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.

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

Many people think Au Pairs are only for the rich and famous. This misconception could not be farther from the truth. In reality, many parents choose Au Pairs because they are often times less expensive than day care, since there are no additional fees for multiple children.

The starting salary for a live-in Au Pair is defined by the US State Department. The average hourly cost of Au Pair child care is $7.58/hour. Although there are some set compensation values, application and managing fees vary from each agency. goAUPAIR is currently waving many of those fees to make the Au Pair program even more affordable for American families:

The first fee is the Host Family Application Fee. It covers the cost of the screening, background checks and matching processes as well as the in-home interview conducted by your Local Area Representative. goAUPAIR is currently not charging  families an application fee. In fact,  with goAUPAIR, families have access to the Au Pair Preview which allows families to search, review and compare hundreds of available Au Pairs. Unlike any other search tool in the industry, the Au Pair Preview is available at no cost. Plus, our Placement Coordinators are available to help families in their search for the perfect fit for their family.

Once families have matched with an Au Pair, they will pay an initial fee and thirty days prior to the Au Pair’s arrival, they will pay the remaining fees. goAUPAIR automatically divides the program fees into two affordable installments for our Host Families. Families may also take advantage of our Flexible Choice Program which offers flexible payment plan options.

Other fees are based on the Host family’s location, the domestic airfare surcharge accounts for the difference in arrival and departure airfare.  It is based on the Au Pair’s departure airport and Host Family preferred arrival airport.  goAUPAIR has recently reduced rates and even waived fees in some locations.

All Au Pairs are required to complete six semester credit hours at a university during their year. For most Au Pair programs, families contribute $500 for a tuition allowance. This amount is paid either to your Au Pair or directly to the school.

The average weekly cost of an Au Pair is only about $341 which compared to the cost of nannies and day cares, makes it truly a very affordable option. You can expect to pay up to $20+/hr for a nanny depending on your location and standards of living. Nannies may also charge more depending on the ages and number of children. Costs for typical day care still range from about $100 to $400 a week for full-time care. Infant care, adds an additional $25 to $100 to that total besides additional expenses. In many areas of the U.S., day care can cost up to $10,000 a year per child and account for 10 to 25 percent of a household's budget. (http://hr.blr.com/)

Besides being a flexible and most importantly, an affordable option for child care, Au Pairs offer what other forms of child care can’t: cultural exchange. Children can learn a new language for free with native speakers, while broadening their perspectives and world knowledge; which in today’s world is considered to be priceless.

The Dual Immersion Program in Utah has proved to be a great success. The program was first instituted at Granite School District in the summer and now the Utah State Office of Education expects that soon it could have up to 30,000 students enrolled in the program. 

The Dual Immersion Program gives kids, starting as early as 1st grade, 50 percent of their instruction in English and 50 percent in another language. Reading and Language arts classes are taught half of the day in English. While classes like math, science, or social studies are taught in their targeted language. Art, music, and P.E. can be taught in either language.

Educational representatives from other states and even other countries are coming to Utah to view the program’s model. Gregg Roberts, the world language specialist for the Utah State Office of Education says that in the fall there will be 14 more programs, making a total of 51 programs and 7,000 students enrolled. The hope is to have 100 programs and 30,000 students enrolled by 2014.

Like the Au Pair program, the Dual Immersion Program gives children the opportunity to experience culture exchange. Learning a new language is important to broaden student’s view and gain professional and personal enrichment experiences.

For more information visit KSL.com or the Granite School District’s Web site.

The Au Pair program was launched in 1989 by the U.S. Department of State. It consists of bringing foreign nationals between the ages of 18-26 to live with a family in the United States, take university credits and overall improve their English skills, while offering child care and performing light housekeeping.

Because the Au Pair program is carefully regulated by the U.S. Department of State, Au Pair and Host Family candidates must work with a designated sponsor of the Au Pair Program. These sponsors are responsible for background screening and training, travel, visas and managing Au Pair and Host Families interactions.  goAUPAIR was one of the original six Au Pair sponsor agencies designated by the U.S. Department of State.

At our headquarters office, our Placement Coordinators meticulously review the preferences and qualifications of each Au Pair to begin sending Host Families information about numerous Au Pair candidates who best fit the Host Families’ needs. They also manage the Au Pair application process and once a match has been confirmed, your Placement Coordinator will begin working on the Au Pair’s arrival process.

