A good host family interview is not a sales pitch. It is a clear conversation about the real home routine. Au pairs need enough detail to decide whether they can succeed in the role, and families need enough honesty to avoid a weak match.
Start with the children
Explain each child by age, school schedule, personality, activities, sleep needs, meals, homework, and any support that matters day to day. Avoid vague phrases like easy routine if the week is actually busy.
Explain the schedule plainly
Talk through a normal weekday from morning to evening. Include school drop-off, pickup, nap timing, sports, homework, dinner, and parent work hours. If the schedule changes week to week, say how much notice the au pair will normally receive.
Ask about childcare judgment
Strong questions include: What age group have you cared for most? How do you handle a child refusing homework? What would you do if a toddler missed a nap? How do you communicate when a schedule changes?
Discuss driving early
If driving is required, explain the routes, distance, parking, highway use, weather, and whether the au pair will have regular access to a car. Driving comfort is a major fit signal and should never be treated as a small detail.
Cover home setup and privacy
Describe the au pair room, bathroom, household rules, pets, guests, curfew expectations, phone use around children, and how family time and private time are respected.
End with next steps
Before ending the call, confirm timing, remaining questions, and whether both sides want another conversation. Need help preparing your au pair or family profile? Create your free account and the AuPair Advisers team will review the next step with you.
Interview structure for families
- Open with the family routine, not a generic welcome
- Explain each child by age, schedule, personality, activities, and support needs
- Walk through a normal weekday from wake-up to evening handoff
- Discuss driving, car access, school routes, parking, and weather conditions
- Describe the au pair room, privacy expectations, meals, pets, and household rhythm
- Leave time for the au pair to ask direct questions without feeling rushed
Questions that reveal fit
Ask about real childcare situations. What ages has the au pair cared for most often? What routines feel natural? What situations feel hard? How does the au pair respond when a child refuses to leave for school, misses a nap, has a tantrum, or needs homework support? These questions are more useful than asking whether someone loves children. Most applicants will say yes. A good interview shows judgment, patience, communication style, and comfort with the actual role.
What the family should explain clearly
Families should explain how instructions are given, how schedule changes are shared, how feedback is handled, and who the main decision maker is. If both parents manage the schedule, say how that works. If a parent works from home, explain when the au pair is independent and when the parent is available. If grandparents, babysitters, daycare, or school programs are involved, explain where the au pair fits in the support system.
Red flags during the interview
- The family cannot explain weekly hours or driving needs
- The au pair avoids direct questions about experience or availability
- Either side pushes for a decision before basic details are clear
- The role sounds easy in words but heavy in actual duties
- Privacy, room setup, schedule changes, or payment-related questions are brushed aside
After the call
Write a short summary while the conversation is fresh. Note what felt strong, what needs confirmation, and what must be discussed in a second call. A mature matching process should slow down where facts are missing and move forward where expectations are clear.
Example family interview flow
A strong call can follow a simple rhythm. Spend five minutes introducing the family and children. Spend ten minutes walking through the weekly routine. Spend ten minutes asking about the au pair experience with similar ages, schedule changes, and communication. Spend five minutes on driving and home setup. Spend the final minutes on questions, next steps, and what each side needs to confirm.
This structure keeps the conversation human without becoming vague. It also prevents the family from spending the whole call trying to sound appealing while forgetting to explain the actual role.
What to send after the interview
After the call, send a short written recap. Include schedule, children ages, driving needs, room setup, remaining questions, and whether a second call makes sense. The recap should not pressure the au pair. It should make the facts easy to review.
Editorial review before publishing
This article should feel useful to a parent who is nervous about interviewing. It should not make the process sound corporate or cold. The tone should be warm, direct, and responsible. The best family interview content helps parents become clearer, not more polished.
Quick FAQ
How many interviews should a family expect? One call may be enough for a simple fit, but two conversations are often better when driving, infant care, rematch timing, or a complex schedule is involved.
Should children join the first call? Sometimes. Parents should first make sure the basic role is realistic. Children can join when both sides already understand schedule, duties, and timing.
What if the call feels warm but the facts are unclear? Do not move forward yet. Warmth is valuable, but unclear expectations can create a difficult placement.
Scenario to compare
Weak interview: everyone talks generally about personality and the family seems nice. Strong interview: the family explains the actual Wednesday schedule, the driving route, the room setup, and how feedback is handled.