As a parent, it’s only natural that your kids are the most precious part of your life, but if your work requires you to go on frequent business trips, or your schedule doesn’t perfectly align with your child’s schooling, you may want to consider hiring an au pair to join your family and look after your children.
There are thousands of American families who host an au pair to step in and meet their childcare needs, and if you’ve made your mind up and you’re ready to start your search, there are certain factors to take into account beforehand. You need to make sure that your au pair fits in well and has the skills and experience required to comfortably perform their roles. To get started, here are a few tips on how to select the best au-pair for your kids.
Pick the Right Agency
When choosing the best au pair for your kids, your first step should be to go through an agency. Not only will they conduct background checks, they can provide assistance during the interview stage. Any legal aspects that are associated with hiring an au pair can also be handled by the agency, making the process much more straightforward. The au pair you pick will need to obtain a specific visa to legally work in the United States, so while the agency can do the hard work for you, it’s important that you know the fees involved beforehand.
It’s best to research a couple of au pair agencies before you make your final decision. When looking online, you may find that one agency specializes in eastern European au pairs, whereas another focuses on another area. Any preferences you have in an au pair need to be outlined at this stage so you can narrow down your search.
Review Applications
While your first role is a parent, you need to act as an employer when reviewing au pair applications. It’s crucial that you select a candidate who fits the bill and possesses all the key traits and qualifications you’re looking for, so don’t be afraid to be picky throughout the process. When looking through applications and resumes, you should get a better idea of whether the au pair will be a good fit for your family.
So that you find a suitable match, there are several things you should look out for, such as how many years’ experience they have in childcare, as well as what their hobbies, likes, and dislikes are. If your children are sporty, for example, having an au pair who enjoys being fit and active will mean your kids will benefit. The right au pair for your family also needs to have excellent communication skills.
Ask the Right Questions
Once you’ve narrowed down your search and you’re ready to conduct interviews, make sure that you have a list of questions that can help increase the chances of finding the right au pair for your kids. If the au pair is overseas, there is video conferencing software that you can use like Zoom, which allows you to see them face to face. Doing so will give you a clearer idea of whether they’re the right match for your family.
While you may prefer to communicate via email, you won’t get a solid grasp on how they conduct themselves, so holding an informal video chat to get to know the au pair will be beneficial for the both of you.
Conduct Your Own Research
Parents will do everything in their power to ensure their children are kept safe and protected, so even if you’ve gone through an agency to find an au pair, liked their application, and held a video interview, there is still some research that you should consider doing to ensure you’ve made the right decision.
If you decide to look for an au pair without an agency, or you want to tackle the background check yourself, you can visit websites like publicrecordsreviews.com where you can find Felony Records on potential candidates. While you may initially feel guilty doing this, your children’s safety and security should never be compromised. You can also search for birth records, address records, and criminal records on Public Records Reviews, which will make sure that the au pair is legitimate and are who they say they are. No matter how much you feel like you know the au pair before meeting, they are still essentially a stranger, so you should be on your guard and question everything.
Bringing an au pair into the family home can provide numerous benefits for both you and your kids. It’s important that you pick an au pair who has your child’s best interests at heart, meaning you can get on with what you need to do and be safe in the knowledge that you have an au pair who will ensure your children are well looked after.
