Blog

Au pair life in South Africa.

Short, practical reads for families and au pairs. New articles most weeks.RSS

For families

Reference checks that actually work: five questions to ask a previous family

Most reference calls confirm nothing. These five questions get honest answers in ten minutes, and what to do if the references don't add up.

12 October 2026 · 2 min read

For families

The confirmed-reference badge: what it proves, and what you should still ask

Au pairs on Au Pair Nation can have previous families confirm their references by email. Here is exactly what the badge means, how it works, and the two questions it cannot answer for you.

9 October 2026 · 2 min read

For families

Why we ask families for a weekly schedule, and how to fill it in

Hours sink more au pair arrangements than anything else. Here is how schedule matching works on Au Pair Nation, and how to fill in your grid so the right au pairs appear.

6 October 2026 · 2 min read

For families

Planning December now: au pair cover for the long holiday

The December break is five to six weeks and most student au pairs go home. The options families use, what they cost, and why mid-October is the deadline.

5 October 2026 · 2 min read

For families

Exam season with a student au pair: a family's guide to May and October

University exams collide with school afternoons twice a year. How to plan reduced hours, find short-term cover, and keep your au pair for next year.

28 September 2026 · 2 min read

For families

Au pair or aftercare? What the afternoon actually costs in South Africa

School aftercare, a holiday club, a nanny or an au pair. What each costs per month, what each gives your child, and how families decide.

21 September 2026 · 3 min read

For families

The first week with a new au pair, a checklist for families

What to hand over, what to write down and what to watch in the first five afternoons, so the arrangement settles quickly.