NOT cheap childcare

[Anonymous]

It’s not cheap, but we love the program. I did the math, and it costs us 30k+. But we have the APs speak my home country language to the kids and that is priceless. We send our kids to preschool, so after all is said and done, it is pretty expensive. Still, we love the energy that these young women bring with them. Still if a nanny were an option for us, I would seriously consider it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, I’m in the program, but this is just silly.

Of course it’s cheap. Like you just said, you can’t find a local person to take the job for “cheaper” even though you think it should be (if you offered a rate someone would take, they would take the job!).

It is cheap childcare... relative to your alternatives.

I tried like hell to find before/aftercare at a similar price point or even a bit more. Reliable employees who will actually show up at the times you schedule them are much more expensive. Therefore the program is cheap childcare.

And before you accuse me of being one of the disgruntled nannies, part of the reason I am in the program is the flexible scheduling. Local nannies complain about any last minute schedule changes even when they demand time and a half for them.

I didn't say I can't find someone to take an after-school job for "cheaper". I can't find someone to take that job at all. Finding an after-school nanny is almost impossible! I'd pay $25/hour to have someone come 4-7pm every day. I've tried. That's what led us to the AP program to begin with. Now we appreciate it and think it's a good fit for us. But cheaper? No. Even if I paid holidays, days off and sick days, plus taxes, it would still be cheaper to have a nanny at that rate.

But you can’t find someone at that rate, so that’s not the market rate, right? If you paid $100/hr there is no question someone would take it. $50/hr? Probably still someone. $25/hr? No takers.

You really believe the market rate for after-school nannies is $100/hour? Wow. This board has officially lost it's mind.

It’s a thought experiment to teach you people the economics of the labor force but you people are unteachable.

[Anonymous]

Cheap relative to what, that is the question. Yes it’s much more than less convenient care like before and aftercare. But dirt cheap relative to a nanny who will work a flexible schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cheap relative to what, that is the question. Yes it’s much more than less convenient care like before and aftercare. But dirt cheap relative to a nanny who will work a flexible schedule.

Daycare is cheaper with one kid. At least in my area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You really believe the market rate for after-school nannies is $100/hour? Wow. This board has officially lost it's mind.

"The market rate" is the cheapest rate you can find an after-school nanny for in your area. So "market rate" in this case is obviously not $25/hour (because in that case PP would have found somebody to take the job). It may be $30/hr or $40/hr. Or it may be paying somebody for a full-time position and only asking them to work from 4 - 7 pm. Nobody said "market rate for after-school nannies is $100/hour" but if that is the cheapest you can find somebody for the job? Then yes, it might be.

Anonymous wrote:$600 Driving lessons. All of our APs have had them.
$150 New linens/towels/etc. Every other year
$100 Welcome gifts
$500 What we pay for their insurance
$50 Stocking the house with their favorite foods for their arrival
$300 New cell phone (this is the first time we've had to buy one, long story)

- get a non-driver. No need for $600 driving lessons if you can make do with a non-driver. Also, not all APs need $600 driving lessons. Screen for APs from a country with strong driving and somebody with plenty of experience driving.
- no need for $150 linens/towels. Linens/towels can be used for more than two years and don't have to be fancy if you really want to provide your AP with new linens/towels (Walmart, Target, Ikea...).
- welcome gifts are your choice. Yes, they are appreciated. But they are not a prerequisite.
- yes, insurance is expensive. Are you talking car insurance? Cf. point one - get a non-driver, don't require AP to drive.
- again, your choice. Yes, appreciated, but not a prerequisite.
- I don't have a $300 phone. My husband doesn't have a $300 phone. Next.

Thing is... no, having an AP is not "cheap" childcare. It can be inexpensive childcare, depending on where you live and how many children you have. If you have one child and live in Bumfuck Nowhere where daycare is $150/week or where you can get a after-school nanny for $15/hr, who is flexible to pitch in on snow days, sick days, teacher days, vacation days you can't cover etc., yes, having an AP might be more expensive than other childcare options. Living in a high-cost area? Three or four children? Yes, having an AP may be the more sensible decision, financially.
I was an AP in Bumfuck. My HM also told me how much money they were saving when comparing having an AP to full-time daycare for a toddler plus before and after care for three (pre)teens plus summer camp (plus a babysitter for snow days, sick days...).

