The Chicago Area Blog

In the middle of a Chicago winter Au Pairs love Fridays too!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TGIF is an initialism for the phrase Thank (God/Goodness/Gosh) It’s Friday.

History

Starting in the United States, it has become a common expression of relief at the end of the work week and anticipation of relaxing or partying over the weekend. The term was originated by the Akron, Ohio disk jockey Jerry Healy on radio station WAKR in the early 1970s. The phrase was further popularised by the 1978 movie starring Donna Summer, Thank God It’s Friday. The phrase has also become common for advertising and promotional materials. On college campuses beginning in the 1970s, the phrase (sometimes shortened to “TG”) became associated with Friday afternoon beer parties, usually held outdoors.

In 1995 the government agency overseeing au pair programs required that all au pair agencies give a standardized orientation to each au pair before she arrives in her host family.
Au Pair in America always required an orientation starting with our very first group of au pairs that arrived in the summer of 1986.
The orientation includes 8 hours of child safety and 24 hours of child development training. A portion of the program is presented by instructors from the American Red Cross.
After au pairs arrive in their host communities they qualify for an American Red Cross scholarship as part of the ongoing training offered by Au Pair in America to help support the highest level of child care.

Au Pair in America is thrilled to announce a new exclusive agreement with SUNTREK Active & Adventure travel. SUNTREK has been offering regional tours of the US for young adults for almost 40 years and many of our au pairs have already experienced their fun, rugged, yet comfortable style of travel.

Au pairs with Au Pair in America will receive a 20% discount off the published rate!  Visit http://www.suntrek.com/_us/aupairs.php to plan your SUNTREK Adventure.

Every child I know likes cookies! Bake “homemade” cookies by buying ready-to-bake sugar cookies at the supermarket.  Let the kids decorate them with sprinkles, icing, coconut, or whatever their parents would approve of.

This is Fire Safety Week.  Most schools will have fire drills and talk about escape plans in case of emergency.  My family did this when we were younger.  I remember when my brother was in kindergarten and he actually went out his escape route—right out his second floor bedroom window!  He was unharmed, which he credited with the pillow he threw out first–to break his fall.

Au Pair in America has a field network of 180 community counselors?  Au Pair in America community counselors provide daily, ongoing, local support to both host families and au pairs. Counselors are steeped in the love of cultural exchange, and their job is to provide the best guidance they can. They have no quotas and do not work on commission, so when you need their help, there are no strings attached!