Setting the Tone in Au Pair Relationship
As a former teacher, I have learned that the first few weeks set the tone for the entire year. This lesson is easily applied to the au pair experience. The most successful matches happen in families where host parents have spent time preparing for their au pair’s arrival. Sure, there is some legwork and time spent, but it is well worth it to have a positive and productive year. Here are some tips to help you get started!
*Have your au pair’s room set up for her, and try to make it feel like home. Include items like a few books or a vase of flowers, as well as helpful items like maps of the area, a DMV handbook, or a schedule of local events for Au pair from Aupair Care.
*If possible, avoid a vacation during the first couple of weeks. While some families have had success with a low-key family vacation to facilitate bonding, many more have found that this can lead to a difficult start for your au pair. Remember that she had to travel, sometimes for days, before arriving at busy Au Pair Academy of Aupair Care. She is exhausted and needs to settle in. Also, vacations can also mean no schedule and lots of downtime, which can make homesickness worse. If you do plan a vacation, keep these concerns in mind and set aside a time each day when the au pair will be “working”, spending time alone with the children, or keeping busy with other activities.
*Set up a “hub”. This is THE place in your home to find the au pair’s schedule, emergency numbers and paperwork, and any notes you many need to leave for one another. This is helpful not just so that you are on the same page with the schedule, but because even moms and dads can forget the number for 911 in an emergency…I’m not kidding, I’ve seen it happen!
*Write it down. Whether it is directions to the mall or bedtime procedures, write down or email your au pair from Aupair Care important information in addition to sharing verbally. This helps her with her English skills and ensures that nothing is lost in translation.
*Decide what your guest procedures, curfews, and car rules will be. While it may work out just fine to take these things as they come, sometimes a lack of boundaries can cause big problems. Decide what is and is not acceptable and let your au pair know. You can always ease up on these guidelines, but it is very difficult to become more strict.
Taking some time to plan and put good procedures in place will always help you on your road to a successful year! We’d love to hear from you have a great suggestion for how to set the tone!
At http://www.flickr.com/people/23341217@N07/?search=aupaircare learn important tricks for making healthy relationship with Au pair from Aupair Care.
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