I think the qualities important to our au pair/ host family relationship are: that the au pair truly care about the
children and their development, that she try to read and talk to them and do activities with them, not just
have them watch TV. The au pair must be responsible, vigilant, and have common senses. It’s important to
be honest and willing to talk about annoyances and concerns before they become major problems. Both
parties need to be understanding during the initial adjustment period.