For most parents, the word au pair conjures up images of young-adult girls. Young men are almost never considered for au pair positions unless parents are desperate; however, there are things that boys can bring to the au pair table that make them equally valuable to their female counterparts. Here are five of the reasons you might want to consider hiring a boy to be an au pair for your children.

If your children are all boys – A family made up of young boys is much more likely to respond positively to having an older male au pair. The ability to relate to their specific interests and problems might be a reason to move a male au pair to the top of your list.
He is probably not afraid to get dirty – Though it is a generalization; it is frequently one that holds a bit of truth: boys will get dirty and play harder with your kids than a teenage girl is likely to. This lack of regard for a little bit of dirt might leave your home with some smudges, but you will also come home to pleasantly exhausted kids that cannot wait for the next time their babysitter comes to visit.

To teach about gender stereotypes – As the focus on breaking traditionally-defined gender roles grows, it’s becoming an issue that parents need to address with their children. Teaching kids that boys can be au pairs also, is just as important as teaching that girls can be firefighters.

Practicing what you preach – Simply telling your children that boys and girls can do whatever jobs they want, typically isn’t enough; the most effective way to get your point across is to practice what you preach. Overlooking a trustworthy, qualified young man in favour of an unfamiliar young girl teaches the opposite lesson.

He is likely to be more assertive – If your brood has a fondness for running roughshod over au pairs, an older boy might be more authoritative, simply due to his deeper voice and larger physique. Without making an effort, a boy might be able to maintain a bit more control.

Aupairfect has many boy au pairs to be placed all over Europe, and according to our experience, boys can be great au pairs, and they are able to live up to their host families’ expectations easily.