Are American kids spoiled?
Some former Cultural Care au pairs thought that American children are more spoiled than the children they have cared for at home. Au pairs tell us that their host children have lots of clothes and toys and always get presents. There is a chance that your host children will seem spoiled but it is important to understand the environment and culture where these children are being raised is different than your home culture. The USA, by world standards, has a very high standard of living.
What may appear to be spoiled may be better described as privileged, and what may seem privileged to you may be quite normal in the USA. It is important for au pairs to be aware of this since there may be some differences you experience with your American host families versus what was normal for you growing up.
Occasionally we also hear from au pairs who say their host parents are more permissive and that’s because they want to compensate for the lost time. Keep in mind that our host families are typically busy working parents, that’s why they need an au pair. Sometimes their busy schedule doesn’t allow them to spend as much time with their children as they would like. In the little time they have in the evenings they often want to focus on the joys and not the challenges of the day. Try to be understanding.