Tag Archives: au pairs

Social Distancing: 5 Online Adventures for Kids

Reading, playing, and doing art projects are always great ways to entertain children and keep them physically active and learning. It’s a good idea to limit screen time. But, in this time of social distancing, technology can play an important role in allowing kids to see and connect with the world outside of their homes. Many online resources are popping up to create those opportunities.

Here are five to get you started:

And if kids have questions about the coronavirus, Live Science has created an ultimate kids’ guide to the new coronavirus that has lots of information and is appropriate for school-aged kids.

Handling Expenses

Host parents often ask for suggestions on how best to handle common expenses that occur as au pairs are caring for the children.

Miscellaneous Expenses

There are different ways to handle the little day to day expenses that come up.  Things like when an au pair takes the kids out for ice cream or picks up a gallon of milk.  Some families keep a cookie jar fund, a little cash that they set aside weekly or monthly for these types of expenses. Others give their au pair a prepaid debit card for this purpose. Below are some suggestions for avoiding problems with expenses.

Host Families

  • It’s important to be clear about how long this money should last and what types of expenses are approved.
  • Let the au pair know whether or not you expect receipts.

Au Pairs

  • Only spend the money on approved expenses.
  • If it is something you are not sure about, ask first.
  • Put your receipts in the cookie jar in place of the money to avoid any confusion.

Gas and Fare Cards 

Host families are responsible for the au pair’s transportation costs: to and from classes, cluster meetings and when driving the kids.

It is a good idea to figure out how much gas an au pair will use for these trips and either put gas in the car or give a gas allowance.   If your au pair is riding to classes or cluster meetings with another au pair, you should offer to share the cost of gas.

Au pairs are responsible for their own transportation at all other times.  You should replace the amount of gas used for personal use.

Photo: Andrea Travillian

Sports Insurance

 Do I need sports insurance?

Trying out winter sports like ice skating, skiing and snow boarding can be very exciting, especially if this is your first time experiencing winter weather. However, you should also know the risks and be prepared.

Is it risky to do winter sports without the sports insurance?

Yes. If you have to pay your own hospital bills for a broken bone, you might be shocked at how much that would cost. I checked this website for some cost estimates.

Here are a couple examples:

  • Without medical coverage, to treat a broken arm or leg (that does not require surgery) it could cost up to $2,500.
  • Without medical coverage, to treat a broken arm or leg (requiring surgery) it could cost $16,000 or more.

I wanted to make sure everyone understands how the medical coverage works for sports related injuries. There is a list of “high-risk sports/activities” that are not covered with the basic or upgrade medical insurance plans. Those activities are only covered with the Sports Insurance Package (also known as Option A.)

The Sports Insurance Package was available pre-departure and may also be purchased at any time during your year. It takes effect within 48 hours of your enrollment and it is good for 12 months. The cost will be the same ($85) whether you have a month left or your whole year ahead of you. I recommend you pay for it early on, if you didn’t already purchase it. You never know when an opportunity might present itself and you don’t want to miss out on an adventure. You also don’t want to take a risk on getting injured and being responsible for the bill on your own.

Below is a partial list of sports that are only covered with the sports insurance package:
Football, Rugby, Scuba diving, Ski-doo,  Wakeboarding, Skydiving, Parachuting, Rock climbing, Zip line, Skate boarding, Rollerblading, Roller skating,  Ice Skating, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiles & Snowshoeing.  View the full list on page 3 of the insurance brochure HERE(2015 arrival au pairs) & HERE for (2016 arrival au pairs)
Note: Injuries sustained while partaking in these sports are covered with purchase of the Sports Insurance ONLY.

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IMG_1204Our October meeting was a first for many of the au pairs.   They had never carved a pumpkin and never tasted pumpkin pie!   GIrls got to do both.   As for the pie – it was a success!

The pumpkin carvings were just AMAZING!

Click here for pictures

Mother’s Day

Never forget MOM

Never forget MOM

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Mother’s Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. It celebrates motherhood and it is a time to appreciate mothers and mother figures. Many people give gifts, cards, flowers, candy, a meal in a restaurant or other treats to their mother and mother figures, including grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers.

Help your kids make something special for mom this year!

Check out these crafts on Pinterest

Gifts for Mom

Quick Start for Education- Now!

This is the start of the Fall semester!
Part of a successful year as an au pair includes your education requirement. You’ve heard about it at orientation, and, hopefully, thought about it already, but one way or the other, now is the time to act.

So how do you get started? Any of the Au Pair in America resources will give you all the details, but for a quick start, here are a few pointers that will guide you on the road to educational success.

Begin the process! Every accredited school has its fall schedule of courses available online and locally, schools are all in the registration period right now so get going! You may be able to register late, but classes fill quickly. Even if there is room available, it will cost you extra money and courses are already expensive, so this is something to avoid.

