Monthly Archives: May 2013

Challenged to Get Children to do Chores?

Ask your host parents how much time they think it should take your host kids to complete a certain task that you and your host kids struggle with. Then set the timer and have a race against the clock to get things done before the timer beeps. There is no reward, just a high five and a challenge to do it faster the next day. This makes it fun and exciting! Once the behavior has changed and the struggle is over, you will not need the timer as the expectation has been set and met.

Use a timer for things like

  • getting dressed
  • room cleaning–set the timer for five or ten minutes and challenge your host kids to clean as much of the toy room as possible before the timer beeps
  • playtime before doing homework or chores

Having a hard time getting your host child to improve his behavior?

Childcare focus– Charts  – Stickers or stars are put on a piece of paper to show behavioral improvements. This is called a behavior chart. It works well with chronic problems –such as completing chores and homework or for starting routines. Once a goal of quantity of stickers has been achieved, a reward is given. The reward should not be food or toys; it should be more time doing a favorite activity, such as going to the park.  You should only focus on improving one behavior using the chart method at a time. It takes a lot of work and consistency to maintain an effective chart, so if you don’t know enough about charting, research it before you start.

Au Pair Tips


Driving– May is National Good Car Care Month
Take this opportunity to clean out the inside of the car and if it’s a nice day the school-age children might enjoy helping to wash the outside!

Healthy eating– May is also National Salad month. Try Blue Cheese and Pear, Tropical or Greek at your next meal. For the children,
Slice up the following fruits to make a salad. Top with plain yogurt. YUM!

1 banana

1 apple

1 peeled orange or tangerine

Berries, grapes or melon

Enjoy!

Hints for success – Many of you have been here for several months, don’t let yourself get into a routine of not doing your best. Take initiative – don’t wait to be asked, anticipate children’s needs, and offer to help when you are sharing “family time.”

Coffee at Compo Beach

Westport au pairs spent the morning having coffee at Compo Beach and getting a chance to catch up with their fellow au pairs at our May cluster meeting.  It was a beautiful day, the sun  was bright but it was a windy, chilly May morning!  IMG_1102IMG_1104IMG_1107