goAUPAIR is excited to be featured on KSL News Radio, one of the largest local media outlets in Utah. As the issues of child care become more omnipresent than ever, goAUPAIR is happy to help educate families in Utah about Au Pair child care as a viable child care solution.

The management team at goAUPAIR had the pleasure of speaking with Mary Richards, a reporter from KSL News. The team talked about how the Au Pair program originated, how it works and the several benefits of live-in Au Pair child care. Another topic covered was affordability. Many people hold the misconception that Au Pairs are only for the rich and famous, but the myth couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, Au Pair Child Care is one of the most affordable child care options available. A summary of the interview was compiled into a 30 second radio spot as well as a full page Internet story.

Currently one of the most appealing  benefits of the Au Pair program in the cost. The tough economy has made it harder for working parents to find affordable, flexible and safe child care. However, at less than $8 per hour, Au Pair child care is becoming a popular choice for many families.

“We were pleased with the opportunity to talk with Mary and share a little more about Au Pair Child Care” said, Bill Kapler, owner of goAUPAIR. “We want our local community to know there are affordable ways to enjoy child care while providing a cultural experience for their children.”

Many Host Families are often eager to share their enthusiasm about Au Pair child care. Regina Diaz, a Host Mom from Sandy, UT is pleased with her Au Pair child care experience, “Caterine is our second Au Pair. She arrived from Colombia in June and has made such a difference in the past 2 months. She has set out to make her time with Amanda both fun and educational. She has spent her days with Amanda working on these necessary skills. Caterine has come into our home and made herself a member of our family.”

Click here to view the complete story.

One of the many appealing benefits of hiring an Au Pair is the fact that they watch over your children at your own home. Knowing that your children are being taken care off in a familiar and most importantly, safe environment, is most appreciated by our Host Families. The idea of your children being taken care of in your own home has obvious advantages, but sometimes  we overlook the detriments from which we are saving our children.

Day Care facilities may not offer the most controlled environment, since there are many children to look after. Although an area is sanitized and protected, a room shared by many kids increases the chances of diseas and sickness spreading. Day Care environments put children in close contact with each other, if only one child is infected, others will easily and most likely suffer with the same sicknesses.

Dr. Daniel Ravel DDS, FAAPD, posted in his blog that “Children attending day care are very good at sharing a number of bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections with each other. Day care is an ideal environment for the spread of disease among children, because: the children move about and interact with other, their personal hygiene is less than ideal, their ability to control their bodily secretions and excretions is poor, and their immune systems are not yet fully developed.”

Another reason that contributes to children getting sick is how they are fed. Some day cares might not work with your feeding schedule. There is also a chance that kids will share their food with each other and your child might end up eating what you don’t want them to.

Au Pair child care means exclusive in-home care for your children. Parents control and know what happens to their children. Your Au Pair will work according to your family’s schedule and prepare meals that you have approved for your children. Proper social activities with other children are better supervised and in the event of your children getting sick; you know your Au Pair is constantly aware of their needs.

It’s important to carefully consider all the variables you can when selecting a child care solution for your children. Au Pair child care offers a variety of benefits and healthy children is just one of many.

Speaking a second language is becoming an essential asset to not only have a good job, but to understand the world around us. In the United States, people don’t need to go abroad in order to need another language. Many places in the country, especially New York City, are now a melting pot of many cultures and consequently their languages.

It was once thought that making kids learn two languages at once could make them confused and could “muddle their English-language development,” but in fact, current research shows that learning a second language makes it easier to learn even more languages.

The advantages of learning a second language for children don’t end just there. An interesting New York Times story about nannies and foreign languages, cites, “In one test researchers frequently use, words like “red” and “green” flash across a screen, but the words actually appear in purple and yellow. Bilingual children are faster at identifying what color the word is written in, fact researchers attribute to a more developed prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for executive decision-making, like which language to use with certain people).”

For that reason many parents are opting for young international nannies, also know as Au Pairs, who come the U.S. live with a Host Family, provide child care and at the same time can introduce a new language to their children.

The New York Times article tells the story of a Texas man who hired a Peruvian nanny to speak only Spanish with his son, who is 1 1/2; “knowing how hard it is to learn languages at older ages, he wanted to help his son early on, ‘We view it as a gift we are giving him.’”

Many parents try to provide learning and growing experiences for their children at a young age to increase the chances of retention. Whether parents want to help their children understand other cultures, or another language; Au Pair Child Care offers parents a child care solution with a unique international learning opportunity.

