demi pair? Summer au pair? What is a demi pair and how is it different from the classic au pair?Read all about demi pair and summer au pair!
DEMI PAIR
What is a demi-pair? This question is easily answered if you look closely at the word combination. The word „demi-pair“ comes as the word „au pair“ from French. „Demi“ means „half“. The classic au pair works all day and helps and supports the family with the house work and the child care throughout the day. The demi-pair on the other hand takes a language course in the mornings or afternoons and therefore can support the family with the typical au pair work only part-time. You could also call a demi-pair a part-time au pair.
If you work abroad as a demi-pair the main focus is to learn the language as quickly as possible. As demi-pair you also help your host family with easy tasks in the house and with the child care.
Just like the au pair, the demi pair can live for free with the host family, gets food and some pocket money.
DUTIES AS A DEMI PAIR
What are your duties as a demi pair ? The demi pair helps the host family with easy works in the house and takes care of the children. Easy house chores are: preparing the meals, set the table, vacuum, do laundry, sweep …
Your tasks as a demi-pair related to the child care are: play with the children, bring them to their day care facilities, dress and undress the children, help them with their homework…
Your stay abroad as a demi-pair is something in between a language trip and a home stay. As a demi pair you can learn the language very fast.You should aim for a language certificate like the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Testing System).
Such a certificate can help you a lot after your time abroad, for example when applying for a job in an international company or to an international university.
Your dem pair stay has even more advantages . For a regular au pair program in New Zealand or Australia you need to have a driver’s license – if you apply as a demi-pairit isn’t. Therefore, if you don’t have a driver’s license working as a demi-pair is a good option.
SUMMER AUPAIR
What is a summer au pair ? A summer au pair works during the summer, since many families are looking for an au pair to help them with childcare during the summer months (from May to September).
Summer vacation is long and in many countries, parents are unable to take that much time off from work. They cannot stay home for the entire summer to take care of their children. Also, daycare centers are usually closed during the summer, so many families are glad to have a summer au pair who can help them out.
It is very common that summer au pairs go on vacation with their host family, so, being a summer au pair abroad can be a fun job.If you want to work as a summer au pair, you should hand in your application by the end of March, at the latest.
YOUR DUTIES AS SUMMER AU PAIR
If you work as a summer au pair your duties are very similar to those of a classic au pair:
Childcare (play, make handicrafts, plan activities with the children, give them food, help them dress and undress etc.).
Small jobs around the house (prepare meals, clean up after the meals, vacuum, unload the dishwasher etc.).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SUMMER AU PAIRS
If you work as a summer au pair , it can be really hard to tell whether what you are doing is actual work or if it is part of your free time. If you build sandcastles at the beach, is it work or free time? If you cook together with the host family, is that considered work or free time? If you go on a trip with your au pair family, are you working or is this part of your free time?
These questions are hard to answer since every host family and every au pair will probably tell you something different.
Our advice: Talk to your host family about these issues before you start your au pair job . This is the only way you can avoid misunderstandings later on. Also, if the rules are clear from the beginning, nobody will be disappointed afterwards because they expected something else.
Set clear rules with your au pair family and work out a plan for your working hours as a summer au pair. This way, your host family will know exactly when they can count on your help, and it will be easier for you to plan your free time.
GOING ON VACATION WITH THE HOST FAMILY?
If the host family is planning to go on vacation with you, keep in mind that this changes the general framework of your au pair work. The whole family will spend a lot more time together.
Also, the accommodation is usually smaller, and you will have less space for yourself. Maybe the host family can’t afford to pay for a private room for the au pair or there might not be an extra room for the au pair, so it might be possible that you will have to sleep in the same room as the children
Before going on vacation with your au pair family , you should talk about the following:
What will the accommodation be like?
How much pocket money do you want to get?
Will the host family pay for your expenses (entrance fees, excursions, etc.)?
Will the host family pay (in part) for your travel expenses?
Exactly how many hours will you have to work?
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