3 Ways To Bond With Your Host Family

Hey Au Pairs!

One of the greatest perks to au pairing is creating a meaningful connection with your host family. A great way to build a solid and trustworthy relationship with the family can be formed by choosing to bond with your host family. Bonding allows you the opportunity to truly get to know the host parents and host kids on a more personal level, and more importantly it gives your host family the chance to learn more about you as a person and not view you solely as an employee, but better yet an honorary member of their family.

In no particular order here are 3 ways to bond with your host family:

1. Join In On Family Games and Activities

As a former au pair I understand that we deeply value our free time and are alert to ensure that our time off is truly spent doing what we want to do, but next time consider joining in on family game nights or any other activities the family does together.

Now, I don’t mean join in on EVERY game night, but make an effort to join in on their special moments spent as a family, especially in the beginning of your au pair time! Some of my favorite memories from my days of au pairing come from when I would choose to linger around after working hours to play a game with the family. Since the parents are around, you don’t have as much pressure to keep an alert eye on the kids or be in charge of disciplining them, so you can truly relax and enjoy the present moment.

2.Say Yes To Family Getaways

Chances are that at some point during your au pair year your host family will ask you to join them on a family getaway. My au pair family in Zamora, Spain invited me on all their weekend getaways and longer holiday trips. Similarly, my au pair family in Paris invited me on their trips across France.

Going away with the family gives you the chance to relax with them and explore a bit more of your host country. Plus, it’s an all expense paid trip! So you don’t have to spend a cent and can lay back and take it easy!

3.Show A Genuine Interest

Showing a genuine interest in your host parents and children can go a long way! I always make it a priority to get to know my host parents on a deeper level. This will not only help to build trust, but aids in creating a stronger sense of communication between you and your host family. I got to know my stay at home host mom in Paris on a personal level and enjoyed learning all about her life and in the end we became good friends.

What are some other ways you like to bond with your host family? Let me know in the comments down below!