Most families look for an Au Pair from a specific country or that speaks a specific language, goAUPAIR has the exclusive Au Pair Preview that lets you search for Au Pairs based on several criteria, like the languages they speak. We currently have Au Pairs from more than 40 countries around the world, which means many languages to choose from.

To read the full New York Times article click here.

ExchangesConnect’s YouTube channel recently posted a video encouraging exchange programs. In the new video, Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State, talked about exchange programs and encouraged American families to host foreign youth in their homes.

In her short speech, Clinton said there are many young people around the world eager to come to the U.S.A., get to know the American culture and share their own. Families that embrace this cultural exchange not only expand their world knowledge but most importantly they “build people-to-people connections that span the globe and last a lifetime”

According to Clinton, cultural exchange programs are critical to meeting the challenges of today’s world. For these programs to work most effectively, families need to show goodwill, generosity and mutual understanding, “Many exchange students return home with positive impressions of America, and they go on to become leaders in their own countries. I’ve met some of these leaders, and they talked to me with great enthusiasm about what they’ve experienced.”

She ended by thanking all American families who are already engaged in any of these exchange programs. She also encouraged many more Americans to help share the American values with those from other countries, “When we dispel stereotypes and we open new avenues of dialogue across boundaries and borders, we enrich ourselves and the world.”

At goAUPAIR, we are happy to be part of this on going effort to bring cultures and languages together. In our 20 years working with the Au Pair exchange program, we have had many successful stories of lives being changed and friendships that go beyond continents.

If you are interest in being part of the Au Pair program by hosting an International Nanny in your home, please contact one of our Placement Coordinators at 888.287.2471 or visit goAUPAIR to see some of these young people who are exited to learn about your family and your lifestyle.

The Au Pair program is becoming one of the most popular child care options available. Consequently, there have been many scam attempts trying to mimic this program, targeting both Au Pairs and Host Families. Au Pair scams are very serious and have stolen money form prospective Host Families and Au Pairs all across the world. The safest way to avoid this type of problem in the United States is to find Au Pairs and Host Families through one of the U.S. Department of State Sponsor Agencies.

Scammers focus their actions on potential Au Pairs and Host Families who register on independent Au Pair/Nanny search websites. They know most applicants in these cases are not attached to any professional agencies and consequently are not educated about the official requirements of the Au pair program like types of visas, child care training, age requirements, local support, education etc.

For Au Pairs candidates, scammers usually pose as interested families and write long emails saying they’ll hire right away. They offer big amounts of money in exchange of easy cleaning and child care work. These scams usually lead to one of two directions: some of them will ask money for expenses of visas, lawyers and travel arrangements. They might ask you to get in contact with a travel agency, which is also a non-existence agency and will ask a payment for necessary fees. Beware that there is no agency that can provide you a visa other that official U.S. embassies and consulates. However, agencies can help with flight arrangements and the proper screening of the Host Family. The other and worst path these scams can lead to is illegal work.

Potential Host Families registered on these websites are also targets of scams. Many emails are sent from “potential” Au Pairs. They are usually attractive young women with impressive child care professional experience. Scams for Host Families usually work by charging the family some fees to view available Au Pairs that don’t exist. They also ask you to pay extra to view exclusive information about an Au Pair who doesn’t answer any emails or phone calls. They promise to send updated Au Pair information with pictures and references that again, don’t exist. Fake Au Pair agencies might also charge to match with Au Pairs that never make it to the family’s home.

goAUPAIR is one of the 12 original sponsors chosen by the U.S. Department of State. As an officially designated Au Pair agency, we are audited every year by the U.S. Department of State to ensure we are following all of the program’s rules. We also make sure all Host Families and Au Pairs are background checked and have met all the requirements to participate in the program. We make available pre-screened Au Pairs from around the world with their complete profiles at no cost or no hidden fees. Our Placement Coordinators are always available and willing to give families and Au Pairs the necessary information to make the best and safest match for both the Au Pair and Host Family. goAUPAIR also employs Local Area Representatives that meet all Host Families and Au Pairs personally and pay close attention to their relationship.

Here are some other reasons the International Au Pair Association gives why families and Au Pairs should look for reputable and established Au Pair agencies, like goAUPAIR:

-Low probability of unsuitable Au Pair or Host Family candidates
-Written contract
-Professionalism and financial stability
-High standards or guidelines
-Sufficient references and /or medical certification
-Rematch policy (secondary placement) if the initial placement is unsuccessful

What Is An Au Pair?

