What is your favorite part of caring for children and what do you dislike?
Do you feel that you can really become a new member of a family with small kids and not just treat it as a job with certain hours and tasks?
Do you feel that you have enough experience with actually "LIVING" with small kids i.e. dealing with eating/ sleeping issues, getting sick, trying to get them to do homework etc etc
Have you ever cared for children for 45 hours a week or more?
Would you consider yourself to be organized and tidy - especially with yours and kids bedrooms / playroom?
As an Au pair, you would be living with us like a Family Member within the home and we all have chores to do. Can you describe what kind of jobs you enjoy doing around the home regularly and jobs you really dislike? (We all dislike some things!)
What is the longest amount of time you have cared for children over a week?
Would you be comfortable caring for children overnight if needed? and what about weekends? (We will need help during weekends for sure)
How would you get a child to finish their homework if they cannot sit down for the whole session? or they would rather play?
Can you describe how you would incorporate learning (eg words or maths) into play?
Would you consider yourself as a person that cleans up as you go along throughout your day with the kids or you do all the clean up tasks at the end of their day?
How comfortable are with cooking for kids and occasionally for the family and involving the kids in cooking projects?
Do you drive? How often do you drive? Do you have a car now?
Have you ever been in a car accident? (If yes, can you please discuss it)
Have you ever driven with children in the car?
How long have you had a driver's license? and Have you ever driven in snow?
How comfortable are you with gardening projects with the kids (We have a huge vegetable and fruit garden and I always involve the kids in as many gardening jobs as possible...)
Are you going to school or working right now? What type of classes would you want to take whilst being here?
What are your favorite hobbies?
How well can you swim? We have access to our local pool for the Summer months and we encourage the kids to go swimming....
Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? (If yes, discuss how they feel about being apart for a year or maybe even 2 years)
Are you or have you ever been a smoker?
Do you have any health problems? Do you have any sleep problems? (Sometimes, we need you to sleep with the kids)
Are you able to live in a vegetarian household? (We do not eat meat or seafood or eggs). Also, what kind of food do YOU like to eat and what kind of food do you like to make?
Have you ever lived away from home before? (If so, for how long)
What are you looking for in a host family? How would you best want to communicate with the family?
(We are very busy parents; sometimes you may not see us all day but get txt messages or notes left in the kitchen for you etc etc) would you be comfortable with that?
What do you plan to do when you return home after your Au pair year?
We have a set of grand parents in London UK that we visit often and in Florida also. How do you feel about travelling with kids and going on various trips? We travel a LOT!
What is the best phone number to call to set up an interview and what would be the best time to talk for you?