‍Au Pairs: A Unique Solution for Military Families

Many military families have unique childcare needs. One or both parents can be on active duty, a spouse may be deployed, or the family may have an assignment that requires travel. Every day, American military families are making sacrifices for our country and AuPairCare is grateful to be part of the lives of these families. We offer military family childcare discounts including a free application and $500 off program fees for active service members and veterans.

Here are some of the ways that our military families have utilized the au pair program in their lives:

Childcare That Works Around Your Schedule

Depending on the assignment of the parent — night duty, spouse deployment, odd schedule — the flexibility of an au pair comes in handy. When a parent finds that their hours don't work with the local daycare, or the number of children in the family makes other forms of childcare cost prohibitive, an au pair is often a great solution.

Unlike daycare centers with fixed hours and CDC waitlists that can stretch months long, an au pair lives in your home and adjusts to your schedule — not the other way around. That kind of flexibility is hard to find and even harder to put a price on when your hours change without notice.

Stability for Your Kids During a PCS Move

Schools, houses and friends change. One thing that can remain constant during a move is your children's caregiver. When parents are dealing with the stressful logistics of the move — the house is being shown, the movers are here, the boxes need packing — our military families have found au pairs to be an invaluable resource who provide support and a calming influence on the children.

For families going through a PCS move, continuity of care is one of the most powerful things you can offer your kids. Your au pair already knows their routines, their favorite games, and what helps them settle down at the end of a long day. That familiarity doesn't get packed into a box.

Settling Into a New Community, Together

An au pair can help the entire family ease into a new community. From researching new ballet studios to finding the neighborhood soccer team, an au pair is a valuable asset for host parents while they are at work adjusting to their own new environment.

Au pairs bring a natural curiosity about new places — it's part of who they are as cultural exchange participants. That spirit of exploration translates directly into helping your family discover and settle into a new community faster, turning what can feel like a disruptive move into an adventure for your children.

Navy Captain Joyner says of her family's au pair experience:

"Being a dual military family provides a uniquely challenging childcare problem which we have successfully managed through our use of the live-in option provided by au pairs. Because of their help and involvement we have weathered deployments while keeping our children's lives stable and filled with love and energy."

While au pairs can be a great option for many families, military families in particular find that au pairs can uniquely accommodate their ever-changing schedule, while providing safe, reliable, live-in childcare with a cultural twist.

Learn more about au pair program costs or request more information to get started.

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