We also work with Local Area Representatives all over the U.S. Their job is to provide local support to our Host Families and Au Pairs. Local Area Representatives perform the initial interview in the family’s home before their Au Pair arrives, they are also responsible for an orientation shortly after the Au Pair has arrived. In addition to maintaining monthly contacts, Local Area Representatives also hold Au Pair activities as well as provide Host Family Day Conferences which every Host Family is required to attend at least once each year.

Currently, goAUPAIR represents hundreds families across the U.S. and works with Au Pair agencies in over 50 countries around the world.

Russian Au Pairs are a great option for any family considering Au Pair child care. For years, Russian Au Pairs have been known as hard working and friendly care givers. Many Host Families prefer Au Pairs from Russia because they experience minimal cultural shock due to substantial westernization in Russia. Host Parents also enjoy Russia Au Pairs because many have good driving skills and have exposed to similar driving rules in their home country.

Russian Au Pairs are motivated to come to the United States to improve their English as this will increase their opportunities back home. The majority of our Au Pairs pursue college degrees prior to their arrival and the education component of the Au Pair program is important to these Au Pairs as well. It is common for Au Pairs from Russia to drive prior to their arrival in the U.S. They also have great linguistic abilities, it is common to speak other languages like Turkish, German, French, Danish, Finnish and even Arabic.

The majority of Russians live in urban areas so most Russian Au pair are accustomed to big cities. In the past, initiative and working independently was discouraged in place of conformity in Russia, for that reason Russian Au Pairs work best when given specific instructions. Friendship is very important in Russia and helping friends whenever possible is expected.

The main meal in Russia is eaten at lunch, not at dinner. Culturally, Russians serve more food than they are able to eat, which means prosperity in the home, Russian Au Pairs may instinctively make large lunches and smaller dinners.

While the number of Russians who own cars is increasing, public transportation is widely used in urban areas. Russian Au Pairs from urban areas may prefer to use public transportation instead of driving. As with most Au Pairs, Russian Au Pairs may be interested in obtaining a cell phone while in the U.S.

Our Russian Au Pairs placed in the U.S. have experience with a wide variety of age groups. Over 80 percent of these Au Pairs have experience with infants and with children over the age of 10, but all of our Au Pairs in the U.S. have experience with children 2-10 years old. This comes from many of our Au Pairs from Russia working as teachers prior to their arrival in the U.S.

For more information about our Russian Au Pairs, contact one of our Placement Coordinators.

Oh, the world cup...

The largest and most lucrative sporting event in the world, The FIFA World Cup Championship brings together 16 national soccer teams from all continents along with it the passion for the largest fan-following-sport on the planet.

Soccer used to be much more popular in Europe and South America, but because of the international influence America has experienced in the last decades by immigration and cultural exchange programs encouraged by the U.S. government, like the Au Pair program, the perspective on sports has also being influenced. According to Nielsen Media Research, the USA vs. Ghana World Cup match drew the largest U.S. soccer audience in history with 19.4 million viewers.

With the World Cup in full swing, Au Pairs are providing their Host Families with a new outlook on this global event. Since soccer has yet to gain the popularity in the U.S. that is seen in most other countries, we asked our Au Pairs to share some of their opinions about the World Cup.

Do you have any traditions surrounding the World Cup?
In my country (France) everyone watches it. We get together at home or at a bar and we watch it!
-Sona, an Au Pair from France currently placed in VA

What differences have you seen here in the U.S. and in your home country in the way the World Cup is viewed?
In Germany, everybody knows the player’s names.  People are on the streets cheering for them, singing hymns and really enjoy the world cup. All commercials on TV are somehow connected to soccer and there are a lot of places for public viewing, where hundreds of people are laughing, singing and - if it has a bad ending - crying together.
-Linnea, an Au Pair from Germany currently placed in NJ

What is your favorite part about the World Cup?

Does not matter which team you like, the end is always fun and passion.
-Claudia Susana, an Au Pair from Mexico currently placed in DE

Well I am a huge follower of the World Cup this year as it is being hosted by my home country!  It is the first time a Cup is being hosted on the African continent and I think that is huge.  Not to mention all the buildup of excitement our country has felt in the past few years as we prepared to host the cup.
-Uresha, an Au Pair from South Africa currently placed in NY

My favorite bit is the fact that it helps raise our economy and will hopefully help strengthen the bridge between races now that they have to work together.
-Chane, an Au Pair from South Africa currently placed in CT