Author Archives: Carol Steinman

Au Pair Webinar Schedule July-September 2017

Au Pair in America Au Pair Webinars have been designed by the Orientation Trainers to help Au Pairs manage their year in America.  Each webinar is a 30 – 45 minute PowerPoint and presented by one of the three Orientation Trainers.

JULY 5, 9:30 PM EDT: 100 ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH SCHOOL AGE KIDS

JULY 6, 9:30 PM EDT: GOING HOME: TIPS FOR LEAVING THE US

AND SETTLING IN AT HOME

JULY 13, 8:30 PM EDT:   NUTRITION: GOOD EATING FOR YOU AND YOUR

KIDS

JULY 13, 9:30 PM EDT:   TALK TALK TALK: ACTIVITES TO DEVELOP

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE IN YOUNG CHILDREN

JULY 25, 9:00 PM EDT:  A WORKING VACATION: AN AU PAIR’S GUIDE TO

SUCCESS

JULY 27, 9:00 PM EDT: TALK WITH A TRAINER

AUGUST 1, 9:30 PM EDT:  SUCCESSFULLY COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR

HOST FAMILY

AUGUST 3, 9:00 PM EDT:  IT’S UP TO YOU: MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR

YEAR IN AMERICA

AUGUST 17, 9:00 PM EDT: TALK WITH A TRAINER

AUGUST 24, 9:00 PM EDT: TANTRUMS ARE NO FUN FOR ANYONE: HELPING

YOUR OUT OF CONTROL CHILD

AUGUST 29, 9:30 PM EDT: AMERICAN KIDS AT PLAY: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

AND WHAT YOU CAN DO

AUGUST 31, 9:00 PM EDT: TOILET TRAINING 101

SEPT. 5, 9:00 PM EDT: LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS

SEPT. 12, 9:30 PM EDT: FEELING SAD OR STRESSED? TIPS FOR GAINING BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

SEPT. 14, 10:00 PM EDT:  TRAVEL TIPS FOR AU PAIRS

SEPT. 19, 9:30 PM EDT:   TALK WITH A TRAINER

SEPT. 26, 9:30 PM EDT: TEENAGERS: THE LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP

SEPT. 27, 12:00 PM EDT:  HOMEWORK: FINDING A SUCCESSFUL STRATEGY

FOR YOUR CHILD

AuPairs can register to attend at www.aupairinamerica.com/webinars

AuPairs who attend an entire session will receive an e-certificate for attendance.

Each webinar has a raffle for one winner of a $20 Starbucks Gift Card.  Winner is notified via email after attending the webinar for the entire session.

Au Pairs who attend 6 webinars between JULY 1 and SEPTEMBER 30 will be entered into a raffle to receive a $250 AMAZON GIFT CARD*

*Au Pairs must register for and attend 6 AuPair in America webinars held during the specified timeframe of July 1 through September 30, 2017 and must be in attendance the entire length of each webinar.  Au Pairs who leave the webinar early, will not receive credit for attending that particular webinar.  Once an Au Pair completes her 6th webinar, her name will be entered into a raffle drawing, with the winner being awarded a $250 Amazon Gift Card.

If you have any questions about the Webinars for Au Pairs, please contact Sandee Plescia at splescia@aupairinamerica.com

 

Face Painting Au Pairs

Westport Au Pairs braved the cold weather Saturday to bring smiles to kids.  Au Pairs volunteered to face paint at the Westport-Weston Cooperative Nursery School fund raiser Touch a Truck.  Although the weather was cold and raw, spirits were high as we painted, danced and shared some laughs. 

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 Pair Winter Webinars 2017

Below is the schedule for our Au Pair winter webinars.  See below to register.

FEBRUARY 14, 9:30 PM EST: TALK WITH A TRAINER

FEBRUARY 21, 9:30 PM EST: FEELING SAD OR STRESSED: TIPS

FOR GAINING BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

FEBRUARY 23, 9:30 PM EST: NUTRITION: GOOD EATING FOR YOU

AND YOUR KIDS

FEBRUARY 28, 9:30 PM EST: VISITORS FROM HOME? MAKING IT

WORK FOR YOU, YOUR HOST FAMILY,

& YOUR GUESTS

MARCH 1, 9:30 PM EST:                       GOING HOME: TIPS FOR LEAVING THE

US AND SETTLING IN AT HOME

MARCH 7, 9:30 PM EST:                       A WORKING VACATION: SUCCESSFUL

TRAVELS WITH YOUR HOST FAMILY

MARCH 13, 9:00 PM EST:        TANTRUMS ARE NO FUN FOR ANYONE:

HOW TO HELP YOUR OUT OF CONTROL

CHILD

MARCH 14, 9:30 PM EST:        AMERICAN KIDS AT PLAY: WHY IT IS

IMPORTANT AND WHAT YOU CAN DO

MARCH 21, 9:30 PM EST:        100 ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOL AGE KIDS

MARCH 27, 12:00 PM EST:      TALK WITH A TRAINER

MARCH 28, 9:30 PM EST:        TRAVEL TIPS FOR AU PAIRS

AuPairs can register to attend for free at www.aupairinamerica.com/webinars

AuPairs who attend an entire session will receive an e-certificate for attendance.

