Category Archives: Child Care

5 Thanksgiving Tips for Au Pairs & Host Parents

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Even though a few other countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s still considered a uniquely American holiday, one that the au pairs look forward to experiencing. You can learn more about it here.

“I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as I imagined! So much food to try. Everyone got dressed up and shared what they were thankful for. It was so warm and special. The next day we began to prepare for Christmas. It was magical.” Selina from Germany

Below you will find some tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.

 

Host Parents

1.  Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. Thanksgiving with an au pair offers an opportunity to consider the relevance of the history and meaning of Thanksgiving as you compare the hospitality offered by the Native Americans to the recently arrived Pilgrims and the hospitality you offer your au pair.

2.  If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.

Au Pairs

3.  If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend. It is considered rude in America to accept the invitation for dinner and then change your mind later in the month. Please be thoughtful.

4.  Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.

5.  If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans. You may be able to join a friend and their host family for the holiday dinner.

Bonus Tip for the Kids

If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cupcakes. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.

Photo: Tim Sackton (Flickr)

Au Pair Webinar Schedule October- December 2017

Au Pair in America is the only Au Pair agency which offers training to our Au Pairs throughout the year by offering webinars on a monthly basis.  The webinars are designed to help Au Pairs manage their year in America and are presented by the one of the Orientation Trainers: Jody Landon, Joan Barth and Sandee Plescia.     The webinars are only for Au Pairs.    The webinars are offered six times a month at various times and dates.

OCTOBER 3, 9:30 PM EDT:  ACTVITY TIME INFANTS AND TODDLERS

OCTOBER 10, 9:30 PM EDT:   IT’S UP TO YOU: MAKING THE MOST OF
YOUR AU PAIR YEAR

OCTOBER 12, 9:00 PM EDT:   COOKING IN AMERICA: DIET, KITCHEN TIPS
AND ENGAGING THE KIDS

OCTOBER 17, 9:30 PM EDT:  NO TIME FOR BOREDOM: ACTIVITIES TO DO
WITH PRESCHOOLERS

OCTOBER 25, 9:30 PM EDT: READING: THE PLEASURE AND IMPORTANCE
OF READING WITH YOUR KIDS

OCTOBER 26, 9:00 PM EDT:  TALK WITH A TRAINER

NOVEMBER 1, 9:00 PM EDT:  SUCCESSFULLY COMMUNICATING WITH
YOUR HOST FAMILY

NOVEMBER 7, 9:30 PM EST:  LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS: LET’S
TALK ABOUT THEM

NOVEMBER 13, 9:00 PM EST:  VISITORS FROM HOME? MAKING IT WORK FOR
YOU, YOUR HOST FAMILY AND YOUR GUESTS

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

NOVEMBER 21, 9:30 PM EST: 100 ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH SCHOOL AGE
KIDS

NOVEMBER 28, 9:30 PM EST: GREAT AMERICAN HOLIDAYS

DECEMBER 3, 12:00PM EST: TRAVEL TIPS FOR AU PAIRS

DECEMBER 5, 9:30 PM EDT: HOMESICKESS: HOW YOU CAN GET THROUGH IT

DECEMBER 7, 9:00 PM EDT: FEELING SAD OR STRESSED: TIPS FOR GAINING
BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

DECEMBER 12, 9:30 PM EDT:    GOING HOME: TIPS FOR LEAVING THE US AND
SETTLING IN AT HOME

DECEMBER 17, 9:00 AM EDT: TALK WITH A TRAINER

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. Additionally, a $20 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD will be awarded to a participant in each webinar.

Au Pairs who attend 6 webinars for the full length of each webinar between October 1 and December 31, 2017, will be entered into a raffle to receive a $250 TARGET GIFT CARD.

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

 

Hints for Success – Overcoming Homesickness

Almost everyone experiences homesickness and culture shock to some degree, when they come to live in a completely new environment. So much is different and it takes time to adjust.

It is normal to miss your own family, at home. Try to remember that they support you and want you to make the most of this experience. They will enjoy learning more about the U.S., through your eyes, as you share your adventures with them.

Top 5 Tips for Dealing with Homesickness

1. Make Friends – Don’t wait for other au pairs to reach out to you, reach out to them. There are other lots of new au pairs who are feeling the same way you are right now. Set a goal to reach out to a few of them each day. Some will respond and some will not. Don’t let that discourage you. No one will ever be mad at you for sending them a message to say hello or ask if they want to do something together. Make friends from various countries and you will also get a chance to practice your English skills together.

2. Stay in touch with your home country, but not too much. Skyping or talking on the phone every day with your family and/or friends back home normally makes homesickness worse. Try emailing instead and reduce the Skype and phone calls to once a week, until you feel stronger. It’s much harder seeing the faces and hearing the voices of those you miss.

3. Get out of the house (or your room specifically) – Go to cluster meetings, have coffee or movies with other au pairs, join a gym, go to the library, go for a walk, visit the mall, get a manicure, visit a museum. If someone invites you out, say “yes.” Also, don’t be afraid to do the inviting. If your host family invites you to do things with them, say “yes.” This will help you get to know each other and contribute to your overall happiness.

4. Realize that it definitely gets better – All au pairs experience homesickness and the vast majority of them get through it, stay and have a successful year (some even extend for a second year!) So, it must get better, right? