- I am concerned that my child won’t get as much social interaction as they would through for example day care how can we make sure that our child is still interacting with children?
- Au Pair Link provides playgroups and outings (for our Au Pair 123 programme) and recommends their Au Pairs to attend for example lollypops, music groups and other activities to make sure that their children are interacting properly. In a day care setting your child is naturally exposed to a number of more children however recent research has indicated that day care is actually not good for children under age 3. Your child can have similar interaction with other children through the opportunities your family and your Au Pair arrange. If you are at any time concerned that your child is not getting enough social interaction please address this directly with your local ECE Manager and they can organize more opportunities for your child and Au Pair. However, from our experience this is not usually a problem.
- What is the difference between your Au Pair 123 Programme and your Au Pair Mate programme?
- Our Au Pair 123 Programme is tailored for families with children under 5 years of age. Families that have at least one child under age 5 can enrol in this programme. Our 123 Programme is developed in accordance with the Early Childhood Curriculum. Our Au Pair Mate Programme is dedicated for families with school age children that require different services from families with children under age 5. To find out more about our programmes please click here.
- Is having an Au Pair more expensive than having a nanny?
- No, having an Au Pair is much cheaper than having a nanny. Many families fail to calculate that a nanny also eats a lot of their meals in the family home. In most instances a nanny that works from 8 – 5 pm eats 3 meals with the children which is similar to an Au Pair. Having a nanny costs about $15 - $25 per/hour and is therefore a very expensive type of childcare option.
- I do not live in a big city - can I still get an Au Pair through you?
- Yes, most definitely. Contact us today and we can arrange a suitable solution for your family.
- I currently have a private Au Pair; can I still access your services?
- Absolutely, as long as your family qualifies for our Au Pair 123 and as long as your Au Pair has a clean police record. If you have recruited your own Au Pair you can qualify for our services free of charge!
- Can I receive the 20 ECE hours?
- Absolutely if your child is 3 or 4 years old you qualify for the government subsidy 20 ECE Hours. Contact us today to discuss this in more depth.
- I am concerned about how our children will feel about having a new caregiver every year. How do we deal with this?
- In most day care centres the staff turn-over is quite high and relief teachers are used on a daily basis. Therefore we think that having an Au Pair is a much more stable form of childcare than many of the alternatives out there. Having an Au Pair in your home and in your daily routine will allow your children to quickly form a bond with them and when they have completed their 12 month term with your family – you will usually be welcoming your next Au Pair.
- I don’t know if I want to live with another person. How can we maintain our privacy?
- The number one concern for families is usually living with another person and from research we have done of our current host families it is one of the things that the families have found easiest to adjust to. It is very important that both parties maintain their own privacy and that both parties have time away from each other.
Our families have given us examples of why it is so good to have another person in the home for example if a child is home sick – your Au Pair can care for them, when you need to pop out for milk – you don’t have to bring the children, the logistics of taking children to activities, even the opportunity to go out for coffee or why not have a romantic dinner with your partner? - Can my Au Pair drive?
- Yes! Your Au Pair will be able to drive and we will provide theoretical and practical driving lessons for your Au Pair. However, it is always important that you yourself make sure that you are happy with your Au Pairs driving ability.
- My family works shift hours, are we able to negotiate hours?
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Contact us and talk to us about your hours. We currently have quite a few families that are in the healthcare industry, airline industry or TV industry where it is necessary for their Au Pair to work different hours. We have always managed to sort this out for the families so as long as you are open with us about your hours and expectations we will endeavour to match an appropriate Au Pair for you.
- Why do I have to pay my Au Pair a completion bonus?
- We ask our families to pay their Au Pair a completion bonus to recognize their Au Pairs hard work and dedication to your family over the past 12 months. We feel that this is a lovely way to end the year with your Au Pair.
- Can my Au Pair care for a newborn baby?
- Yes, your Au Pair can help to take care of a newborn baby. However, we ask that mothers are at home for at least 6 weeks with the newborn to ensure that there are no health issues and that your child is settling in well.
- I am a Single Dad; can I still have an Au Pair?
- Of course you can still have an Au Pair! It does sometimes take a longer time to match an Au Pair with a single parent household as some Au Pairs do not feel comfortable with this. But we have many Au Pairs that would be happy to match with your family.
- Can I request my Au Pair to have special interests for example playing the piano or speaking French?
- Yes, sometimes it easier to match a family with a specific Au Pair if you have some clear expectations and guidelines. However we ask our families to be open-minded as your perfect Au Pair may not speak fluent French but be an amazing piano player, or vice versa!
- What is an Au Pair?
- "Au Pair" means "On par" or equal. An Au Pair is a young woman or man with documented childcare experience that is invited to join a family for a twelve month period to help with their children. An Au Pair becomes a family member and shares a cultural exchange and experience with the family.
- Why should I choose to have an Au Pair?
Cecilia’s former host father is best qualified to answer this question – see his response below:
“Au Pairs are great for people with more than one child. Day-care centres charge per child, having an Au Pair is the same cost for 1-4 children. (That was not the reason for us to have an Au Pair, we wanted to have someone with the kids in our house - we are also very "international" and wanted our kids to be exposed to that - and of course the language/culture of Sweden). Many families want the cultural aspect - enriching the lives of both the family and the Au Pair - as an example; we have great friends across the globe having been part of the program for many years. We have also met their families and all Au Pairs have come back to visit!”
- Johan, USA
Host father of Cecilia Hall (Managing Director)
- Why do I need Au Pair Link to match me with an Au Pair?
The reason why many families use us is because we can provide security and a guarantee that your children (as well as your Au Pair) will be well taken care of. We carefully screen and reference check all our Au Pairs.
From the word "go" we will assist you (as well as your Au Pair) with every step of the process providing help and guidance. For our families, we make sure that we understand your needs and that we match you with the right Au Pair.
When the Au Pair arrives in New Zealand – the real process begins. Throughout the year with your Au Pair we can help you with any questions that you may have and if necessary mediate between you and your Au Pair. We also introduce your Au Pair to other Au Pairs working with us in New Zealand – assisting their integration into the Kiwi way of life. We understand the fact that a happy Au Pair creates happy children (and in turn happy parents).
- How far ahead should we register with Au Pair Link before we want our Au Pair to come?
We firmly believe that both for the benefit of the Au Pair and for the family it is imperative to register with the agency at least two months before you want your Au Pair to come out. Three months gives us adequate time to find you great candidates as well as give the Au Pair adequate notice before flying to New Zealand. However, we have had families registering with us six months before they want their Au Pair as well as registering as early as 4 weeks before the Au Pair arrived.
- What types of requirements are there to become a host family with Au Pair Link?
- Just as we have criteria for selecting our Au Pairs we have basic requirements that need to be met by our host families. We will not place an Au Pair with a family that we do not deem appropriate. Any criminal charges that have been recorded are taken into account (please note that we do not look at any minor traffic offenses) as well as the living arrangements for the Au Pair. It is imperative to us that our Au Pairs are in safe and housed in a healthy environment. Consequently, we conduct reference checks for both our Au Pairs and our families.
- What happens if I am unhappy with my Au Pair?
- The best way to ensure a successful year with your Au Pair is to foster open communication. During your first week with your Au Pair you will be given tools to help you and the Au Pair adjust to the new family situation. It is important that you use these guidelines. If you feel that you need to discuss any problems with Au Pair Link then please contact us directly.