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Discover classic and creative ways to enjoy winter with your American host family. 

Family fun: Winter bucket list edition 

From ice skating at Rockefeller Center to dog sledding in Alaska, here are the best places to visit as an au pair during wintertime. 

Top 10 winter experiences in the USA 

Discover cozy and comforting soups from around the USA, each with a unique regional flavor and history.  

A taste of the USA: The best soups to warm up for winter

Starting with your J-1 visa, we have listed for you all the travel documents that you’ll need to bring when you travel to the USA as an au pair.

As a future au pair, preparing for your exciting year abroad involves not just packing fun outfits and gifts, but also managing important documents, which can be overwhelming. To ease your journey, Cultural Care Au Pair provides a comprehensive checklist of essential IDs and paperwork, ensuring you’re ready for a smooth transition to the USA and can focus on the adventure ahead.

Travel document checklist for working as an au pair abroad | Cultural Care Au Pair

Your travel document checklist for the USA

Your Travel Document Checklist for the USA

Learn how au pair Mili has made an impact on her host family and her new community during her time in the USA! 

Meet Milagros 2025 Au Pair of the Year finalist from Argentina 

Au pair of the year 2025 Finalist

Attending your monthly LCC meetings is crucial to being a successful au pair! Learn more about these meetings and why they’re so important. 

As an au pair in the USA, leveraging support services, especially from your Local Childcare Consultant (LCC), is crucial for a successful experience. Monthly meetings organized by LCCs provide opportunities for networking, sharing experiences, and receiving guidance, helping au pairs integrate into their communities.

Why you should attend your LCC meetings

Why You Should Attend your LCC Meetings

Having trouble bonding with your host child? Here are some strategies to try.  

Building a bond with a resistant host child can be challenging, but it's a common experience for au pairs. By maintaining a positive attitude, engaging in their interests, and communicating openly about your role, you can develop a meaningful relationship over time.

When your host child rejects you

Learn how to take good care of yourself—both mentally and physically—as an au pair living and working abroad in the USA.

Being an au pair in the USA can be stressful, making self-care essential for maintaining mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

Self-care tips for au pairs

British au pair Hollie explains how her life has been made better by pushing herself to try new things and meet new people—a cornerstone of the Cultural Care au pair experience in the USA! 

Becoming an au pair allows you to experience new opportunities and challenges that can lead to self-discovery and confidence. Embracing discomfort can enrich your life with unforgettable experiences, such as making new friends and exploring different cultures, ultimately helping you become a more well-rounded individual.

Stepping out of your comfort zone

The importance of stepping out of your comfort zone

The Importance of Stepping Out of your Comfort Zone

What you should and should not pack as an au pair traveling to the USA

What you should and should not pack as an au pair traveling to the USA.

Packing for the USA

Austrian au pair Marie-Louise shares her letter to all future au pairs—a collection of her best advice and suggestions from her time in the USA.  

In a heartfelt letter to a future au pair, Marie-Louise Deutschmann encourages embracing the challenges and joys of moving to the U.S., fostering self-discovery, building meaningful friendships, and savoring every moment of the journey while remaining true to oneself.

Letter to a future au pair

Letter to a Future Au Pair

Au pair ambassador Clare Shepherd gives her best tips on how to maximize a 45-hour work week with host kids, from having a plan to getting outside.

To be a successful au pair, actively involve your host children by organizing enjoyable activities, promoting independent play, encouraging outdoor time, and balancing your interests with theirs to create a positive and fun atmosphere for everyone.

Keeping your host kids occupied

Keeping your Host Kids Occupied

Cultural Care Au Pair is here to help you learn how to start a blog and how to make it stand out. Learn the best ways to create content and take stellar travel photos!

To write an engaging travel blog during your au pair experience in the USA, focus on creating quality content that reflects your authentic voice, document your adventures as you go, dedicate time for organization and editing, capture stunning travel photos, and maintain a strong social media presence to connect with your audience.

How to write a travel blog

How to Write a Travel Blog

Living in the USA as an au pair means trying new foods and a new lifestyle! Be sure to stay healthy while your living abroad by following au pair Adela’s advice. 

To stay healthy in the USA as an au pair, follow an 80/20 diet, meal prep to avoid junk food, stay active through walking or gym visits, and set achievable health goals.

