Six Tips on How to Welcome Your Aupair Into Your Home | Hosting an Aupair Guide
Originally Published on 31th August 2020
Yay! Congratulations! Now that you’ve finally found the perfect Aupair for your family, the next thing you have to do is plan how to welcome your Aupair. If this is your first time hosting an Aupair, then you’re probably not sure about some details yet like what day should you pick them up or how are you going to introduce them to the kids. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who’s anxious, the Aupair is anxious about meeting you for the first time too!
To help you out, we’re giving you some tips on how to welcome your Aupair that you might find helpful in your hosting journey today and in the future.
1. Pick Up the Aupair and tour her around on a weekend
It’s always best to pick up the Aupair during the weekend so your family and the Aupair will have more time to get to know each other, especially the kids. You can tour her around the house, which by the way, is the perfect time to start some small talk and to get to know the Aupair more (with a glass of wine maybe). You can also go to the park, show her your surroundings, take public transport together, and play with the kids so they can bond. During this time you will also be able to observe how the Aupair interacts with the kids and vice versa. It’s not always easy for the kids to warm up to a new person especially if they’re too young so make sure you allow them to spend some time with the kids during this time.
2. Start the Introduction talk
This stage of welcoming your Aupair involves setting your expectations. This is important to make sure everything is understood with regard to the family manual or the rules you’ve set up it may be about not bringing a boyfriend/girlfriend over or not staying outside late. You’ve probably discussed this with them already when screening but it’s best to discuss it with the Aupair again now that she’s home, just to make sure everything is clear and understood. You can resolve the language barrier by encouraging her to ask if there are things she doesn’t understand or allow her to translate the words in her language using Google or an app. Make sure you run her through the family’s schedule as well. If you’ve followed our previous blog on How Do Host Families Interview Aupairs?, your Aupair should already have an idea of what to expect from you and you from her/him.
3. Show everything around the house
Show the Aupair how your dishwasher, washing machine, bathroom, and all the other facilities work around the house or where to find them. Not all of them know or have come across your amenities or equipment as they are young so be sure to introduce it to them. You also have to remind them of safe practices such as remember to turn off the hot water after using and lock the doors all the time.
4. Share some brochures of local sights
While you may want to spend the first few weeks with the Aupair getting to know her/him and bond with her/him, at some point, you would want them to be more self-sufficient and make new friends. You can share some brochures that you think are worth seeing when welcoming your Aupair. You can also schedule a time for your family and Aupair to visit local tourist spots so that if Aupair wants to go there again next time with her friends she knows how to get there alone. You can ask the Aupair to write her own to-do list for the weekends such as skydiving, surfing, or maybe a road trip.
5. Share local apps for public transport and how and when to use the car (if applicable)
Your Aupair will want to create her own experiences and adventure. It will be easier for her/him to learn useful local apps to help her with public transport. There are Aupairs who would rather stay at home though so you don’t want to force her/him to go out if they are not comfortable yet. It is however important that you ask them to download the PTV app (Public Transport Victoria) or any other apps in your locality so they don’t get lost. If you allow your Aupair to use the car, obviously you have to make sure she has a driver’s license, and can drive in Australia, and you have to be clear when she’s allowed to use it and for what purpose.
6. Break down How To’s and General Safety Guidelines
This includes how to use the machines and amenities around the house as discussed above or how to use the car (if applicable). You also have to talk about general house safety such as never letting the door open as the kids might get out or never leaving any types of chemicals on the table. If you have pets, make sure you’re clear about the bath or feeding schedules. You especially want to be clear about anything related to the kid’s safety by setting some guidelines. If for example, you have a pool, make sure you remind the Aupair never to open the door to the pool or not allow the kids to swim on their own without anyone watching. It’s definitely helpful for the Aupair to know CPR and first aid as well.
We hope these tips on welcoming your Aupair helps you save time and re-assures you that with proper preparation, hosting an Aupair can be a fun and great experience for the family and for the Aupair.