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.