Think about how you want to fulfill the requirement. You can take one course or a few, travel, or become a student on an American college campus. Do you want to improve your English? That is a good place to start. This could be an opportunity to see another city by taking a travel course worth 3 credits, to explore new subjects that you have always been interested in, or to study a subject that you have already planned a career in. If you really have no interest in any of these possibilities, the UCLA online course is available for your 6 credit requirement. You have many choices, but there are other steps that you need to take before you are done.

Talk to your host family, your community counselor, and other au pairs. Ask your host family about the time in your schedule that is available for you to take courses. Your counselor will tell you whether a school is accredited. Other au pairs will give you their opinions about courses that they have taken.

Research the choices by using the Au Pair in America website (www.aupairinamerica.com) to view all the choices that other au pairs in your cluster have made. Select one or two classes that you would like to take, their cost, where and what time they meet. Then ask for a host parent or community counselor’s opinion.

Register after  you and your host parents have discussed the details.  This requires payment.  Since your host parents have some responsibility for the cost of your classes for the year, they will help you to register.

Participate! Now that you are a student on an American campus, enjoy it. Use the library, sit on campus, go to the bookstore, mingle with the other students. And above all, study! You’ll be proud of your success when the semester ends.

APPLE PICKING

Hayride into the Orchard

Hayride into the Orchard

Our annual Host Family Event was held at Carver Hill Orchards in Stow, MA.   Counselors were ready to greet and meet families with fresh apple cider and doughnuts, crafts for the kids, and information about au pairs cultural adaptation!  Great Day!

Click for Pics!

2012 Olympic Games

Are you catching Olympic Fever?

Olympics

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE OLYMPIC RINGS?

The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions, used alone, in one or in five different colors, which are, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red. The Olympic symbol (the Olympic rings) expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.

Here are some resources and activities for your children below.

First things first:

Keep track of the Olympic events here is the official website for the games:

http://www.london2012.com/

 

 

The games are on NBC. The viewing schedule:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/results-schedules/index.html

 

Olympic websites:

 

Kids Activities.net

This one has background info, crafts, games, and snacks.

http://www.kidactivities.net/post/Olympics-Theme-for-Kids.aspx

 

Project Britain:

This one has activities for older kids divided in subjects such as literacy, math, science, history, geography, art and design

http://projectbritain.com/olympics/teachingresources.html

 

Care.com

Information on indoor and outdoor activities including have an Olympic ceremony.

http://www.care.com/child-care-fun-games-to-teach-kids-about-the-summer-olympics-p1017-q17278398.html

 

Teacher planet

Lesson plans, worksheets, and activities

http://www.teacherplanet.com/resource/summerolympics.php

 

DC Olympic website with links to

Athens Perseus project, National Geographic and food from Ancient Greece

http://erikafranz.wordpress.com/2012/06/12/summer-olympics-summer-adventures-for-the-family/

 

British links teaching about the Olympics

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/apr/16/london-2012-olympics-teaching-resources

 

Printables

  1. 1. http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/summer_olympics.htm
  2. 2. http://homeschooling.about.com/od/freeprintables/ss/summerolympics_all.htm

 

 

 

 

Rolling on the River in June!

On a beautiful day over Fathers Day weekend, our group of au pairs from all over the world met at the South Bridge Boathouse in Concord to enjoy an afternoon of rowing on the Concord River. The river itself is beautiful enough, but after piling into boats and getting a push off from the dock, the boats slowly made their way upstream to the historic North Bridge for photo opportunities. Although all the boats made it to the North Bridge dock, some were speedier than others.  We welcomed some first time au pairs and said a fond farewell to Linda.   After a discussion of summer safety for children and a summer snack at the Old Manse, next to the North Bridge, it was time to row against the current back to the boat house.
Whether quickly or slowly, all boats arrived safely. Unlike past years, no rescues were necessary for missing boats!
A A few arrivals at the boat house

More Pics Here!

Au Pairs Celebrate the Holiday Season!

“Ho Ho Ho” was frequently heard echoing through the Concord Scout House during our recent Holiday Gala!

Patti's cluster visit Santa

Patti's cluster visit Santa

With over 150 au pairs attending, the hall was filled with laughter and merriment. Starting with a full buffet that included foods from all over the world and the famous au pair punch, we moved on to a surprise visitor from the North Pole who made the rounds to hear from all of you! Photos with the big jolly man were taken with each of the clusters and then we were on to a Yankee Swap that was filled with true confessions and lots of laughter. We ended the evening with intrepid groups of au pairs from several countries who got up on stage to sing a holiday song from home. They were all fabulous and we have the photos and videos to prove it!

Holiday Gala Pictures

We wish you all A Very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!