{"id":9236,"date":"2024-07-15T13:42:30","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T13:42:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.aupairusa.org\/host-families\/?p=9236"},"modified":"2024-07-15T13:42:38","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T13:42:38","slug":"thanking-your-au-pair-for-a-job-well-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.aupairusa.org\/host-families\/advice\/thanking-your-au-pair-for-a-job-well-done\/","title":{"rendered":"Thanking Your Au Pair for a Job Well Done"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

This post was originally published in February 2019 and revised in July 2024 by other contributors<\/em><\/em><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
It\u2019s important to thank your au pair for all that they do.
Image courtesy of The Stewart Family<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a parent, you know that at times caring for kids can feel like a thankless job. Sometimes, your au pair may feel the same way. As your year with your au pair goes by, be sure to recognize the special contributions they add to your family. This will let your au pair know that you\u2019re paying attention to all of their hard work, as well as motivate them to keep doing a great job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few suggestions for showing gratitude towards your au pair to reward a job well done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you see something, say something.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you see your au pair doing something really great, you might think to yourself, \u201cShe\u2019s a lifesaver!\u201d But don\u2019t assume that your au pair realizes that you\u2019ve noticed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be intentional with your language. Telling your au pair, \u201cI noticed that you cut the kids\u2019 sandwiches into cute shapes. That was really awesome!\u201d or \u201cThanks so much for offering to drive Emma to her party. You didn\u2019t have to do that, but we\u2019re glad you did,\u201d can mean a lot. It shows that you are seeing and appreciating the little things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember to keep your praise genuine and specific. When you point out exactly what you\u2019re thanking your au pair for, it\u2019s more effective and makes a greater impression than simply saying, \u201cNice work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Praise in public.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t just tell your au pair directly how much you appreciate them\u2014tell others too! It feels good to be recognized publicly in social settings instead of just privately inside the home. For example, if you\u2019re at a holiday dinner with family and friends, you can compliment how helpful your au pair was in helping get everyone out of the house on time or in preparing the special dessert your family made. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give the gift of experiences.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Studies show that experiences are more meaningful and create more happiness than things. It\u2019s highly likely that your au pair values unforgettable experiences; after all, they\u2019ve come to a new country to experience a new way of life! A gift card to a great restaurant, an ice skating rink, or another activity that your au pair might enjoy with friends is a great way to say thank you. It can also help your au pair get involved in the community and experience cultural exchange hands on, making it a win-win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personalize your appreciation.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Would your au pair rather receive a framed picture of her family, a gift card to Starbucks, or an invitation to go to the movies with you? You\u2019ll know the answer to this as you get to know them better. A thank you gift that shows that you understand your au pair\u2019s personality and preferences will be very meaningful and will help make them feel like a part of the family. If you\u2019re unsure what your au pair would appreciate most, observe how they show appreciation themselves. Do they often buy presents for your family, go the extra mile being helpful, or offer to join you at your kid\u2019s soccer game? Most people show appreciation in ways they also value receiving it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re giving a gift at the end of your au pair\u2019s time in the USA, think of what can fit in a suitcase and be transported easily. Bonus points for coming up with something unique to the United States or to your area. While a glass figurine or large stuffed animal might not fit the bill, the jersey of your local sports team definitely would!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host a meal that your au pair loves.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A great way to thank your au pair is to have one of their favorite meals for dinner. Whether you make it, order it, or take your au pair out to eat, let them know in advance that you\u2019re doing this to thank them for their great work. It might be a dish from your au pair\u2019s home country or maybe something local that they\u2019ve learned to love!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t think of any unique thank you ideas that your au pair would appreciate, just ask them! Your au pair will have thoughts on what they\u2019d like to learn, foods they\u2019d like to eat, and experiences they\u2019d enjoy. We hope you\u2019ll add your own creativity to these tips to help reward your au pair for a job well done.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post was originally published in February 2019 and revised in July 2024 by other contributors. As a parent, you know that at times…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":9237,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice"],"yoast_head":"\nThanking Your Au Pair for a Job Well Done<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Thanking Your Au Pair for a Job Well Done\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.aupairusa.org\/host-families\/advice\/thanking-your-au-pair-for-a-job-well-done\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Thanking Your Au Pair 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