I have just accepted a job in child care as an au pair in Rome and would like some advice on childcare

Just curious...how come you accepted a job you dont have experience in?

How old are the ones youre caring for?

That is huge responsibility, try it but it's not an easy job....

I have to admit I am a bit curious ..
Why you would apply for a job you know nothing about..
I guess you could start googling and reading a lot


Second the bigger question to me.
Why would parents hire someone that was in experienced.

Anything is learnable.
You must keep the upper hand, never act surprised.
Do not give ultimatums as it puts you in a position
of carrying through.

If they see you as competent AND a foreign and interesting
person, they may mind you better.

Never let them out of your sight..as you are responsible
for anything /everything that goes awry.

Try to enjoy the day-to-day activities, they will be bored
exactly as much as you are.

Give back to them, i. e. compliment them on things that make
them feel better about themselves. Teach them to give that
gift to others.

Methinks you will learn as much as they do..best of luck :-)

or could be that you are looking for a activity partner (your profile) so you figure mostly women will answer this.. you get some contacts.. follow up.. and bingo... quick activity.

you see I don't know of ANY family that would hire a 18 year old guy with no experience and a foreign country to watch their kids.

Because 18 year old guys are preoccupied with something else... right.

Glad I was not the only one that was hearing SCAM Bells going off.

I sure would not as a young male put myself in such a position because it would be very vunerable to exploitation or blackmail and sounds hinky the other way to. Know I would NEVER EVER hire a young guy with no child care experience to take care of my kids.

When I was a child living in Britain, my parents were able to hire an "au pair" woman/girl or two. Students abroad, living with us in exchange for child-care services. One was fabulous, one not so much.

I recommend you work to understand the PARENTS idea of boundaries for your behavior around the children. You are working on their behalf. Learn about their culture, so that you don't accidentally trod on their traditions.

As for dealing with children, remember your own sense of being a child, and also work to keep in mind at all times, that these children are NOT you, they are unique individuals in their own right.

taking care of someone else children is hard work. you really have to love children to be able to care for them. if it is just a job or you doing it for the money, then the children will feel it and not bond with you.