Things are finally beginning to warm up in Madison, and it has families thinking spring… and summer! Do you have a plan for summer childcare and beyond? Finding childcare that works for you and your family can be challenging, but good news…hosting an au pair can help. Did you know? We have the country’s very first au pair program, Au Pair in America, right here in Madison!
What is an au pair?
Au pairs are young people from abroad, aged 18 to 26, who travel to the U.S. on the Exchange Visitor Program for a unique cultural exchange experience. Since 1986 these visitors have been coming to America to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of American life while living with an American family and caring for their children for up to 45 hours per week.
Sound appealing? When it comes to hosting an au pair, the agency you choose, matters. Recently named “Best Overall Agency” by Verywell family, Au Pair in America is a great option for Madison families.
Here are 5 – of many! – reasons that Madison families love hosting au pairs with Au Pair in America:
1: The best support and service
Au Pair in America prides themselves on providing exceptional support to their host families and au pairs.
Help Finding Your Au Pair:
Au Pair in America is committed to helping you find the best match to meet your family’s unique preferences and child care needs.
A member of the APIA Placement Team will work with you during the matching process, get to know you personally, and provide support whenever needed.
Local Support Throughout Your Match:
Au Pair in America provides the best local support in the business to help you welcome your au pair into your home and guide you throughout your time together. The agency’s Madison representative, Amber Young, brings a unique perspective to her work. Amber has been a Madison mom for seven years and has a background in counseling, nutrition, and child care, along with a passion for travel and learning about other cultures. She was also a nanny for over 20 years herself, so she knows about the challenges of finding child care.
Amber says, “I am passionate about helping families thrive and look forward to connecting Madison families with au pairs from all over the world!”
2: Flexibility
The au pair’s weekly customizable schedule helps families deal with changing schedules and as well as evening or weekend hours. With up to 45 hours per week and 10 hours per day of child care assistance, an au pair can give you peace of mind for handling a busy schedule, as well as “life’s little surprises”. Hosting an au pair means after school activities, unexpected school closings, and sick days are much less stressful.
One host parent said – “Au Pair in America has given us great flexibility and peace-of-mind that we have a trusted person available to provide continuity of care as well as ’emergencies’ caused by last minute changes in schedules, school closings, etc.”
3: Cultural exchange
Sharing and engaging in different customs and traditions, learning a new language, or reinforcing bilingualism are great ways to broaden a child’s knowledge and to enrich their own cultural understanding. Au pairs love sharing food, holidays, and other traditions from their home countries.
4: Availability (And a large pool of candidates!)
Finding child care is a challenge for today’s parents. You face long wait lists at many child care centers, and finding an experienced babysitter or nanny is no easy task. With Au Pair in America, you’ll have access to the largest pool of au pairs in the world. Au Pair in America helps host families welcome au pairs from more than 50 countries around the world!
5: Extensive screening and training program
Every au pair must have at least 200 hours of recent, relevant child care experience. Before entering the APIA au pair applicant pool, every candidate must also pass a rigorous screening process and background check.
Before arriving to the U.S., every au pair on the Au Pair in America program completes a comprehensive orientation program featuring child development training, child safety training, and customized American Red Cross training (exclusive to Au Pair in America). 
Check out Available Au Pairs (and new Madison families get a discount!)
Interested in making your spring (and summer!) a bit brighter by hosting an au pair with APIA?
Click here to view current available au pairs at zero cost and with no obligation.
New host families in the Madison area receive a special discount! Contact Amber Young at [email protected] or (720)-289-0183. And learn more here.
