This post was originally published in August 2018 & 2023 and revised in August 2024 by other contributors.
‘Tis the season for all things back-to-school! From purchasing school supplies and new shoes to adjusting to an earlier bedtime (and wake-up time) to packing snacks, lunches and more snacks to getting out the door to catch the bus, back-to-school season can feel a little overwhelming to parents. And that’s not even including any emotional support you may be needing to provide your anxious kindergartener who’s nervous to start elementary school.
Unfortunately for most parents, work doesn’t slow down during this time of year, so we’re faced with stacking the Jenga blocks of notebooks and backpacks and parent-teacher conferences and hoping we don’t move the wrong piece, sending everything crashing down.
Hosting an au pair during the back-to-school season might be one of the smartest decisions you make this year. Here are 10 of Au Pair USA’s favorite ways an au pair can alleviate the back-to-school stress:
1. Organizing the school supplies
Don’t love labeling? Never seem to find the time to sort out who gets the 24 pack of crayons and who gets the 10 pack? Ask your au pair for a hand getting the school supplies ready to go, labeled and all!
2. Preparing and packing lunches and snacks
Who likes ham and cheese? Who wants peanut butter and jelly? Is peanut butter allowed? Your au pair can easily take this task off your to-do list by packing and preparing all the lunch boxes, snacks, and water bottles each day.
3. Easing the jitters
If your kiddo is feeling any back-to-school flutters, it’s nice to have a familiar and trusted caregiver to be another resource of comfort for them. Your au pair likely remembers those feelings, too, and may be able to easily relate and provide a safe space for them to open up and talk through their concerns. No one replaces Mom or Dad, but having reinforcements doesn’t hurt either!
4. The morning madness
School starts at what time?! Not to worry when you’ve got an au pair living with you. You can adjust their work schedule to begin earlier so you’ve got an extra set of hands to ensure your kids are dressed, fed, and ready to go – maybe even earlier than necessary!
5. The split schedule
It can be a challenge to find a nanny or caregiver to work for an hour in the morning and then a few hours in the afternoon. And yet, when your children are in school, this is exactly the schedule you need when it comes to childcare support. Au pairs are able to work a flexible schedule of up to 45 hours per week and 10 hours per day. This allows for all the back-to-school flexibility you need to support the early mornings and busy afternoons.
6. Driving
Have multiple drop-offs? Or is your child’s school start time interfering with your work schedule? Most au pairs arrive with an international driving permit and have experience driving in their own country. Pair that with some practice and obtaining a state license, and you’ve got another experienced driver to lean on when it comes to this added back-to-school responsibility.
7. Helping with homework
After working a full day, it can be tough to muster up the energy to help your child with their homework. Plus, they might feel tired if you’re not able to begin the assignments until later in the evening. It can easily be part of your au pair’s afternoon routine. For example, providing your child with a snack and sitting down with them to support them with their homework questions and completion can afford you the opportunity to spend quality time with your kids after work, without the pressure of homework!
8. Parent-teacher meetings
Rightfully so, back-to-school meetings are typically held in the evening when teachers are not with students. This means, however, that parents need to arrange for childcare so they can attend said meetings. No need to call a babysitter or show up solo so your partner can stay back with the kids when you host an au pair. Your au pair has got you covered and will help feed the kids dinner and put them to bed, so you can be fully present and at peace during your parent-teacher meeting.
9. Volunteer opportunities
Au pairs frequently love to volunteer at their host kid’s school. Many of our au pairs have a teaching background and enjoy maintaining that during their time in the USA. Your au pair may want to read a story to the class or volunteer in the classroom on a more regular basis. Whatever their involvement is, be sure to let your au pair know that volunteering is an option that is available during their spare time. Your au pair can also be the second set of hands you need to watch your baby or toddler who may not be in school yet, providing YOU the opportunity to volunteer in the classroom too!
10. Introduce a new culture
School structures and traditions can be surprisingly different in each country. For example, in Japan teachers travel from room to room while the children stay put. In the U.S., it’s the opposite! There are so many questions you can ask your au pair about school in their home country. Start with “What was your school lunch like?” and see where the conversation takes you! You might even get to see some old photos from your au pair’s elementary days.
Ready to welcome your au pair this back-to-school season? Apply to host an Au Pair USA au pair now so you can start your school year off with more support and less stress this school year!
