What Does an Au Pair Do?
Why live-in care is different from babysitting
An au pair provides hands-on childcare: getting the kids ready in the morning, school drop-offs, homework help, preparing the children's meals, and planning activities that keep them engaged. Because your au pair lives with your family, they come to know your children's routines, personalities and needs in a way that occasional care never allows. The J-1 Au Pair Program sets clear guidelines around hours and responsibilities, so both your family and your au pair know what to expect from the first day.
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So what does an au pair actually do each day? As a host family, here's what to expect. Your au pair provides hands-on childcare — things like getting the kids ready in the morning, school drop-offs, helping with homework, preparing meals for the children, and planning fun activities that keep them engaged and learning. They become a trusted, consistent presence in your children's lives. It's so much more than babysitting. Your au pair lives with your family, which means they truly get to know your kids — their routines, their personalities, their needs. And because the J-1 Au Pair Program has clear guidelines around hours and responsibilities, everyone knows what to expect from day one. Want to learn exactly how it all works? Visit greataupairusa.com to get started.