AuPairs who attend 6 webinars between JANUARY 1 and MARCH 31, 2017 will be entered into a raffle to receive a $250 AMAZON GIFT CARD*

*AuPairs must register for and attend 6 Au Pair in America webinars held during the specified timeframe of January 1 through March 31, 2017 and must be in attendance the entire length of each webinar. Au Pairs that leave the webinar before it is complete, will not receive credit for attending that particular webinar. Once an Au Pair completes her 6th webinar, her name will be entered into a raffle drawing, with the winner being awarded a $250 Amazon Gift Card.

If you have any questions about the Webinars for Au Pairs, please contact Sandee Plescia at splescia@aupairinamerica.com

Ice Skating Cluster Meeting

Westport Au Pairs had a great time ice skating at the Westport Police Athletic League rink at Longshore Club Park, which is right on Long Island Sound.  wpalrink.com img_1731 img_1733 img_1734 img_1735 img_1736 img_1737 img_1738 img_1739 img_1740 img_1741 They had the rink practically all to themselves Thursday morning January 5th.  Although it was a cold day, it was fun skating and a wonderful opportunity to meet some of our new arrivals.

Au Pair Holiday Party 2016

Westport APIA Au Pairs gathered at my house last night for an international feast.  We dined on potato latkes from Israel, cheese balls from Brazil, pancakes from the Netherlands, crepes from France, Pad Thai from Thailand, eggplant parm from Italy, hummus from Turkey,  apple cake from Poland, rice pudding from Denmark, and chocolate muffins, cookies, candies from Germany and more!  (Please forgive me if I have left something out!) It was truly an international celebration, thanks to our Au Pairs!  img_1720 img_1721 img_1722 img_1723 img_1724 img_1725 img_1726 img_1727 img_1728 img_1730

They are an incredibly talented and creative group of women.  Great fun was had when each team had to create something out of pipe cleaners,  aluminum foil, some balloons and pom poms.  Each team came up with something festive and fun for the holidays!

Yale University Tour

Au Pair in America Au Pairs throughout Connecticut came together Saturday November 12th for a tour of Yale University in New Haven, CT.  Afterwards many Au Pairs attended the Yale vs. Princeton football game.  Unfortunately Yale lost, but it was a gorgeous day and a lot of  fun was had by all.

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Au Pair Webinars October-December 2016

OCTOBER 4, 9:30 PM EDT:        HOMESICKNESS AND CULTURE

SHOCK: MAKING IT THROUGH

OCTOBER 6, 12:00 PM EDT:     HELP! MY KIDS ARE FIGHTING AGAIN

OCTOBER 6, 10:00 PM EDT:     TALK TO THE TRAINER

OCTOBER 18, 9:30 PM EDT:     TOILET TRAINING 101

OCTOBER 19, 9:30 PM EDT:     ACTIVITY TIME: INFANTS AND

TODDLERS

OCTOBER 30, 9:00 PM EDT:     LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP: LET’S

TALK ABOUT THEM

NOVEMBER 1, 9:30 PM EDT:    MANAGING PLAY WITH MORE THAN

ONE CHILD

NOVEMER 3, 9:30 PM EDT:       GOING HOME? TIPS FOR LEAVING

US AND SETTLING IN AT HOME

NOVEMBER 10, 9:30 PM EST:  VISITORS FROM HOME? MAKING IT

WORK FOR YOU, YOUR HOST FAMILY,

AND YOUR GUESTS

NOVEMBER 15, 9:30 PM EST:  NO TIME FOR BOREDOM – ACTIVITIES

TO DO WITH PRESCHOOLERS

NOVEMBER 21, 9:30 PM EST:  TALK TO THE TRAINER

NOVEMBER 29, 9:30 PM EST:  FEELING SAD OR STRESSED:

TIPS FOR GAINING BALANCE IN YOUR

LIFE

DECEMBER 4, 10:00 PM EST:   TALK TO THE TRAINER

DECEMBER 6, 9:30 PM EST:     TANTRUMS ARE NO FUN FOR ANYONE

DECEMBER 7, 9:30 PM EST:     100 ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOL AGE KIDS

DECEMBER 8, 9:30 PM EDT:     SUCCESSFULLY COMMUNICATING

WITH YOUR HOST FAMILY

DECEMBER 11, 9:30 PM EDT:  TRAVEL TIPS

DECEMBER 13, 9:30 PM EDT:  A WORKING VACATION: SUCCESSFUL

TRAVELS WITH YOUR HOST FAMILY

Au Pairs can register to attend at www.aupairinamerica.com/webinars

Au Pairs who attend an entire session will receive an e-certificate for attendance.

Au Pairs who attend 6 webinars between OCTOBER 1 and DECEMBER 13 will be entered into a raffle to receive a $250 AMAZON GIFT CARD*

*Au Pairs must register for and attend 6 Au Pair in America webinars held during the specified time frame of October 1 through December 13, 2016 and must be in attendance the entire length of each webinar.  Au Pairs that leave the webinar before it is complete, will not receive credit for attending that particular webinar.  Once an Au Pair completes her 6th webinar, her name will be entered into a raffle drawing, with the winner being awarded a $250 Amazon Gift Card.

If you have any questions about the Webinars for Au Pairs, please contact Sandee Plescia at splescia@aupairinamerica.com