10 Must-Ask Questions When Hiring a New Au Pair For Your Family

If you’re considering hiring an au pair for your family, you’re going to want to ask the right questions in your interview process. Beyond checking their qualifications, you want to have a in-depth conversation about your family’s unique needs, dynamics, and how this new au pair will fit into them.

Choosing the right au pair can be an incredible experience with wonderful opportunities for cultural enrichment and broadening their horizons. But taking the time to ensure a good match can make or break your experience. Here are 10 important questions to get you started as you interview potential candidates:

1. What is your caregiving experience and philosophy?

Starting with an understanding of their background in childcare and childhood development can set you up for success. Ask about any previous families they’ve worked with, the age ranges of the children they’ve had in their care, and their take on discipline, education, and caregiving style. You want to be certain that their core childcare philosophies align with your family’s values.

2. How would you handle an emergency situation?

Our kiddos safety is the most important factor when hiring any new childcare provider. Ask about any certifications they may have (first aid, CPR, etc.), previous experiences with emergent situations, and how they would handle injuries, allergic reactions, or other medical scenarios. A competent au pair should be ready for any unexpected emergency that could arise.

3. What are your favorite activities to do with kiddos?

Your kiddos will love hanging out with someone who is creative and engaging! Do they love a variety of indoor and outdoor activities? Do they have any favorite games or activities? Do they hope you’ll have memberships to local children’s museums or science centers? Can they enthusiastically come up with engaging activities to help keep your children active and creative?

4. How do you manage challenging behavior?

Each and every child has their moments where they’re particularly challenging. Ask your au pair candidate about specific examples of how they have handled tantrums, defiance, or sibling rivalry. Ideally, they’re able to demonstrate patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement in their methods.

5. Do you have any specific expectations for your schedule and time off?

Having preset expectations and clear communication about their working hours, personal holidays, and time alone is vital for a strong working relationship. Have a frank conversation about their preferences and make sure they align with your family’s needs and your local laws and regulations.

6. How will you communicate with us as parents?

Do you or they have a preferred messaging app and how often do you want to be notified about information about your child? Having reliable updates about your kiddo’s activities, growth, and any concerns that may arise is obviously important, so setting clear expectations will set you up for successful communication from the start.

7. What are your expectations around household responsibilities?

While taking care of the children is their primary focus, many au pairs are willing to assist with other child-related household chores. Clarify any expectations about tasks like meal prep, laundry, and post-activity tidying. Once again, proactive communication prevents misunderstandings before they can happen.

8. How do you manage your own technology use and screen time?

In this modern era, you will need to set clear expectations about your values and goals around technology use and screen time, both for your children and for your au pair while they’re involved in caregiving. Make sure your family’s rules and tech safety goals align with theirs.

9. What do you hope to gain from our cultural exchange?

The beauty of hiring an au pair is the wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange as much as it is around their help with childcare. Find out if your au pair has interest in sharing their culture and if they’re interested in learning about yours. Enriching experiences await!

10. What measures will you put in place to make sure our children stay safe?

Personal safety awareness is essential for any childcare provider, so ask about their methods and knowledge for childproofing, activity supervision, and how they’ll stay on top of any potential hazards inside and outside of your home. They should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of general child safety for appropriate stages of childhood development.

Throughout the entire interview process, keep in mind that this is a two-way conversation.

Pay attention to the questions your au pair candidate is asking you as well! Starting thoughtfully and seeking mutual understanding can be the start of an incredibly valuable relationship and broaden your family’s community and cultural horizons.