Au Pair Meaning Explained: A Brief History

What Does Au Pair Mean?

The term “au pair” means a live-in childcare provider who is viewed as an equal member of their host family. The meaning of the term “au pair” comes from its french translation to “at par” or “equal to” referring to the equal status they share with their host families compared to other forms of childcare.

Where Does the Term Au Pair Come From?

Etymology and History

The etymology of au pair can be traced back to the mid-1800s. It is a French term, with au pair meaning at par or equal to. The French au pair meaning may sound like an unusual term to be so widely adopted by these caregivers, but it has an important meaning for the type of childcare they provide.

Traditionally, live-in childcare providers like governesses and nannies were viewed as employees of the family. These types of domestic workers often had a very formal working relationship with the family that employed them. They generally did not participate in activities with the family, instead maintaining a strictly professional relationship.

The role of an au pair is in sharp contrast to the childcare workers of years past. The term au pair itself means these care providers are on equal footing to their host family. They aren't intended to be viewed as domestic workers or household employees.

Instead, the meaning of the term au pair inherently tells about the relationship these caretakers have to their host family. They are at par or equal to the families they care for, and as such, au pairs become close-knit parts of the families they join.

The definition of au pair that we're familiar with today was popularized in the mid-1900s. It became particularly commonplace after World War II. During this time, more and more young women began seeking paying jobs that could give them the opportunity to live independently.

In the United States, the au pair program origins were in the 1980s with a small group of au pairs from Western Europe. Now, about 20,000 au pairs come to live and work in the United States each year. Most of these au pairs are young women between the ages of 18-26, but in recent years, more male au pairs have begun entering the field. For more information read: what is an au pair?

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Cultural Exchange with an Au Pair

The supportive relationships au pairs form with their host families aren't the only things that set these caregivers apart. In addition to becoming an essential part of the households they join, au pairs also create meaningful cultural exchange opportunities.

These live-in childcare providers travel from more than 40 countries around the world to provide childcare for families in the United States. They bring a huge array of cultures and experiences directly to their host family. An au pair can introduce their host family to their:

• Traditions
• Holidays
• Cultural recipes
• Home language

The cultural exchange an au pair creates has enormous benefits for kids. Experiencing a new culture helps children develop empathy and tolerance. It also helps them understand different cultures and customs, as well as the value of diversity.

Plus, an au pair can immerse the kids they provide care for in their native language. By naturally integrating their language into everyday life, kids can pick up practical words and phrases through organic learning experiences. Many of our host families find that, before long, their kids are greeting them in a different language at the end of the day!

Bilingualism has many benefits for the development of the brain, particularly during childhood. Speaking more than one language is tied to impacts such as:

1. Heightened attention and focus
2. Improved overall academic performance
3. Better reading skills
4. Improved problem solving abilities
5. Better overall communication skills

An au pair can start introducing these benefits by seamlessly working another language into a child's everyday life. Maggie, an au pair from Mexico, has done exactly this with her host family.

Maggie has used daily tasks like chores and mealtimes to teach words in her native Spanish to the kids she provides care for. Now, instead of asking for milk, her host family's four-year-old requests 'œleche' at the breakfast table.

The immersive cultural exchange experiences au pairs create for their host families are yet another aspect that makes these caregivers unique.

How Can I Host an Au Pair?

If the unique care an au pair provides seems like the right fit for your family, AuPairCare can help. Rated as the best au pair agency, our tenured team of industry experts is ready to help you hire the perfect au pair to add to your household.

Our goal is to make the process of finding an au pair easy. To do this, we handle the behind-the-scenes details so you can focus on preparing for how an au pair will positively impact your household. When you partner with AuPairCare to find a childcare provider, we handle:

Helping an au pair secure their J-1 visa
Making sure all Department of State requirements are met
Booking your au pair's flights to your family

Since au pairs travel to the United States on a cultural exchange program with a J-1 visa, they need to meet several requirements to be an au pair in America set by the Department of State. We start by screening all our au pair candidates to ensure they meet these requirements.

Au Pair Requirements Details Experience

Au pairs must have previous childcare experience.
Language Au pairs must have working English proficiency.
Age Au pairs must be between 18 and 26 years of age.
Education Au pairs must have a secondary school or equivalent education.
Background Au pairs must pass a background check and be in generally good health.

Potential host families can use our award-winning database to search through our qualified au pairs for a candidate that meets their unique needs. For example, some families may want an au pair with previous infant care experience, while others may need an au pair who is confident in helping school-aged children with their homework.

In addition to equipping potential host families with these powerful tools, the AuPairCare team also provides personalized matching services. Most of our staff has been or hosted an au pair in the past, so we know how important it is to find the right person to add to your household.

Once you've found an au pair candidate you're interested in, we'll help facilitate interviews. We'll set up video chats online, or connect your international calls while you get to know each other.

An au pair is only placed with a host family if they mutually match with each other, meaning they both think it will be a good fit. This helps us ensure that every au pair placement is a success.

Once you've matched with an au pair, all that's left to do is agree on an arrival date and get ready for your family's new caregiver. For more information read more today: hosting an au pair- roles, responsibilities, and more. 

An au pair can transform your household, enrich your family's life, and meet your childcare needs. Contact us to learn more about au pair costs for host families and find out what an au pair will mean to your family.

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