitor wishing to experience a different culture. These live-in, childcare helpers provide assistance with a family’s children and domestic needs in exchange for opportunities in another country. Many (not all) come from other countries and simply want to find a different way to enjoy a new culture and treat the experience like an exchange program.
Typically between the ages of 18 and 26, an au pair has an advanced education, including the ability to speak the language of their host family, and it is not uncommon for he or she to become an extended member of the family. Many parents prefer an au pairover a local babysitter as a way to teach children about other cultures and to broaden their worldview, all while providing necessary childcare services.
An au pair typically receives room, board, and a weekly salary. In exchange, the au pair provides in-home assistance with childcare and other domestic duties. The role they play to the household is a combination of sibling, parent, and tutor. Their services can be expensive for some households, but many parents find that such valuable employees provide an invaluable service to their families.
A typical list of duties include getting the children on and off the bus, preparing afternoon snacks, as well as light household chores throughout the day, including grocery shopping and cleaning.
Of course, babysitters can provide many of the same services, often at a more affordable price. A family can choose from among a wide variety of ages, cultures, and personalities to find a babysitter who will also enrich a family. You can find babysitters to care for your children part-time, or you might hire a live-in nanny to fill the role of an au pair. Either way, hiring a childcare worker can help reduce the strain on a parent and provide a child with an early experience of diversity and compassion.
Depending on a family’s needs, parents may look for different things in a childcare provider. For example, some people require the full-time services of live-in childcare help, while others simply need assistance during special occasions or to bridge the gap between a child getting out of school and work ending. You can find local babysitters that will serve these purposes without the massive expense or uncertainty that can come with hiring live-in professionals. However, a quality reference and background checking resource will help ease any concerns you may have regarding live-in assistance.
Parents can find local babysitters online or through word-of-mouth referrals. Another method is through such a trusted resource as the Babysitters Registry. Simply click here to find out more information about how to find a suitable childcare solution for you and your family.