An Au Pair is a temporary assistant that works and lives alongside the family. The duties of an Au Pair varies but generally include caring for children and doing light housework. Compensation is given for these responsibilities. The Au Pair is given a private room and a moderate amount of spending money. An Au Pair should be suitably matched to the Host Family, before choosing one, you should be well-informed about what an Au Pair does.

1. The main goal of an Au Pair is to learn English.
Most Au Pairs want to move forward in life. They will take language classes to improve themselves, and they will expect help from the Host Family. You will need to assist with lessons and correct any mistakes made. If English is not the main language in your home, you should inform the Au Pair.

2. Many Au Pairs are college graduates.
Young Au Pairs are more qualified than you may expect. While it is not necessarily a requirement, a college degree represents drive and determination. If an Au Pair has qualifications in child psychology or care, you will spend less time delegating tasks.

3. There is a difference between a nanny and an Au Pair.
A nanny is trained in child care specifics. An Au Pair has experience with caring for children through casual babysitting or working in public daycare settings. An Au Pair is paid less than a nanny because they receive room and board.

4. An Au Pair shouldn't be substituted for a house cleaner.
Although you may want your Au Pair to do housework, you should keep it simple. The best plan is to request only child-related cleaning and errands.

5. An Au Pair is meant to be treated as a member of the family.
Many Au Pairs are young and leaving home for the first time. They will want to take part in family time, including weekend activities and vacations. The arrangement should not be looked at as a business agreement.

Once you know what to expect from an Au Pair, you can choose the right fit for your family. The relationship between the Host Family and the Au Pair is designed to be harmonious and a rewarding experience for both sides.

This blog post was written by Louise Baker, a freelance blogger who usually writes about online degrees for Zen College Life. Her most recent article ranked the best online schools.

This month at goAUPAIR we are featuring our Au Pairs from Western Europe. We currently have many Au Pairs from France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden  and Switzerland ready to match with a Host Family. These countries and Au Pairs share many European characteristics, but they are also unique in history, language or dialects and in many cultural aspects. Here are a few interesting facts about these Au Pairs.

French Au Pairs:
Cooking in France is considered an art and meals are expected to last several hours to enjoy the food. They are eager to share their culture, but they are also very interested in learning about American traditions. Driving is very common in France and the traffic laws are similar to those in the U.S. English is taught to all children in France for seven years. Perfecting their English skills is one of the reasons French Au Pairs choose to come to the U.S. instead of other countries.

German Au Pairs:
During school breaks, many German Au Pairs participate in voluntary internships at local kindergartens in order to obtain more child care experience. Since German is not spoken in many countries, there is a large focus on language education. All German children study English in school and it is also common to learn additional languages. In fact, 58% of the German Au Pairs placed in the U.S. speak 3 or more languages.

Dutch Au Pairs:
Au Pairs from The Netherlands usually adjust well to life in the U.S. They are generally known for their flexibility and independence. English is taught to children at an early age and it is the second language for many Dutch people. According to research, approximately 85 percent of the population is able to converse in English. In addition, Dutch Au Pairs generally speak a third language, commonly French or German.

Swedish Au Pairs:
Most of our Swedish Au Pairs in the U.S. were 19-21 years old when they first arrived. Au Pairs from Sweden typically choose to participate in the program prior to starting college. Au Pairs from Sweden tend to be very active and many of our Swedish Au Pairs list sports as one of their hobbies or interests. Common sports in Sweden include soccer, skiing and ice hockey.

Spaniards Au Pairs:
Au Pairs from Spain are known to be adventurous and friendly. As in most Western Europe countries, English is required and taught in schools.  Spain has a free health service so it is very common to have doctor's visits regularly. Spaniards start working early, meaning they have incomes available at an earlier age with which they try to finance their expenses. Spain's culinary traditions rely on an abundance of locally grown vegetables and fruits as well as meats and poultry. Chorizo is also popular. Seafood and fish are popular in coastal areas. They are very proud of their cuisine and are eager to share it with host families.

Swiss Au Pairs:
Swiss Au Pairs from urban areas will be accustomed to large crowds and easily accessible shopping, dining and entertainment options. Punctuality is important and highly regarded in Swiss culture, meaning Swiss Au Pairs may rarely be late. The Swiss tend to keep to themselves and spend more time at home which is also a trend among Swiss Au Pairs. Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch, while the French and Italian dialects are standard, the German spoken in Switzerland is different than in Germany.

Western Europe Au Pairs usually gain their child care experience by babysitting for family, friends and neighbors. Nearly all of our available Au Pairs from Western Europe drive and have regular access to a car. Driving is very common in these countries.

In honor of our featured continent, families who match with a Western European Au Pair in August will receive $100 off their program fees!