Yearly Archives: 2017

Fire Safety

IMG_2266Wilton Fire Department presented a fire safety seminar to au pairs from Wilton, Weston, Redding, Ridgefield, and Pound Ridge, N.Y.

The au pairs heard a discussion about kitchen fire safety, home exit drills, keeping young children safe from a fire, and escaping from a fire. They also received a tour of the firehouse and went home with brochures to share with their host families and children.

The event was organized by community counselors Margret Greene and Beverly Resnick.

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

Au Pairs, Snow and Winter

Its been a mild winter here in Connecticut thus far.
Many of our Host Families and Au Pairs enjoy skiing together.
Snow days, delays and early dismissals are fun for the kids but, they can wreak havoc on working parents!
Knowing your au pair is at home and prepared for these days is a nice bonus for everyone.

Here’s a photo of Au pairs who aren’t accustomed to our weather enjoying an afternoon of ice skating.
For some, it was their first time!! IMG_2243