Category Archives: Host Family Tips

Happy Summer

Dear Host Families and Au Pairs,

Now that school is out (or almost out), please sit down with your au pair and discuss what her hours will be for the summer.  The best thing about hosting an au pair is the flexibility of the schedule.  Try to give your au pair as much time as possible when the schedule will be changing to avoid any conflicts with school or vacations, keeping in mind the government requirement that the au pair work NO MORE THAN 10 hours in one day and 45 hours per week.  A work week for the au pair is 7 days and during those 7 days, she must have one FULL day off and one day where she does not work more than 5 hours, with no split schedule on the 5 hour day.

Each month, your au pair must have a weekend off.  This means a Friday when she would normally get off work until Monday morning when she would normally go back to work, she must be off.  This is essential to the happiness of the girls and gives them the ability to go away with friends for the weekend, or take a weekend class if their work week does not allow time to take a class.

The au pairs are not permitted to work hours over and above the 45 hours each week, even for extra pay.  We don’t want the girls to “burn out”.  It’s not safe, and the safety of our children is the most important.  If you find you are at or above 45 hours each week, perhaps a part time day camp or a baby sitter for the extra hours is needed.  Your au pair should only be caring for your children.

Taking a class while the au pairs are here is a program requirement.  It’s not an option.  The au pairs come on a J-1 visa that requires the au pairs to achieve 6 credits or it’s equivalent (80 class hours) during their year here.  This requirement must be completed to meet the terms of the visa.  Please work with your au pair and the schedule to ensure she has time to attend class.  Make sure you are not waiting until the last few months to cram in classes!  That never works!   While there are very few summer classes, the fall schedule is online and I suggest registering for a class as soon as possible in the event it is canceled and you have to make another choice.

One final note, if you are going to be traveling away from our state with your au pair for more than 4 days, please let me know!  Especially if you will be leaving the country, ie, Mexico, Canada, cruise, etc.   There are forms that must be filled out so there is no issues with the au pair reentering the country.

I hope you have a safe and fun summer!

Flu shots for aupairs

Flu_shot : stop flu road sign illustration design over a white background Stock Photo

Many au pairs and host families are looking for places to get flu shots this time of year. Au Pair insurance does not cover immunizations, but there are lots of places to get flu shots for $30 or less. If the host family is insisting that an au pair get a seasonal flu shot and she agrees to get it, the host family would be responsible for the expense.

If you are planning to get the seasonal flu vaccine, it is recommended that you get it as early as possible.

Many area pharmacies and grocery stores are offering walk-in flu shots this year including: Walgreens, CVS, Target and Stop&Shop.

Going Unplugged During Work Hours

Au Pairs – Imagine for a moment that you went to the hospital and you were in the care of doctors and nurses.  How would you feel if those doctors and nurses who were there to care for you were more interested in texting or using their personal computer than caring for you?  How would that make you feel, about yourself and about them?  Would you think that you were getting the treatment you deserved?  Would you feel like paying the bill after your stay?

Life as an au pair, it is a fine balance between employee and family member. You live with your host family and participate with them as a member of the family, but you also have clear responsibilities as a childcare provider. Being a childcare provider is truly one of the most important jobs I can think of, because you are helping to shape our next generation.  What message are you sending them when you would rather interact with a computer than with them? How will they feel about themselves and about you? Children feel as though everything is about them. They will see this as a rejection of them and they will be more likely to act out.

It also poses a safety concern when you are not paying enough attention to the children in your care.  Accidents happen, but when an adult care giver is close by and appropriately supervising the chances of a major injury dramatically reduce.

During work hours, the following would not be considered acceptable:
-Texting
-Talking to friends on the phone
-Chatting with friends online
-Using Skype or Facetime
-IMing
-Emailing
-Updating your status on Facebook
-Using Orkut, Google+, Studivz, SiempreGente or any other social media site
-Watching videos on YouTube (even my really fabulous ones)
-Tweeting on your Twitter
-Uploading photos on Instragram or Vine
-Anything else on the computer unless it is going to Nickjr.com together with your host children

Think about this — even if you work 45 hours a week, that leaves you 123 hours per week for all of that other stuff, or about 70 hours (if you are getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night.)

Host Parents – You need to be clear about what you consider acceptable during work hours to avoid misunderstandings.  Also, please understand that you are dealing with a new generation of people who are very accustomed to being plugged in at all times.  Their intention is not to be rude, they don’t necessarily realize how their actions will be perceived.  Please use this information as an opportunity to begin a dialogue on the issue.

Au Pair In America Regional Host Family Event at the Foxboro stadium

Northwest MLS NE Revolution 48"x60" Tapestry Throw

On Sunday, June 2, Au Pair in America will host a Tailgate Party/Soccer Game Event at Gillette Stadium*, One Patriot Place, Foxboro, MA. Host families and au pairs throughout the entire New England region will be participating in the event.

2:00 p.m. Tailgate Party (Free)
Refreshments will be served, and there will be games, prizes, raffles, and fun surprises!

4:00 p.m. Soccer Game – New England Revolutions vs. Los Angeles Galaxy
(Tickets to the game are $17 and should be purchased by 5/28/13)

Host Families and/or Au Pairs who would like to attend can reserve tickets by sending a check for $17 for each ticket to:

Leeann Keady
8 Haven Road
Medfield MA 02052

Please reserve by 5/28/13 and be sure to include your name and email address to your check or money order.

*Gillette Stadium is the home stadium for the New England Patriots football team and the New England Revolution soccer team. Located in Foxboro, Massachusetts, the facility opened in 2002, replacing Foxboro Stadium. The seating capacity is 68,756, including 6,000 club seats and 87 luxury suites. The stadium is owned and operated by American businessman Robert Kraft, who also owns the Patriots and Revolution.

Direction to the Foxboro stadium and some more info about the stadium.

Handling Expenses

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 this kind of expenses.  Here are some suggestions for avoiding problems with expenses.8226519319_b5c169a2bb

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 and cluster meetings
  • 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.

    Free First Aid & CPR Training

     In Orientation, au pairs receive basic Red Cross first aid and CPR training.  To build on those skills and ensure that our au pairs are prepared for a variety of possible emergencies, we encourage each au pair to take an 8 hour Red Cross CPR & First Aid Course.

    Au Pair in America will pay for the cost of a Red Cross CPR/First Aid Class, providing you have at least three months left on your visa or extension.  You must take one of several approved child care/child safety related classes, such as Infant/Child CPR & First Aid or Community CPR & First Aid.

    Why not take advantage of this great benefit?  Information is available here on the APIA website.

    I believe Au Pair in America is the only au pair agency who offers this benefit.