The responsibility of the host family to the au pair extends to a duty of care (as they would to their own children) and also to insure their inclusion in the family set up and activities (outings, dining, family events...)
Host family:
The host family will welcome an au pair for 6 to 12 months (or sometimes shorter) and will treat him/her as member of the family.
They will provide board & lodging (private bedroom with wardrobe & desk)
The host family must clearly explain to the au pair what is expected from her in terms of child-minding and light house work. Au pair should be given a weekly or monthly schedule.
Explain the house rules: use of the phone & internet, visitors, time off, weekends away
Au pair house work duties: The host family can ask the au pair to:
Keep the children’s bedroom & playroom clean and tidy
Wash, dry & iron the children’s clothes
Change, wash & dry children’s bed clothes
Empty & load the dishwasher
Tidy and sweep the kitchen & eating area after meals
Hoover living area once or twice a week
Cook for the children (lunch boxes, after school snack)
Help to prepare the dinner (peel vegetables, cook rice, reheat dinners...)
Keep her own area clean and tidy
Do her own laundry
The house work chores will indeed depend on the number and the age of the children. An au pair minding three children under 5 won’t be able to do as much house work as an au pair minding 2 school goers. Keep safety in mind too: it’s not advisable for an au pair to cook or iron when young children are under her supervision.
Au pairs are not expected to:
Wash, dry & iron the parent’s clothes
Clean and tidy the parent’s bedroom
Clean the bathroom & toilet (other than a simple wipe after kids)
Clean the fridge, microwave & oven (other than a simple wipe after spillage)
