Advice for host families

Our Latest

July 5, 2023

Why young parents are choosing au pair childcare

An interview with host mom Kristin
June 1, 2023

4 ways to be inclusive when interviewing au pairs

How to embrace differences in your interviews
January 3, 2023

How to host a Global Family Reunion

Bring your au pairs together for an unforgettable reunion
January 2, 2023

Fact or Fiction? Families need a big home to host an au pair

“How big does my home have to be in order to host an au pair?” It’s a question that ...
September 13, 2022

10 best group Halloween costumes

Ideas from our host families and au pairs
August 30, 2022

10 ways to include your au pair

When you decide to invite an au pair into your home, you can expect to benefit from more ...
November 13, 2020

Au pairs save the day during COVID-19

Securing flexible, affordable childcare has always been a challenge for American families. ...
May 7, 2020

Host mom LauRen Strager: why hosting an au pair works for us

First, an introduction to our guest host mom blogger! LauRen Merola is a trendy mom living ...
April 16, 2020

Before your au pair arrives: tips for staying connected

Congratulations—you found an au pair you’re excited to welcome into your home who is e ...
March 26, 2020

Comforting an au pair in crisis

Tips on how to support your au pair during difficult times
March 20, 2020

Taking your au pair on a family vacation

Do’s and don’ts of traveling with your au pair
March 18, 2020

Online resources to keep your kids entertained

Free digital content to enrich your children’s lives.
March 18, 2020

5 ways an au pair can care for teenagers

From homework help to driving duty, au pairs can make life easier for your family.
February 4, 2020

What happens if I rematch?

How to move forward when it's not working out
November 11, 2019

Top 5 helpful house rules for au pairs

Common ground rules for your au pair
November 6, 2019

Why hosting an au pair is right for my two-physician family

Honestly, I was nervous about hosting an au pair. We were the first people in our netwo ...
October 1, 2019

How to find the right au pair

Our top 4 tips for success
September 13, 2019

"When it works well, it’s amazing"

Denaye Barahona is a Cultural Care host mom and the voice behind Simple Families.
August 8, 2019

Tips for welcoming an au pair

Host mom Denaye Barahona shares what she wish she knew
July 24, 2019

How much room does an au pair need?

Some do's and don'ts for an au pair's space
April 30, 2019

Summer with an au pair

Plan ahead for a stress-free summer of childcare
March 22, 2019

Tips for Finding a Spanish-Speaking Au Pair

Introduce your family to the beauty of the Spanish language.
December 10, 2018

What to look for in an au pair

Hint: It's not always about the childcare experience.
November 25, 2018

What do you need to be a host family?

We lay out everything you need to know.
August 24, 2018

Q&A with a Matching Specialist: How to Find an Au Pair

Learn the 5 best practices for families in matching. 
July 19, 2018

Q&A with our 2018 Host Family of the Year

Catching up with the Walters Family
July 13, 2018

How to Build Trust with Your Au Pair

Just one benefit of live-in childcare
February 5, 2018

7 tips for creating a great host family profile

Learn what au pairs look for in a host family profile
August 14, 2017

50 best questions to ask when interviewing your au pair or nanny

Check out our interview guide to help with your childcare search
January 31, 2017

Host family best practices: finding the best au pair match

Choosing an au pair can be a tough decision, but there are ways to help ensure an au pair ...
August 1, 2016

Au pair interview questions

Choose the best au pair candidate for your family with these interview tips
June 19, 2016

What makes a host dad great? Our au pairs share what they appreciate most

Who knew Cultural Care host dads were so funny? And caring? And such great cooks? Keep rea ...
October 1, 2014

The secret to a successful host family experience

While you may consider a nanny to be your employee, an au pair by definition is “on par ...
September 17, 2014

Our Matching Specialists share 10 tips for the interview process

The Matching Specialists at Cultural Care Au Pair have years of experience helping host fa ...
August 20, 2014

Tips on transitioning back to school

Besides checking off the notebooks and pencils off the school supply list, there is always ...
July 30, 2014

This family’s unique approach to matching gets them their perfect au pair every time

The Weems family of Lakewood, Colorado is a busy crew—Michael and Laura Weems are parent ...
July 17, 2014

How to prepare your child for a new baby

I’m about to have my second child, so this question has been on my mind a lot over the p ...
June 20, 2014

How to welcome a new au pair

Welcoming an au pair and bringing a new person into your home is a big change for everyone ...
June 19, 2014

How to keep kids learning all summer

Friday, June 20, 2014 is Summer Learning Day, designed to raise awareness about the very r ...
June 13, 2014

The key to success with live-in au pairs

As a host family and au pair get to know each other, the communication and understanding e ...
June 4, 2014

Taking your childcare provider with you on summer vacation

Summer vacation is nearly here and with it comes family trips to the beach, to the mountai ...
June 3, 2014

What happens if it doesn’t work out with my au pair?

