Even if you're the eldest daughter in the family of 10 and have been helping Mom since you were 6, most likely you'd still need to learn a few childcare points if you are to succeed as an au pair. The main reason's still the same: cultural differences.
Take a professional approach: get together with the host mother and discuss the expected childcare standard. What are the disciplinary guidelines? What type of behavior is tolerated and what isn’t? What are the likes and dislikes of the children? Draw up a list, don't be shy to ask for help if you aren't sure what is expected of you in this or that situation. Don’t ever assume you know all there is to know about childcare -- unless the parents admit that they're inexperienced and are giving you free rein, counsel with them on every little detail which concerns their children -- because they are their children. And even if you think they are wrong in something, do not ever go against their will - for one, they may have reasons you aren’t aware of, and for another, it is them who will be reaping the consequences. Mutual cooperation is the name of the game and a guarantee of success.
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