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An au pair is in charge of taking care of the children. He or she will get food and accommodation provided by the family free of charge, and a small allowance in addition (sort of pocket money). The family must also allow the au pair her time off.
Most of the time, the main reason for coming to the USA is: to learn English and get experience abroad. Indeed, au pairing is an ideal way to become fully involved in the American way of life! During the time off, the au pair is free for what she wants to do: learning English at school or being lazy in town.
Au pairs are not professional child minders and will not be a qualified nanny. Au pairs should not be responsible for children under 2 years of age.

There is no set conditions to become an au pair in the USA. However, one will probably prefer girls (it can be boys... but it's rare) between 18 and 27 and experience with children is likely to be demanded.
The minimum is 2 months and the au pair cannot stay more than 2 years.

What the au pair must know

She will have to take care of the children, i.e. :

• speak the language, at least enough to understand and talk,
• be sure they get up on time; dress them; make sure they get dressed themselves,
• take them to school/nursery/activity classes...,
• play with them,
• be in charge of their meals,
• tidy up their rooms,
• be free to baby-sit them if needed, some evenings.

What the family has to do

The family has to welcome the au pair in thinking that she is not an employee but a home help for the children. Therefore they will make sure:

• the au pair must have her own bedroom,
• the au pair will work to a maximum of 25-35 hours per week She should have minimum 2 days (2 x 24 hours) off during the week (make available the au-pair's agreed free time and days off ),
• they understand that having an au pair doesn't mean someone who is going to do the housework, the dishes....etc. However au pairs may be asked to do some housework, especially related to the children,
• the family pay an allowance (pocket money) each week (usually about $60 per week),
• it may be good to register the au pair at the family doctor. She must also be registered on the house insurance.

Some addresses...

If you want to register as an au pair or as a family, you can contact:

• IAPA (International Au Pair Association): http://www.iapa.org
• IAPO (International Au Pair Organisation): http://www.au-pair.org

You can also consult:

• Butterfly et Papillon (England, Eire, Spain, Italy, Germany, USA, Australia)- http://www.butterfly-papillon.com
• AuPair Search (all) - http://www.aupairsearch.com
• GOELANGUES (England, Irlande, Spain, Italy, Germany, USA) - http://www.goelangues.org
• GreatAuPair (serving 140+ countries) - http://www.greataupair.com

Usually agencies will ask registration fees from the family, the au pair or both.