Making the most of a transition
June 2, 2014

What to expect when you’re expecting…your first au pair      

When you were preparing to bring your first child into your family, you probably spent mo ...
May 15, 2014

Interviewing your au pair? Advice from the experts.

Are you unsure of where to start when interviewing an au pair or your future childcare p ...
April 24, 2014

Choosing the right email service for your kids

The inevitable question will come one day to parents in this digital age: "Can I have my o ...
April 14, 2014

Your child’s digital identity

Within the last few years, more and more parents are creating ‘digital trust funds’ fo ...
April 10, 2014

7 Parenting books for the mind, body and spirit

Recently, there’s been a lot of mom-guilting in the media.  Between the reactions to Gw ...
March 17, 2014

Considering live-in childcare? Advice from the experts

We recently asked our host families what advice they would give to someone who is consider ...
February 19, 2014

What to do when your au pair likes you (a little too much)

Does this sound familiar? A host mom recently reached out to her local childcare consultan ...
January 24, 2014

Use the DISC assessment to help find the right au pair for your family

Choosing an au pair is important decision, so it only makes sense for families to look at ...
December 18, 2013

When one spouse is reluctant about hosting an au pair

I was talking to host mom Sneha Campanella about hosting an au pair this September— spec ...
December 16, 2013

Last minute au pair gifts

The holiday season happened FAST this year so finishing up holiday shopping has proven to ...
September 16, 2013

8 sports injury prevention tips for parents and caregivers

When my 9-year old nephew recently suffered a concussion from a skateboarding injury, it w ...
September 4, 2013

Downloadable household chore list for your kids

Growing up, I had lots of chores to do. Make my bed, do the dishes, clean our bathroom, du ...
August 26, 2013

Back to school: tips for success (part 5)

This is it—those last few days before school finally starts! Make the most of this week ...
August 19, 2013

Back to school: tips for success (part 4)

While still savoring the last few days of summer, you can get your kids ready and excited ...
August 12, 2013

Back to school: tips for success (part 3)

The countdown is on! Here are this week's back to school tips to keep the momentum going o ...
August 5, 2013

Back to school: tips for success (part 2)

It’s no secret that summer is a wonderful time for all; trips to the beach, family vacat ...
August 1, 2013

Back to school: tips for success (part 1)

I know there are technically more than 6 weeks of summer left, but depending on what part ...
June 21, 2013

How to find an au pair

Finding an au pair can be a daunting task if you are unfamiliar with the process.  Becau ...
May 21, 2013

Host Family Poll: What is the most difficult age to parent?

Parenting can be incredibly rewarding and incredibly challenging – sometimes all in the ...
May 4, 2013

Unique au pair or nanny interview questions

If you have never interviewed a childcare provider, the responsibility can seem daunting. ...
March 14, 2013

Defining your au pair’s role within your family

Hiring a live-in au pair and welcoming that person into your family is an exciting and hop ...
January 22, 2013

Five ways an au pair can help you keep your New Year’s resolutions!

New Year’s resolutions—most everyone has them, and they often relate to living better. ...
January 18, 2013

Host Family Poll: How many candidates do you interview before making your final selection?

The phone interview is a critical part of the au pair selection process. Once a family rev ...
November 2, 2012

Child care challenge: what to do with sick kids?

As the weather gets colder, my toddler son seems to have a runny nose, cough or other ailm ...
October 25, 2012

How to establish household rules for your childcare provider

Many of us are uncomfortable around confrontation. Some avoid it at all costs while others ...
September 19, 2012

Sports injury prevention tips for your childcare provider

As part of our au pairs' continuing education during their time in the U.S., local childca ...
September 14, 2012

Host Family Poll: How did your children adjust to getting a new au pair?

Once you have said good-bye to your au pair, it may take your children a little time to wa ...
September 5, 2012

Setting guidelines for your au pair

Before your au pair arrives, you'll want to establish house rules for them to follow with ...
August 17, 2012

Leaning in and letting go: adjusting to a new au pair

Craft a strong relationship with your new au pair
March 27, 2012

Top 5 tips for spending time with your au pair

There is no magic formula to determine how many hours you should be spending together ...