Considering using an au pair - never had one before.

[GreenGables]

Hi, i have a problem with childcare for DDs (age 9 and 6) over the summer hols, a friend has a cousin who wants au pair work in england over the summer. I'm quite excited by the thought that i may have found a solution. However, i have some reservations. Firstly, my friend's cousin is is only 15, is this legal? Secondly, we will be traveling abroad for a week, on a very tight budget. It is a family gathering and i'm sure she would be welcome and would enjoy it, but am i right in thinking that i will need to foot the traveling expenses? Thirdly, considering that she is only 15 what should i say her? Fourth, is there any paperwork that needs filling out?

Oh dear, that should read what should i her.

would she be on her own for the day with the 2 of them? That sounds like far, far too much for any 15 yr old, and on that basis alone I wouldn't do what you are thinking of. I might get a 15 yr old in to look after my kids for a few hours a week if, for example, her mum lived over the road.

I don't believe there is a law about the age of a child carer, but if your 15 yr old couldn't deal with a crisis you would be responsible because they are ALL children including the 'au pair'. And is she from overseas as well, with all the extra issues that would raise for her?

Have you had a look around at the au pair websites? They are brimming with nice people, often young people but all ADULTS, many of them with experience of child care or time spent on youth camps, that sort of thing. And they might well be resourceful enough to stay at home and house-sit while you go on your family trip.

I wouldn't do it myself. Yes, some 15 year olds might be mature enough to cope (I could have done - did something similar, as did my sister), but others wouldn't be.

If you're thinking of using an ap for 9-5 childcare over the summer, you need one a bit older.

What country are they from, nationality wise?
Do you know them? Do they have childcare experience? How do your DC feel about having someone care for them, esp someone quite close in age?
Would they be able to maintain control, or would you DC take advantage and run riot?
Would your DC do any activities during the summer - swimming, soccer training etc? If so there may be age issues, such as a swimming pool requiring them to be with an adult, or a youth group/club refusing to let a child be collected by a child.

Wouldn't employ a 15 year old - my 9 year old would run rings round them.

If they are from the EU or EEA they have right of entry to the UK, from anywhere else in the world they will not get a visa to work in the UK at age 15.

Yes you have to foot all holiday bills if you take Au Pair with you, you meet all their expenses of being part of the family and then pocket money as well.

There are hundreds of students looking for au pair work during there summer break, for this period it is very much a buyers market. You can get somebody who has childcare experience (usually beyond the usual babysitting - sole care for a day is far more than babysitting) and can provide references.

She is way too young to have sole care. If she is going to be helping you as you are in the house then that would be fine.

But I'm assuming you are going to be at work then I would say no no no!

There are plenty of AP's that only want to come over for the summer. Have a look on aupairworld you will find loads.

I agree with the previous comments. I would not want a 15 year old to be in charge (to be frank no matter what her experience is, even if she comes from a large family and has been looking after her siblings).

Also, if you find an au pair, you might want to ensure that her English is good enough to deal with problems/emergencies. For example, where you live, is there easy access to a doctor or would she need to be able to drive? I would also try to ensure that she has completed a first aid course (I used St John's Ambulance in the past, they do short courses and they are very reasonably priced).

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Thank you all for your thoughts, i will need to give it some more thought, however, reading through your comments on first aid, emergencies etc (not something i had considered!) i am edging towards looking into an older and more experienced ap. Thank you for helping me think it through clearly