Welcoming Your Au Pair
This may be your Au Pair's first time away from home or first time in your country, so here are a few ideas of how you can make them feel at home.
Home Comforts
You want them to feel safe and at home when they arrive, so how about including some of these items in their bedroom:
- Local sweets or treats (chocolate is usually a winner!)
- A map or guidebook of your local town/city
- A photo frame for them to add a photo of their family
- A letter or picture from your children
- Some people may also like to have some spare bed linen and towels available in their room so that they can change these when they wish
Dinner Time
- The first evening, as you won't know their likes and dislikes yet, it can be nice to go out to a restaurant so that they can feel relaxed and choose something that they feel like eating. It's also a good opportunity for the family to be together and chat about the exciting new experience.
- Take them to the supermarket with you so that they can choose a few things that they'd like.
- You can also ask them to make a list of their favourite foods and the foods they aren't too keen on to help you plan your meals for the family.
- Try to allow them to try food that is typical for your country and perhaps some regional dishes.
- A nice idea once they've settled in, if they'd like to, is for them to prepare a dish from their country for you and the family to try to allow them to show off their culture and eat something familiar.
The Grand Tour
Give them a detailed tour of your home so that they know where everything is. Make them feel comfortable to treat the place as if it is their own home, and that they are welcome to help themselves to food etc as they wish.
Take them on a tour of your neighbourhood, showing them where all of the essential places are and any interesting places to visit. You should also help them get set up with a public transport pass if required.