You are making expensive choices and calculate them as "AP cost." It doesn't work that way. If you buy a $60,000 car for your AP to drive, you cannot say your AP cost you $60,000. If you decide to buy a $2,000,000 6br/4bath home, eventhough you only need one extra bedroom for your AP and only have one child (and could make do with a 4br/2.5bath for $500,000), you cannot calculate that as AP cost. If you decide to take your AP on a two-week trip to Disney, you cannot complain that your AP is so expensive. You cannot decide to buy a $300 phone and complain that having an AP is not cheap. No, it is not cheap. The agency fee is not cheap, the educational stipend is not cheap (so it hasn't been raised in at least 20 years, which is ridiculous), housing and feeding her is not cheap. But depending on where you are and what you need, it may be less expensive (and more flexible) than other options you have. You are making expensive choices. Some are nice choices, good choices and the right choices - but they are still something you decide on. You have the option to make other choices. They may inconvenience you. But they exist.

Having a child is a privilege. It's something millions of people on this planet can either not afford or just cannot have due to infertility. Being able to put your child in daycare, daycare even existing, is a privilege. Having the luxury to worry if you can put your child in daycare instead of having to quit your job to care for it is a privilege. Being able to hire a young foreigner to watch you child, in your home, without you having to take your tired 2-year old to daycare at 6 am and pick them up at 6 pm, having to go to the grocery store, washing LO's clothes, cleaning their room, entertaining them in the evening when you are tired, cooking dinner, taking time off for sick days (and if you have your child in daycare you know how frequent those will be, especially in young children), struggling to find somebody to watch your child on snow days, having to cover months of summer break with different camps (and having to take your young child to day camp in the morning)... is a privilege.

Having an AP is a privilege. It's something millions of people cannot afford. It's like offering your AP a $300 phone or the possibility to drive your car. It's a privilege. And privileges come at a price. That's the way life is. If you don't want to pay for it? Don't. But don't complain about choices you make.

And no, having an AP is not cheap. It's inexpensive at best and sometimes not even that. But it's a choice. And it's your choices that make it more and more expensive. You can find cheap? Go for it. You can find higher quality? Go for it. And if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Remeber, it's a choice. And a privilege. Free market. You can go wherever whenever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's absolutely no reason to pay $100/hour for a nanny.

For example, our local martial arts place offers summer camp for around $300/week. 7:30am drop off and pick up by 6:30pm. Kids don't have school for 12 weeks. $300x12 = $3,600.

For three kids, $3,600x3 = $10,800.

Our private school offers summer camp for 8 weeks of summer (and a 4 week gap) for $450/week from 9:00am-3:30pm. Extended day is offered for $215 (AM and PM). So, 7:30am-5:30pm is $665 and $665x8 = $5,320 plus a 4 week gap.

For three kids, $15,960 plus a 4 week gap for an expensive summer camp.

That leaves... covering those additional 4 weeks of summer and every other break during the school year that can't be dealt with by taking vacation by one or more parents. Somehow, if we're assuming an AP's total costs average about $25,000/year, $9,000 easily covers all those random school day breaks with various camps and other options.

So, again, to support OP's point before someone argues that she only has 1 kid. APs are NOT cheap childcare. I could have a LOT less hassle with onboarding an AP and dealing with various issues (such as driving) through other options. But we have currently chosen the AP option because we like the relationship APs can have with the kids.

what about parents who, ya know, work during the school year?

In your cheaper scenarios for my 3 children, I'd be at

summer $10,800
school year $18,000 in aftercare (cheap where I live is $150/wk per kid)

You can't compare live in personalized childcare to the cost of institutionalized warehouse care. An AuPair is closer to a nanny than warehouseing your kids.

not sure why you all get so defensive than AuPairs are cheap for live in care. I have an AuPair and I've had a nanny for years. I don't like daycares which is why we always did home care. It is not even a comparison and once my kids became verbal and old enough for an AP, I'm very happy get the the financial relief and move to cheaper personalized care.

You missed the part where I said they already go to private school. This calculation is solely based on the hours that we absolutely need childcare, so summers and breaks. Sure, we use the AP during the school year to pack lunches in the morning, etc., but that part is not necessary in the way we require summer childcare.

