Tag Archives: cultural childcare

Au Pairs Become "Urban Pirates"

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Au Pairs with Au Pair in America from the Baltimore, Annapolis and Columbia clusters met at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore on July 15th to sail the Inner Harbor with the Urban Pirate ship (www.urbanpirates.com).  We were greeted by some very authentic pirates and the au pairs and counselors were donned with appropriate costumes as we cruised the harbor on a beautiful sunny day taking in the city sights.  Au Pair in America screens eager and skilled young women between the ages of 18 and 26 from around the world, who will join your family and care for your children during a mutually rewarding, year-long cultural exchange experience.   Apply between July 16th and July 31st and save $500.00.

Counselors Patty, Natasha and Jan

Counselors Patty, Natasha and Jan

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What to do when your host kid says, “I’m bored” this summer!

Sometimes, especially with younger children, cries of boredom are really calls for companionship and attention—their friends may be away on vacation and without the structure of school they may find it difficult to keep occupied during long summer days. Prolonged intervals where the kids have nothing to do can be stressful . When bored, children often become whiny, cranky and demanding. Calendar-of-the-season-300x216

Here are a few easy tips to help au pairs and host parents combat summer boredom and help kids develop the internal resources that are important for developing creative, resource and time management skills:

  1. Put a weekly calendar together so as not to overwhelm yourself with planning entertainment for an entire summer, just take it one week at a time—day trips, arts and craft activities, play-dates, reading time, nature hikes, picnics, bike rides, a trip to the movie theatre etc. This way kids will have something to look forward to during down time. A calendar also helps with getting kids prepared for what comes next.
  2. Ask: “If you could do anything, what would you like to do?” Try and encourage your children to generate their own ideas for activities—they are more apt to have fun when they thought it up on their own! Reinforcing that children use their imaginations will also help them develop a sense of resourcefulness and get them in the habit of making their own choices about how they will spend their time.
  3. Keep an “art box” handy full of supplies: scissors, fabric, felt, glue, paints and brushes, stickers, paper, markers, canvass, needle and thread, beads, yarn, picture magazines etc. Rummaging through a box of art supplies can ignite the imagination and occupy children for long periods of time. They could even begin an entrepreneurial enterprise and sell their wares at the end of the summer.
  4. Inspire them to play with water. Water is very calming and soothing for children and they can while away many hours playing and keeping cool. Get them to wash the car, hose off the deck, or run through a sprinkler. Spend time together at the beach or pool

Educare Au Pairs available

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AU PAIR IN AMERICA & HOWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE worked together to create a special program that fulfills the requirements to be able to introduce EduCare to Howard County.  The program is open to all students, but will make it possible for EduCare companions to earn their required education!!

EduCare Regulations:

  • EduCare is only for families that require childcare before and after school.
  • EduCare au pairs may not be placed with families that have preschool children except if other, full-time childcare plans have been made.
  • The EduCare au pair may work no more than 10 hours per day, and a maximum of 30 hours per week.
  • Au pairs participating in the EduCare component receive 75 percent of the weekly rate paid to non-EduCare participants.
  • EduCare au pairs must complete a minimum of 12 hours of academic credit or its equivalent during the program year.
  • The host family is required to provide (up to) the first $1,000 toward the cost of the au pair’s required academic course work.

Host Family Comparative Fees

Au Pair

Standard Au Pair

EduCare Companion

Program Fee

$7,295.00

$6,095.00

Match Fee

400.00

400.00

Weekly Stipend*

195.75

146.81

Education

500.00

1000.00

Average per week**

347.00

274.00

*Based on the Federal minimum wage

** Not including education allowance. Including education, difference is $3,196

EduCare in America 2011 Arrival Dates

Tuesday, July 5                                 Monday, July 25

Monday, August 1                             Monday, August 15

Monday, December 5