2) Don't panic if you find that she can hardly understand anything you say. Be patient, give her a chance to get used to the accent. English she has learnt at school is probably very different to common speaking Give her a chance to communicate. Try speaking slowly using simple English. Her level of understanding will soon increase.

3) Many Au-Pairs get homesick. Try to understand, they are far from home, friends and family. Give her time to find new friends and interests, but don't push her into doing anything she could feel she is not ready for.

4) Make clear what is expected from her, some girls are a bit confused at first. If necessary, write a Time-table and description of duties down (especially important information and emergency contact numbers). Some au-pairs need quite a detailed daily schedule at the beginning, some are able to work on their own initiative.

5) Explain to your children what exactly an Au-Pair is there for. Ask them to be patient with her too and encourage them to be friends with her, but by all means to respect her in the same way they respect you. Make clear with the au-pair whether or not you wish her to discipline the children if necessary and how. Obviously any kind of physical punishment is out of question and au-pairs know this.

6) As she should be treated as a member of the family, let her know the rules set in your house to help her fit into the routine and make your life easier too. Make clear arrangements about using the phone and paying the bill.

7) Help the au-pair find a suitable language school as soon as possible and introduce her to your family and friends.

8) Don't treat the relationship too formally and  "business-like". Yes, you are paying her for her help, but sometimes a simple "thank you" means a lot more to her then money. Au-pairs can feel un-noticed and not appreciated.

9) If there are any problems in your relationship, sit down and talk it through and try to find a solution together before referring to the agency, sometimes things seem worse then they actually are, but hoping that they will get better doesn't always help either.

All the above given points are only a guidelines. The majority of Au-Pairs are happy and well settled in, in no time. A lot of them prolong their stay with the family. Many keep in touch, even after their return back home.