How to stay healthy

How to stay healthy in the USA

How to Stay Healthy in the US

Austrian au pair Marco shares his tips on how to make friends with Americans as an au pair. Learn how to get involved in your community and meet locals! 

How to meet Americans

How to Meet Americans

Read on to learn some ways to build your brand and gain success as an au pair influencer!

To thrive as an au pair influencer, identify your unique niche, select an appropriate social media platform, share your personal experiences, collaborate with Cultural Care and peers, and adhere to content creation best practices while enjoying your journey.

How to become an au pair influencer

From sauces & sides to backyard games & traditions, this guide will help you know what to expect at your next American BBQ!

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy one of America's favorite pastimes—BBQ—by embracing key traditions such as savoring a variety of sauces and meats, indulging in classic side dishes, getting a little messy, playing lawn games, and leaving room for sweet treats at the end of the meal.

How to BBQ like an American

A Cultural Care Au Pair Matching Specialist outlines the most important factors to keep in mind while searching for a host family in the USA.  

To find the right American host family as an au pair, it’s essential to be patient, proactive, open-minded, honest about your preferences, and true to yourself while considering important factors like lifestyle compatibility and communication styles.

How to find your American host family

How to Find your American Host Family

Whether it’s a gift to say goodbye, a present during the holidays, or simply a token to show your appreciation, here are some great ideas for how to show your host family how much you care! 

Great gifts for your host family

Great Gifts for your Host Family

How do au pairs spend their free time? Read on for our top 5!

During their time as au pairs in the USA, individuals balance their childcare responsibilities with ample free time to socialize, travel, take classes, pursue passions, and bond with their host families.

Free time as an au pair

Learn how to expertly frame your au pair experience in a professional setting, from editing your CV to interviewing for jobs back in your home country!  

Au pairs can leverage their unique experiences in the USA to showcase both personal and professional growth, emphasizing transferable hard and soft skills on their resumes and during job interviews to stand out as valuable candidates in the job market.

Framing your au pair experience

Framing Your Au Pair Experience

Au pair Clare extended her term in the USA with a new host family—check out her great advice on how to make the transition smooth and easy for everyone involved!  

Extending as an au pair

Extending as an Au Pair

From coastlines to mountain ranges, discover what part of the USA is the perfect place for your au pair gap year!

When choosing where to au pair in the U.S., the most crucial factor is finding the right host family to build a meaningful relationship with, rather than focusing solely on the specific state, as each U.S. region offers unique cultural experiences and similarities that can enhance your time abroad.

Which USA state or region should you au pair in?

Which U.S. state or region should you au pair in?

Many au pairs are being asked to support their host kids’ remote learning at home this fall. Our au pairs share their best tips to help their peers find success.

Many au pairs are being asked to support their host kids’ remote learning at home. Our au pairs share their best tips to help their peers find success.

Tips for remote learning

Au pairs share their best tips for helping with remote learning

Looking for nutrition tips for life in the USA? A Cultural Care host mom and registered dietician shares her advice

Au pair nutrition in the USA: common questions & answers

Wondering how to entertain your host kids through the summer? We've got you! Check out tips from our au pairs for summer activities with your host kids.

An au pair's guide to summer with the host kids

An au pair’s guide to summer with the host kids

Embark on an exciting au pair journey in the USA by following these steps: attend an info meeting, complete your application, find your host family, prepare your visa and documents, undergo training, and travel to meet your host family, all while making unforgettable memories along the way!

A guide for your au pair journey

Former au pair Aliena outlines 5 tips on how to build an unbreakable bond with your host parents and host kids. 

5 ways to become part of your host family

5 Ways to Become Part of your Host Family

A relationship between an au pair and host mom can be a very special thing! We’ve compiled the top 5 ways to help au pairs cultivate that strong bond.

5 ways to build a great relationship with your host mom

5 Ways to Build a Great Relationship with your Host Mom

Hear from former au pair from Mexico, Melanie—she shares her best advice on how to stay strong and resilient in the face of adversity.   

5 ways to get through tough times as an au pair

Difficult conversations with your host family can be tough to navigate. Read our advice for au pairs as they communicate their wants and needs.

20 seconds of courage

20 Seconds of Courage

Here are a couple American phrases that you may hear when you first arrive in the USA! 

Stories, tips, & insider advice

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