All parents want what’s best for their children—especially when it comes to their care—and for many families, hosting an au pair offers a unique opportunity to enrich their development in meaningful and lifelong ways.
To better understand the long-term value au pairs bring to host children, Cultural Care recently surveyed over 200 former host kids. The results revealed the remarkable impact that au pair childcare can have, from shaping open-minded worldviews to supporting language learning and confidence building.
Below, we explore the top five takeaways from these former host children. Here's how the experience of growing up with one or more au pairs makes a lasting difference in their host kids' life.
Building empathy and cultural sensitivity
One of the strongest themes to emerge from the survey was the development of empathy and cross-cultural understanding. 96% of respondents agreed that having an au pair helped them embrace different cultures, values, and ways of life.
Wallace, now in his 20s and studying international business, grew up with au pairs from Argentina, Austria, and Germany. “Being exposed to different cultures at such a young age turned me into a really empathetic and culturally aware person,” he shared. “It opened my eyes to different perspectives and made me genuinely interested in connecting with people from other parts of the world.”
Language learning
58% of survey respondents said their au pair helped them begin to learn a second language, a skill that continues to benefit them today.
Whether they picked up Spanish from au pairs from Colombia, Mexico, or Argentina, or practiced French with au pairs from Europe, many noted that regular, everyday exposure made language learning both effective and fun.
Una, who had three French au pairs as a child, still speaks the language today. “Having a French au pair definitely helped with my language skills, and knowing French opens a lot of doors for me when it comes to the career path I’ve chosen.”
An enriched, supportive childhood
For many host kids, their au pair wasn’t just a caregiver—they were a mentor, an emotional anchor, and an extended family member.
97% of former host kids said that having an au pair positively impacted their childhood, 90% felt their au pair’s support helped them perform better in school, and 95% of them said the flexibility of the au pair program enabled them to participate in more extracurriculars.
According to Austin, having au pairs made life more fun and himself more confident. “Going places [with my au pairs] made me more comfortable with the world and with myself. I consider myself much more brave and open to activities thanks to them.”
Some former host kids also credit their au pairs with helping them through challenging family dynamics.
Courtney, now in her late teens, said her au pair was a source of normalcy during her mother’s divorce. “I was able to still go to activities and spend time with my friends while my mom was working, and I didn’t have to spend all day in after-school care.”
Svea, on the other hand, turned to her au pair during her mother's deployment in the armed services. “It was so helpful to have someone to turn to and talk to. She taught me how to trust.”
Inspiring career goals and a love of travel
Survey results show that an au pairs’ influence extends well into adulthood. 78% of former host kids said their experience inspired them to travel or study abroad, and more than half said it positively impacted their career choice.
As Isabelle, now in her 20s, explains, “My career and personal goals were impacted tremendously by [my au pairs]. Every single one of [them] taught me that if I have a dream or a goal, to chase after it and not give up even when things get tough."
Lifelong friendships and connections across boarders
While an au pair’s stay may be for just one or two years, the relationships they form last a lifetime. 93% percent of survey participants said they still keep in touch with at least one or more of their former au pairs. 43% said they've visited their au pairs abroad and 86% have welcomed their au pairs back to the U.S. for reunions.
Emily sees her former au pairs as older siblings. “I still turn to them for advice. And when I travel to Europe, I know I’ll be welcomed into their homes. It makes the world feel smaller and friendlier.”
What's particularly endearing is that 90% of these former host kids expressed a desire to host their own au pairs in the future.
As former host child says, “I had so much fun with my au pair. I wish everyone could have the same experience.”