An au pair is considered a member of the family such as a big sister or brother and is not permitted to do heavy housework, gardening or the parent's laundry.

Au pair duties are related to childcare. This means that the au pair can walk or drive the children to school, straighten their rooms, do their laundry, prepare meals, undertake development activities such as playing games, drawing or helping with homework.

An au pair's childcare responsibilities may include: 

• Awakening the children, dressing them, bathing, playing and feeding them. 

• preparing light meals or helping to prepare meals, making children's beds, doing their laundry, ironing their clothes

• taking/collecting children to and from school, appointments or outings requested by the host family

• Shopping, hoovering, dusting and some other light housework

• being home if necessary while children are absent from school due to illness or holidays

• baby-sitting in the evenings on request. 

Host Family Responsibilities

• Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents

• Speak primarily English in the home

• Agree to comply with U.S. Department of State regulations concerning the Au Pair Program

• Treat the au pair as a family member and include in family meals and outings

• Agree to honor the Host Family Agreement

• Pay $195.75 to the au pair each week

• Provide a private bedroom for the au pair

• Agree to facilitate an open line of communication with the local community counselor

• Ensure the enrollment and attendance of au pair at a U.S. post-secondary educational institution for six semester hours of academic coursework or its equivalent

• Agree to give the au pair 1½ days off per week, at least one full weekend off each month and two weeks paid vacation per year at a mutually agreeable time

• Agree that the au pair does not work more than 45 hours per week/ 10 hours per day