Your typical duties and responsibilities as an au pair

The following duties and responsibilities of an au pair are merely a guideline and will vary from family to family, depending on the family’s requirements and the age of their children.

Housework:   

As an au pair, you might be responsible for some light housework in some countries.  Although each family is different, your household duties may include the following:

1. Doing the laundry and ironing;
2. Folding clothes;
3. Dusting and vacuuming;
4. Washing the dishes;
5. Emptying trash,
6. Grocery shopping;
7. General tidying of the house and
8. Feeding the animals (cats, dogs, birds, fishes etc.)

Child Care:        

As an au pair, child care will be one of your main duties.  Remember to be very safety conscious at all times, even if the parents are at home!  Be friendly, positive and enthusiastic and always be responsible.

If a family has babies, toddlers and/or pre-schoolers, your duties as an au pair can include the following:

1. Nappy changing and/or potty training;
2. Establishing a sleeping routine for babies;
3. Prepare meals, snacks and feed the children (bottle feeding for babies);
4. Grooming and dressing of children;
5. Play with the children, read to them and have fun with them;
6. Educational stimulation of the children (stimulate fine, gross, motor skills and speech and language development);
7. Bath the children;
8. Take them on outings (zoo, park, playground etc.).

If a family has older children and they attend a school, your duties can include the following:

1. Wake the children in the morning;
2. Make sure that the children are groomed and dressed;
3. Make sure children’s beds are made and their rooms are clean;
4. Prepare breakfast, lunch and snacks for the children;
5. Drive children to school and extramural activities and pick them up as well;
6. Assist the children with their homework;
7. Bath the children.

When a family has a child with a disability or special need, your duties as an au pair can include the following depending on the child’s disability or special need:

1. Be very very patient with a child with a disability/special need;
2. Read and educate yourself about the childs’ disability/special need;
3. School assistant (for a child attending a school);
4. Take the child to therapy (whether it be for speech, occupational, physio, equestrian or water therapy);
5. Do the necessary exercises with the child as prescribed by the specific therapist (follow the development programme);
6. Stimulate the development of the child (gross, fine and motor skills and speech and language)
7. Love them!

Family Care:        

As an au pair, you will be part of a brand new family and it will take some time to adjust to your new host family.  Here are a few guidelines to make things easier for yourself and your new family:

1. Communication is the key to a successful au pair and family relationship!
2. Communicate with your family every single day.  Remember to sort out problems there and then, do not wait.
3. Attend language classes.  This will benefit both parties and overcome language barriers and difficulties, if any.
4. Respect the family’s privacy and the house rules.
5. Value their opinion and views.
6. Be yourself at all times, be honest and truthful and do not pretend.
7. Show an interest in your new family, their hobbies and their work.  Get to know them and establish a relationship with them.
8. Familiarise yourself with your host family’s culture and their traditions, thereby preventing a major culture shock if you’re an au pair in a foreign country.
9. Be flexible and open to change in your new family life.
10. Never borrow money from your host family!  It is unethical and can put a strain on your relationship.
11. Get your family’s permission when friends want to visit you.
12. Tell your family if you are going out and or sleeping over at a friend – it is common courtesy and your family is still responsible for you.
13. Home security must be strictly maintained at all times.

Your service or employment contract:        

In most countries it is required by law, in accordance with their Labour Relations Act, that there must be a Service or Employment Contract between the host family (“the employer”) and the au pair (“the employee”).  It is important to discuss, clarify and agree to the following points before the commencement of your au pair duties:

1. Probation period (if any);
2. The terms and conditions of employment;
3. Your duties and responsibilities;
4. Leave days, sick leave and number of days off;
5. You remuneration package and performance evaluation criteria;
6. Cancellation or termination of employment;

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