What is Aupair?

"Aupair" is French for "on par," reminding host families that, although an employee, their international visitor is to be treated as a member of the family. An aupair is a young person who spends time abroad in order to learn a foreign language and a foreign culture whilst living as part of a family in a foreign country. In return for full board, lodging and pocket money, aupairs agree to help with the children and perform light household duties.

They are well educated, usually to university degree levels or attending a university. Aupairs become full-fledged family members, sharing a cultural exchange experience which often leads to a lasting relationship with the host family.

What Aupairs Do...

The aupair's childcare responsibilities may include:

- Awakening the children, dressing, bathing and feeding them
- Playing with children and helping them with their homework
- Preparing light meals or helping to prepare meals, making children's beds, doing their laundry, ironing their clothes
- Taking/collecting children to and from school, appointments or outings requested by the host family
- Shopping, vacuuming, dusting and some other light housework
- Staying home if necessary while children are absent from school due to illness or holidays
- Baby-sitting - up to two evenings per week.

The au pair is not a cleaner or a housemaid. Their responsibilities do not include heavy housework unrelated to the children such as cleaning the windows, cleaning the home or polishing.

It cannot be too strongly stressed though, that au pairs are not qualified nannies or domestic servants, they should not be expected to take sole responsibility for the children or household duties.