A practical starting point for host families.
Prepare for au pair life with clearer routines, kinder house rules, practical matching resources, kids activities and useful family tools.
Welcoming an au pair works best when the practical details are clear before daily life gets busy: working hours, children’s routines, meals, school runs, house expectations, privacy, communication, safety information and what the first week will look like.
This page brings together the most useful starting points for host families: matching preparation before saying yes, first-week support after arrival, family routines, house rules, emergency information, kids activities and printable tools for everyday home life.
Host Family Guide
Start here for preparation, first-week tips, family routines, house rules, communication and everyday expectations.
Open →Au Pair Matching Guide
Prepare before saying yes with profile tips, interview questions, video calls, red flags and the starter pack.
Open →Tools & printables
Find checklists, emergency sheets, routine cards, matching tools and practical family templates.
Open →Kids activities
Browse rainy day ideas, outdoor mini play, themed activities and simple routine tools for young children.
Open →Popular host family guides
A few useful reads to start with, especially if you are preparing for your first au pair, improving your house rules or making family routines easier to explain.
How to welcome your au pair in the first week
A calm first-week guide for host families and au pairs, with routines, expectations and practical details.
Open →House rules that feel kind, not cold
Practical tips for creating house rules that feel clear, warm and respectful.
Open →The Hague City Guide
Find local tips for kids activities, rainy days, language, sport, transport and free time in The Hague.
Open →