Au Pair Info > How to Integrate into Host Family
Once you have made the decision to become an au pair and you have supplied the relevant information i.e. police checks, references etc, and have confirmed through our agency that a suitable host family has been found, it is a good idea to communicate with your new host family as much as possible probably through e-mail before your arrival so that you can both get to know each other better.
Communication with your host family is the key to success in having a good, close relationship with your new host family. If you can let your host family know as much as possible about yourself and your family, your likes and dislikes, and places of interest that you would like to see in the UK.
A lot of au pairs email over photos of experiences that you have had with children, also attaching a letter describing yourself as much as possible.
Once you have met your host family it is advisable to still keep up good communication with your host family on arrival. If speaking the english language is causing a slight problem in understanding each other then write what you want to say down on paper and get your host family do the same. Offer help as often as possible and make friends with the child/children immediately by playing with them, helping give them a bath, reading them stories etc. Your host family will let you know what your duties include if they haven't already done so or just re -confirm the duties and show everything you need to know.
You may feel homesick in the first couple of weeks and might want to just stay in you bedroom when the your host family is all at home together......but this doesn't always help matters!!! It can make you dwell on home life more. The best way of dealing with homesick is to contact your family, let them know that you are safe and well and involve yourself as much a you can with the daily life in the host family home. The everyday hustles and bustles of life will make you feel cared and wanted by your host family...have some laughs and show photos of your family at home. Being an au pair can be a very enjoyable experience you and your host family and a great way of meeting new friends.
We here at BusyBee Au Pairs are here to help and talk to you and your host family whenever you need to talk to us. We offer a lot of support and advice to both our au pairs and host families. We will also endeavour to encourage you to meet other au pairs in and around your area so that you can all get together and become friends.
To find out more about our advice and support that we offer please look at our support page link found on the left hand side.
