Au Pairs in General | Childcare | Driving Skills | English Language Skills | Education | Health | Diet | Religion | Telephone

For basic information and a statistical overview of United Nations member countries and links to local newspapers, visit:http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/index.asp

To review the online version of the World Factbook with information about this country as compiled by the CIA, please visit: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

The following information is generalized and compiled from questions posed to the agents and interviewers in Denmark. Although au pairs from Denmark may or may not have had theseexperiences/beliefs, Au Pair in America wishes to share this general information with our families.

Au Pairs in General

• The idea of being an au pair is well known in Denmark – young people have been au pairing in different countries for many, many years.
• Applicants from Denmark are motivated by opportunities to improve their English, travel and the love of children.
• Applicants do not have difficulty affording the program fees.
• Young people in Denmark have the freedom of their family to socialize and date.
• Curfews are not common.
• Young women are accustomed to sharing in household chores.
• Danes are open and relaxed about nudity.
• Danes consider themselves to be independent with strong family ties.

Childcare

• Physical discipline is not common in Denmark.
• Applicants obtain childcare experience through formal schooling, caring for neighbors or family members, or assisting in day care centers.
• Usually both parents share the childcare responsibilities.
• It is common for both parents to work and be away from home during the day.

Driving Skills

• The minimum driving age is age 18.  Most applicants obtain their driving license at age  18.
• A driving license is not difficult to obtain, but it is expensive.
• It takes approximately three months obtain a license in Denmark.
• The steps involved in obtaining a driving license in Denmark include:
  • Medical tests- hearing and sight
  • Theoretical written test with traffic rules and scenarios
  • Psychological test
  • Practical test
  • Fees
  • Driving on icy roads and nighttime driving practice
• The International driving permit is available.
• Applicants take at least 25 hours of formal driving lessons and practice driving using their parents’ car.
• Most cars have manual transmissions.

English Language Skills

• English is compulsory beginning at age 10.
• Classes focus on both oral and written skills.

Education

• Approximately 10% of young women continue their studies at university.
• Those who do not attend university complete vocational training and find employment.
• The academic year in Denmark starts in August and ends mid-June.
• The educational opportunities of the Au Pair in America program are very important to applicants from Denmark.

Health

• The most common inoculations are pertussis, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, rubella.
• Most young women are not inoculated and tested for TB (tuberculosis).
• Denmark has a free health service.
• Most young women visit the dentist on a regular basis.
• “Eating disorders” are not common, but do occur.

Diet

• Most young people in Denmark eat meat.
• Vegetarianism is not common. 
• A typical Danish diet includes sandwiches, meat and dairy products, potatoes, rice or pasta.  Generally speaking, Danes eat a lot of sweets, chocolate and cake as well.

Religion

• The most common religion in Denmark is Protestant.
• Few young people in Denmark practice their religion regularly.

Telephone & Internet

• Most homes have a telephone and a computer with access to the Internet.
• Family members will be able to take a message in English from a potential host family.

Au Pair in America®, 2007