This year marks Au Pair in America’s 30th anniversary. In fact, 30 years ago today, APIA was welcoming the very first group of au pairs to the US. Click here to see our 30th Anniversary video where APIA staff share memories of the program and look ahead to the future.
Tag Archives: childcare
2016 Summer Day Camps in DC
Does it seem like the days are getting longer, but the hours are getting shorter?
Too much to do and never enough time to do it all? Continue reading
Safety Tips
As the days get longer, it’s finally time to head outside and enjoy the sunshine. Before dashing off to the playground, review these important tips to help you do your job safely and carefully. Remember, if you are on duty, the safety and well-being of the children is your job. Continue reading
December Holiday Cluster Meeting
From reviewing important seasonal safety tips to sharing holiday traditions from many different countries, our December cluster meeting was full of learning and fun. Each Au Pair brought a treat that reminded her of the holidays and a wrapped present for a gift exchange. Continue reading
From Kidnotes (APIA’s Host Family Blog): Au Pair Scheduling and Hours
One of the most common questions we get about the au pair program is about the au pair’s schedule and hours. How many hours can an au pair work? Can an au pair work on nights or weekends? Continue reading
What is Labor Day Anyway?
Labor Day Weekend is a new holiday for many au pairs. Here is a brief history of this American holiday, along with some ideas of ways to celebrate with your host children.
2015 Summer Camp Ideas in DC
Does it seem like the days are getting longer, but the hours are getting shorter? Too much to do and never enough time to do it all? You’re not alone- many host parents are struggling with the same challenges as school comes to a close for the year.
The flexible schedule is one of many reasons many families champion the Au Pair program. We all know that our au pairs can work no more than 10 hours per day and 45 hours per week. However, summer can be a real challenge for host parents who are working full-time. Once kids are out of school, an Au Pair’s regulation hours may not be enough time to cover all of your childcare needs.
Day camps are a great way to fill in the gaps, and there are many options in the DC area. Below is a list of camps not too far from our part of town. At posting time, all still had some availability. If you know of others your kids have enjoyed, please share on our private Facebook group page. Let’s work together to find options for our cluster kiddos– and make it a great summer for everyone!
- Amazing Life Games Summer Camp (ages 3-8; 9 am-3 pm, limited aftercare; weekly sessions; application)
- Beauvoir Summer Camp* (rising pre-k-rising 5th grade; half-day, full-day, before and aftercare , and speciality camps; CIT program; weekly sessions, registration)
- BloomBars‘ Fit Kids Hit the State: Summer Adventure
- CCBC Children’s Center’s Summer Camp* (ages two-five; 9 am-1 pm; potty training NOT required; weekly sessions available; brochure and application)
- Headfirst Summer Camps- St. Albans and NCS campuses (age 3-rising 7th grade; half-day, full-day, before and aftercare, and specialty camps; weekly sessions; registration)
- Lowell School’s Summer Camp (age 2.75-rising 9th grade; half-day, full-day, before and aftercare, and specialty camps; CIT programs; weekly sessions; registration
- National Presbyterian School’s Summer Horizon’s Camp* (age 3-rising 4th grade; half-day, full-day, before and aftercare, and speciality camps; CIT program; weekly sessions; registration)
- Sidwell Summer Camp- DC Campus (age 3-rising 10th grade; half-day, full-day, before and aftercare; specialty camps, weekly sessions; registration)
- Silver Stars Gymnastics Camp* (ages 3.5-15; half-day, full-day, before and aftercare; weekly sessions; registration)
*My children have attended these camps. Please reach out to me with any questions about them.
Keeping Our Kids Safe and Healthy This Summer
If you ask my children what they think their parents’ most important job is, they’ll say “to keep us safe and healthy.” We use that phrase to explain everything from why our daughter can’t cross street alone to why our son needs to go to sleep at night. While our children have been known to roll their eyes when they hear it, this all-purpose phrase is one that explains a lot of our decisions as parents. We encourage our au pairs to use it as well.
Yesterday, my son was worried about his upcoming swimming lesson, and I heard our au pair tell him that he was going to be safe because that was her job. Immediately, he smiled and relaxed a bit, and while he was still worried, he knew that he was safe because his au pair was there to keep him out of harm’s way.
Summer can be a wonderful time of year full of adventure and fun, but it can also be a time when routines are unsettled and rules are relaxed. I encourage you to think about ways that you can keep your children safe and healthy. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Children website has many excellent articles on how you can help your family have a wonderful and healthy summer. Below are some highlights with links to the full articles.
Summer Safety (updated for 2016)
Sun Safety
- Keep infants 6 months or younger out of direct sun.
- Cover up with protective clothing and hat and dress in cool layers. Wear protective sunglasses.
- Play outdoors in the early morning and limit your exposure to sun between 10 am and 4 pm.
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and apply it often.
May Calendar Ideas
Already have May 10th (Mother’s Day) and May 25th (Memorial Day) marked on your calendar? What about May 15th (National Chocolate Chip Day) or May 18th (International Museum Day)? Each month, Au Pair in America provides a calendar full of helpful information and fun ways for your Au Pair to celebrate and have fun with your kids.