DD is thinking of becoming an au pair for a summer, how would she go about it?

[PutThatCatOutNow]

That's about it really. She is currently 16 and in year 11, but is thinking about doing it in the summer when she will be 17. Is that too young or would the summer when she is 18 be better? She wants to do it in a german speaking country as she is hoping to do a german degree. Would people want her to be an au pair for a summer or would finding other work be more realistic? She is very good with younger children (DD2 is 4 and I am pg) and what other responsabilities would she have? How long would she be employed for (she was thinking 6-8 weeks?) and how do we avoid her getting ripped off? Could you recommend any good, respectable agencies?

I would suggest she waits until she's 18 - in many countries, 18 is the minimum age (she is also likely to get more out of it once she's 18).

Some families like an au pair for the summer, particularly when their children have school holidays and the parents are still at work. However, the majority of families would prefer someone for at least 6 months (and most prefer someone around for a year).

As an au pair, she wouldn't be expected to look after children under 3 by herself. She would be expected to do light housework (hoovering, laundry etc.) and possibly helping with meals and tidying away. Essentially, what a member of the family would do to help out. The average working day is around 5 hours (no more than 35 hours a week), and the wage depends on the country. If she went to Germany, her wage would be around 200 euro a month.

I didn't use an agency, but if you're willing to help her out, au pair world is a good website to use - you do have to have a good sense of who is 'good' though, and email a lot of families.

I was an au pair in Germany. I don't think they are quite so hung up on the "au pairs mustn't look after under 3s" thing as we are here, so lots of families will be looking for care of babies/toddlers - up to her what she would prefer and feel comfortable doing.

Au pairs are regulated in Germany still, so for eg. their room must be a certain size, they must have at least 1 full day off a week etc. Generally they work 30 hours a week, plus 1-2 nights babysitting for 260 euros a month (this may have increased now) and a travel card. Some families pay for a language class, some don't, but they do have to give sufficient free time for the au pair to take a class.

Most schools/kindergartens/childcare finish early afternoon so au pairs are likely to be collecting children from childminders or nurseries at 2/3pm and watching them til parents get home - plus helping out in the mornings and light housework.

Best to wait til she's 18 though I think, and try the Au Pair world website.

I would wait until she's 18. I would take a 17yo I knew as an extra pair of hands for the summer but not one I didn't and certainly not sole charge.

Make sure she reads up on what her rights are and agrees a contract. It's worth the airfare insisting on her meeting them first and seeing where she'll be.

A summer job is possible but will be quite different to a longer term job and there may not be so many other APs around.

She was thinking that parents might require an au pair just for the summer if they're working and don't have other childcare arrangements. Would that be true?

i think in germany they dont need summer aupairs that often as in the uk. also i have a feeling aps need to be over 18? i have always thought that uk is the only country where you can actually aupair before you turn 18. might be wrong, check out the 'arbeitsagentur' for current rules: www.arbeitsagentur.de/nn_26260/SiteGlobals/Forms/Suche/serviceSuche__Form,templateId=processForm.html?zielgruppe=buerger&allOfTheseWords=au+pair&x=0&y=0&lang=de

All credit to her for wanting to do it, but I think that it is better to wait until she is 18 to be in a position of responsibility. SHe will be more confident, streetwise, her German will be better...

However, maybe there is some other German experience she could go on this summer? Off the top of my head, I am thinking:

language school course
archaeological dig
A week of youth hostelling with a sensible friend?

Youth hostelling is a good idea, although sensible friends seem to be a thing of the past