Aupair and Homestay Childcare Jobs
The terms au pair, homestay help, mother’s helps and nanny basically mean the same
thing although varying degrees of qualification are required from nothing but the
right attitude to qualified nannies. Nannies will be expected to take full responsibility
for a child or group of children where home helps and what’s generally billed as
au pair jobs these days will also be expected to do housework. Au pairs traditionally
would also be learning a language but these lines have been blurred in recent years,
obviously for a British au pair in the USA there will be no language element.
The great advantages of these positions is that they are live-in, with basic expenses
covered and in the relatively safe environment of a family. You may also go on holiday
with the family in the summer which will involve looking after the kids more than
if they were at school but you are getting a free holiday! There are often summer
only au pair jobs aimed at looking after the kids during the holidays when the parents
are at work. These positions also carry favourable work permit allowances.
You mostly need to be over 18 years of age, and to be an au pair do not usually
need formal childcare qualifications. As a guide, you should be doing no more than
30 hours a week and it is advisable to have a contract with the family in place
before taking a placement, some of the UK based agencies will assist in this area.
Paid Au Pair Jobs