This post is also available in: Deutsch (German)
The Easter holidays are over and summer is (unfortunately) not yet very close. Nevertheless, as a family with children, you should already think about your holiday season. The long summer holidays always entail a few weeks without regular child care. The days you can take off from work are limited and the grandparents do not always live around the corner. So what happens when kindergartens and schools close? The solution is a summer Au Pair!
The Au Pair program does not always have to last for a whole year! Many young people use the attractive option of spending a few weeks abroad as a summer Au Pair. They make use of the semester break to attend a language course abroad while experiencing a different culture.
You, as host parents, will have a child care service that you can rely on. All you need is a free room for the Au Pair and an open mind towards other cultures. When you go to work, the Au Pair will take care of your child. They will plan trips, play with the kids in the garden, on the playground, or go to the pool together. The Au Pair prepares small meals for the children and takes care of light household tasks.
Like this, both sides benefit from the program and you also get to know a new culture. In some countries, there is an official Au Pair program that sets certain rules regarding the remuneration, in other countries you can discuss it individually with your Au Pair, who also needs to cover their own travel expenses.
Travelling within Europe usually is no problem for EU citizens. The situation is different when the Au Pair comes from a non-EU country. In case of the usual Au Pair program, the participant applies for an Au Pair visa, which is valid for one year. For a stay that does not exceed a few weeks, the Au Pair may travel without a visa or on a tourist visa, depending on the country of origin; but in that case, they cannot earn any money. If you would like to remunerate the service provided by your temporary family member, you could, for example, cover the travel costs or a part of the travel costs upon AuPair’s arrival.
If you have already booked your vacation, the Au Pair (depending on the country to which you travel) can come along and take care of the children during that time, too. Of course, the host family will pay for the entailed costs.
And who knows, you may enjoy the summer weeks with an Au Pair so well that you then decide to invite an Au Pair for a longer period of time.
Where can you find a summer Au Pair? The easiest way is at AuPair.com. Register now for free as a host family and start your search!
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