What a family can ask an Au Pair to do:

When a family hosts an au pair, there are specific responsibilities that can be assigned to the au pair, and others that should not be. Here’s a list of common tasks that families can typically ask an au pair to do, primarily centered around childcare and tasks directly related to the children:

Childcare-related Tasks:

1. Child Supervision: Supervising the children during playtime, outings, and other activities.
2. Meal Preparation: Preparing and serving meals/snacks for the children.
3. Dressing & Grooming: Helping the children get dressed, brushing their hair, and other grooming tasks.
4. Homework Assistance: Assisting with or supervising homework and school projects.
5. Transportation: Driving or accompanying children to school, extracurricular activities, appointments, or playdates.
6. Child-related Housekeeping: Cleaning up after the children, including tidying play areas and washing the children’s dishes.
7. Bedtime Routine: Helping with nighttime routines such as giving baths, reading bedtime stories, and putting the children to bed.
8. Babysitting: Occasionally watching the children during evenings or weekends if agreed upon in advance.
9. Organizing Activities: Planning and facilitating age-appropriate activities, crafts, or outings.
10. Child’s Laundry: Washing, folding, and putting away the children’s clothes.

 

Light Household Tasks (related to the children):

1. Tidying up: Keeping the children’s rooms and play areas neat.
2. Grocery Shopping: Occasionally buying groceries, especially items related to the children’s needs.
3. Children’s Meals: Preparing children’s meals and cleaning up afterward.
4. Packing Lunches: Preparing school lunches or snacks for outings.
5. Pet Care: If the pet is closely related to the child’s daily activities, like walking a dog.

Tasks that are Typically Not Appropriate for an Au Pair:

1. Heavy Housework: Such as deep cleaning, mowing the lawn, or significant home maintenance tasks.
2. Cooking for the Entire Family: Unless it’s been specifically agreed upon.
3. Running Personal Errands: For the host parents that aren’t related to the children.
4. Full Housekeeping: Cleaning areas of the house not used by the children, or doing laundry for the entire family.
5. Caring for Relatives or Neighbors: Au pairs are there for their host family’s children, not other families or relatives.

It’s essential to ensure that expectations are clearly communicated and outlined in the agreement or contract between the host family and the au pair. Every family’s needs are different, and the exact duties might vary, but they should always be reasonable and centered around childcare.