If our non-public school age kids were stuck with an AP all day, we'd be highly dissatisfied with the program. APs are sufficient childcare to keep the kids alive and (mostly) safe. They're not Master's degree in childhood education nannies. Sometimes APs barely speak adequate English. Therefore, we spend the $$$ on expensive private education and have left our oldest in the same school (who has been eligible for public school) for ease.

These are the choices we've been privileged to make. However, my original point stands that APs are NOT "cheap" childcare for even a family with 3 kids. "Cheap" childcare may simply not exist in the DC area unless you devalue a SAHM enough to call it the "cheapest" option (which I don't).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You really believe the market rate for after-school nannies is $100/hour? Wow. This board has officially lost it's mind.

"The market rate" is the cheapest rate you can find an after-school nanny for in your area. So "market rate" in this case is obviously not $25/hour (because in that case PP would have found somebody to take the job). It may be $30/hr or $40/hr. Or it may be paying somebody for a full-time position and only asking them to work from 4 - 7 pm. Nobody said "market rate for after-school nannies is $100/hour" but if that is the cheapest you can find somebody for the job? Then yes, it might be.

Anonymous wrote:$600 Driving lessons. All of our APs have had them.
$150 New linens/towels/etc. Every other year
$100 Welcome gifts
$500 What we pay for their insurance
$50 Stocking the house with their favorite foods for their arrival
$300 New cell phone (this is the first time we've had to buy one, long story)

- get a non-driver. No need for $600 driving lessons if you can make do with a non-driver. Also, not all APs need $600 driving lessons. Screen for APs from a country with strong driving and somebody with plenty of experience driving.
- no need for $150 linens/towels. Linens/towels can be used for more than two years and don't have to be fancy if you really want to provide your AP with new linens/towels (Walmart, Target, Ikea...).
- welcome gifts are your choice. Yes, they are appreciated. But they are not a prerequisite.
- yes, insurance is expensive. Are you talking car insurance? Cf. point one - get a non-driver, don't require AP to drive.
- again, your choice. Yes, appreciated, but not a prerequisite.
- I don't have a $300 phone. My husband doesn't have a $300 phone. Next.

Thing is... no, having an AP is not "cheap" childcare. It can be inexpensive childcare, depending on where you live and how many children you have. If you have one child and live in Bumfuck Nowhere where daycare is $150/week or where you can get a after-school nanny for $15/hr, who is flexible to pitch in on snow days, sick days, teacher days, vacation days you can't cover etc., yes, having an AP might be more expensive than other childcare options. Living in a high-cost area? Three or four children? Yes, having an AP may be the more sensible decision, financially.
I was an AP in Bumfuck. My HM also told me how much money they were saving when comparing having an AP to full-time daycare for a toddler plus before and after care for three (pre)teens plus summer camp (plus a babysitter for snow days, sick days...).

You are making expensive choices and calculate them as "AP cost." It doesn't work that way. If you buy a $60,000 car for your AP to drive, you cannot say your AP cost you $60,000. If you decide to buy a $2,000,000 6br/4bath home, eventhough you only need one extra bedroom for your AP and only have one child (and could make do with a 4br/2.5bath for $500,000), you cannot calculate that as AP cost. If you decide to take your AP on a two-week trip to Disney, you cannot complain that your AP is so expensive. You cannot decide to buy a $300 phone and complain that having an AP is not cheap. No, it is not cheap. The agency fee is not cheap, the educational stipend is not cheap (so it hasn't been raised in at least 20 years, which is ridiculous), housing and feeding her is not cheap. But depending on where you are and what you need, it may be less expensive (and more flexible) than other options you have. You are making expensive choices. Some are nice choices, good choices and the right choices - but they are still something you decide on. You have the option to make other choices. They may inconvenience you. But they exist.

Having a child is a privilege. It's something millions of people on this planet can either not afford or just cannot have due to infertility. Being able to put your child in daycare, daycare even existing, is a privilege. Having the luxury to worry if you can put your child in daycare instead of having to quit your job to care for it is a privilege. Being able to hire a young foreigner to watch you child, in your home, without you having to take your tired 2-year old to daycare at 6 am and pick them up at 6 pm, having to go to the grocery store, washing LO's clothes, cleaning their room, entertaining them in the evening when you are tired, cooking dinner, taking time off for sick days (and if you have your child in daycare you know how frequent those will be, especially in young children), struggling to find somebody to watch your child on snow days, having to cover months of summer break with different camps (and having to take your young child to day camp in the morning)... is a privilege.

Having an AP is a privilege. It's something millions of people cannot afford. It's like offering your AP a $300 phone or the possibility to drive your car. It's a privilege. And privileges come at a price. That's the way life is. If you don't want to pay for it? Don't. But don't complain about choices you make.

And no, having an AP is not cheap. It's inexpensive at best and sometimes not even that. But it's a choice. And it's your choices that make it more and more expensive. You can find cheap? Go for it. You can find higher quality? Go for it. And if you can't afford it, you can't afford it. Remeber, it's a choice. And a privilege. Free market. You can go wherever whenever.

Are you the french AP? your posts are always funny lol
Anyway I agree with most of what you said. To your points:
- My current AP is a bad driver and she is been taking public transportation, many of her AP friends don't drive, THIS is saving me a few thousand of $, so i will not require next AP to drive. My high real-estate price for DC should be worth something!
- I got AP a used Iphone 6s (which is what I have) for $50 on CL and her phone bill with simple mobile is $25/month
- I have 3 kids so it is totally worth it, when I had two kids I did daycare (2 kids in school).
- I get AP new Lines from Walmart for less than $30
- Welcome gift of about $100 but I spread the gift cards within the first few weeks.
So the AP is not as cheap as people think but it is what you make of it! I have acquaintances thinking an AP just come to your house and live for free, eat your food and take care of your kids. They don't know about the almost $10K agency fees and another $10k AP wages you have to pay etc

[Anonymous]

We found that daycare was cheaper once our child was 3 years. The daycare rates drop considerably and switching to a daycare that offered a 15% discount to federal employees made more sense. With the discount, the price for a 3 year old was just under $1200 at a major daycare chain near metro stop in suburban Maryland (DC area). This was in 2017

We are now considering an au pair again so that our child can have more time to sleep in the morning before school and so that we have an extra set of hands to help with our youngest in the evenings. Our kids (we have an older child that doesn't require child care) like having an au pair. We will pay a touch under $600 per month for before and after for thr youngest, and fulltime summer camp in our suburban neighborhood is a very low $250/week including before and aftercare. So for us, adding an au pair is an additional $1200 per month.

[Anonymous]

PP 07:17 — you nailed it! Thank you!

AP is not cheap as any childcare is not cheap, but it is a reasonable option for some. I think what OP wanted to say is that AP costs more than $4/hr or the advertised total cost by agencies. Agree with that.

We had nannies for close to 10 years (3 kids) and nannies ran us about $42-45K per year with taxes and all for about 47 hrs/week with purely business hours coverage. I could probably now find a person with flexibility to cover breaks/pre/after hours reliably if I’d pay similar amount per year. I think my APs cost me about $32-35K per year including family vacations (my choice! Worth it!), fancy gym membership (again my choice! I host BPs and that’s what makes them happy), car insurance, taking them out every time we go out, etc. Our first BP became truly part of our family, and this is priceless. Somehow I never got that bond with either of our our 4 nannies...

I totally get that this was my choice, and I have to confess I started the AP route because of advertised cost and the fact that I needed someone reliable to take kids to the after school activities, and flexibility. I stayed because of the experience, loving my BPs, and honestly not wanting to search for alternative child care. My friend who hosted APs for 2 years switched to after-school nanny. That works for her best. We are privileged to have options. My BPs are happy, not think of themselves as servitude labor, and happily enjoy all their perks. They were able to buy whatever they want as they have 0 day-to-day expenses and bills. They actually don’t understand why other APs constantly complain that they don’t have money...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's absolutely no reason to pay $100/hour for a nanny.

For example, our local martial arts place offers summer camp for around $300/week. 7:30am drop off and pick up by 6:30pm. Kids don't have school for 12 weeks. $300x12 = $3,600.

For three kids, $3,600x3 = $10,800.

Our private school offers summer camp for 8 weeks of summer (and a 4 week gap) for $450/week from 9:00am-3:30pm. Extended day is offered for $215 (AM and PM). So, 7:30am-5:30pm is $665 and $665x8 = $5,320 plus a 4 week gap.

For three kids, $15,960 plus a 4 week gap for an expensive summer camp.

That leaves... covering those additional 4 weeks of summer and every other break during the school year that can't be dealt with by taking vacation by one or more parents. Somehow, if we're assuming an AP's total costs average about $25,000/year, $9,000 easily covers all those random school day breaks with various camps and other options.

So, again, to support OP's point before someone argues that she only has 1 kid. APs are NOT cheap childcare. I could have a LOT less hassle with onboarding an AP and dealing with various issues (such as driving) through other options. But we have currently chosen the AP option because we like the relationship APs can have with the kids.

what about parents who, ya know, work during the school year?

In your cheaper scenarios for my 3 children, I'd be at

summer $10,800
school year $18,000 in aftercare (cheap where I live is $150/wk per kid)

You can't compare live in personalized childcare to the cost of institutionalized warehouse care. An AuPair is closer to a nanny than warehouseing your kids.

not sure why you all get so defensive than AuPairs are cheap for live in care. I have an AuPair and I've had a nanny for years. I don't like daycares which is why we always did home care. It is not even a comparison and once my kids became verbal and old enough for an AP, I'm very happy get the the financial relief and move to cheaper personalized care.

You missed the part where I said they already go to private school. This calculation is solely based on the hours that we absolutely need childcare, so summers and breaks. Sure, we use the AP during the school year to pack lunches in the morning, etc., but that part is not necessary in the way we require summer childcare.

If our non-public school age kids were stuck with an AP all day, we'd be highly dissatisfied with the program. APs are sufficient childcare to keep the kids alive and (mostly) safe. They're not Master's degree in childhood education nannies. Sometimes APs barely speak adequate English. Therefore, we spend the $$$ on expensive private education and have left our oldest in the same school (who has been eligible for public school) for ease.

These are the choices we've been privileged to make. However, my original point stands that APs are NOT "cheap" childcare for even a family with 3 kids. "Cheap" childcare may simply not exist in the DC area unless you devalue a SAHM enough to call it the "cheapest" option (which I don't).

You need a refresher in arithmetic.

Its cheap for live in personalized childcare. Period. Unless of course you live in West Virginia.

You can't get a babysitter to lift a finger in DC for under $22/hr and you definitely aren't getting one to work odd hours reliably for even that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP 07:17 — you nailed it! Thank you!

AP is not cheap as any childcare is not cheap, but it is a reasonable option for some. I think what OP wanted to say is that AP costs more than $4/hr or the advertised total cost by agencies. Agree with that.

We had nannies for close to 10 years (3 kids) and nannies ran us about $42-45K per year with taxes and all for about 47 hrs/week with purely business hours coverage. I could probably now find a person with flexibility to cover breaks/pre/after hours reliably if I’d pay similar amount per year. I think my APs cost me about $32-35K per year including family vacations (my choice! Worth it!), fancy gym membership (again my choice! I host BPs and that’s what makes them happy), car insurance, taking them out every time we go out, etc. Our first BP became truly part of our family, and this is priceless. Somehow I never got that bond with either of our our 4 nannies...

I totally get that this was my choice, and I have to confess I started the AP route because of advertised cost and the fact that I needed someone reliable to take kids to the after school activities, and flexibility. I stayed because of the experience, loving my BPs, and honestly not wanting to search for alternative child care. My friend who hosted APs for 2 years switched to after-school nanny. That works for her best. We are privileged to have options. My BPs are happy, not think of themselves as servitude labor, and happily enjoy all their perks. They were able to buy whatever they want as they have 0 day-to-day expenses and bills. They actually don’t understand why other APs constantly complain that they don’t have money...

I am a nanny who works 45 hours per week and it costs my employers closer to $70,000. My point being that the AP program is significantly cheaper than hiring a nanny. The AP can also be more convenient for split schedules and a great way to introduce your kids to other cultures! Also, as you are doing, having a BP when you have young boys can be a great experience as well. I am in full support of the AP program, but it is significantly cheaper than hiring an experienced nanny, both of which have their benefits!

[Anonymous]

I don't think anyone disagrees that APs are cheaper than nannies. They are also much less qualified and much more burdensome than a nanny. That doesn't mean that they are "cheap" relative to ALL the options parents consider. For one child or even two or three older children, center based care is usually cheaper AND higher quality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep reading (maybe from one single disgruntled nanny) how cheap the AP program is. And I wanted to counter that impression for any potential HFs reading this board. We've done this for a few years now and really love the program because it gives our only child someone consistent in her life, someone she sees as a big sister. And we love that while our APs speak English in our home, they expose DD (and us) to another culture. But. Our new AP arrived a month ago and I started to tally up the costs every year. It is not "cheap":

$600 Driving lessons. All of our APs have had them.
$150 New linens/towels/etc. Every other year
$100 Welcome gifts
$500 What we pay for their insurance
$50 Stocking the house with their favorite foods for their arrival
$300 New cell phone (this is the first time we've had to buy one, long story)

That's on top of what we pay the agency, and before we're issued their first paycheck. It doesn't include the $500 we pay for their educational credits (the first two years we ended up paying more because they picked expensive classes, now we just give $500 and that's it). It doesn't include the 500+ we pay to bring them to Thanksgiving at grandmas, or the $500 we pay to for weekend trips. It doesn't include the hundreds we spend when we order takeout or the hundreds we spend on food because they go through 3 Kcups a day and a jar of peanut butter a week. It doesn't include who knows how much we pay for gas for them to go to the gym every day and visit friends every night. It doesn't include Christmas and birthday gifts ($200), end of the year gifts ($200), extra water and AC bills (our first AP took hour-long showers), new pots because the AP didn't realize they couldn't go in the dishwasher, and plenty more. Some families do less, many families do far more.

All in, it's 25-28K/year, depending on the year and how much the car repair bill is. Before/aftercare would be FAR FAR cheaper. Even an after-school nanny would be cheaper (if I could find someone who wanted the job.) And I would not have APs coming in after midnight waking me up, getting into car accidents (which each of them has done), dealing with their shifting moods. But I'm not complaining. We believe in the program and think it's a great opportunity.

You believe in the program and it’s a great opportunity.
Ok.
Think about the amount of money that’s actually paid to the AP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep reading (maybe from one single disgruntled nanny) how cheap the AP program is. And I wanted to counter that impression for any potential HFs reading this board. We've done this for a few years now and really love the program because it gives our only child someone consistent in her life, someone she sees as a big sister. And we love that while our APs speak English in our home, they expose DD (and us) to another culture. But. Our new AP arrived a month ago and I started to tally up the costs every year. It is not "cheap":

$600 Driving lessons. All of our APs have had them.
$150 New linens/towels/etc. Every other year
$100 Welcome gifts
$500 What we pay for their insurance
$50 Stocking the house with their favorite foods for their arrival
$300 New cell phone (this is the first time we've had to buy one, long story)

That's on top of what we pay the agency, and before we're issued their first paycheck. It doesn't include the $500 we pay for their educational credits (the first two years we ended up paying more because they picked expensive classes, now we just give $500 and that's it). It doesn't include the 500+ we pay to bring them to Thanksgiving at grandmas, or the $500 we pay to for weekend trips. It doesn't include the hundreds we spend when we order takeout or the hundreds we spend on food because they go through 3 Kcups a day and a jar of peanut butter a week. It doesn't include who knows how much we pay for gas for them to go to the gym every day and visit friends every night. It doesn't include Christmas and birthday gifts ($200), end of the year gifts ($200), extra water and AC bills (our first AP took hour-long showers), new pots because the AP didn't realize they couldn't go in the dishwasher, and plenty more. Some families do less, many families do far more.

All in, it's 25-28K/year, depending on the year and how much the car repair bill is. Before/aftercare would be FAR FAR cheaper. Even an after-school nanny would be cheaper (if I could find someone who wanted the job.) And I would not have APs coming in after midnight waking me up, getting into car accidents (which each of them has done), dealing with their shifting moods. But I'm not complaining. We believe in the program and think it's a great opportunity.

You believe in the program and it’s a great opportunity.
Ok.
Think about the amount of money that’s actually paid to the AP.

If AP were only coming for the money, far fewer of them would be here.

They're here for other reasons, many for the opportunity to improve their language skills that may improve their opportunities at home after their return. APs get so much that can't be quantified exclusively into their stipend as pay, which is why there are always applicants available.

[Anonymous]

I have only hired my 4 APs due to their needing better English or more experience in childcare back in their home country. All were 21+.