Share your handbook ideas - what do you include, when do you give it to the AP, etc?

[Anonymous]

We have a fairly short handbook (7 pages) and don't have very many "rules." It mostly covers duties, general schedule, emergency contacts, food, guests, internet usage - that kind of thing. It's worked for us, but I know other families sometimes have really long involved handbooks. There's also the debate over when to give the handbook - before matching, to everyone who you are interested in, after matching, not until they get to your house, etc.

Anyone want to share tips for making a handbook - language, what to include, what not to include, how to talk about it, when to give it to the AP, how to make changes during the year, etc.?

[Anonymous]

aupairmom.com has a great discussion about this. Go on and type in "handbook" into the search spot, and you'll find whole long threads on handbooks from very experienced HMs.

[Anonymous]

Has your short handbook worked for you so far? If its working why bother to change it?

Also I would offer to let potential AP's see it straight away, nothing worse than deciding that we are a good match and then finding a deal breaker in the handbook once they have arrived.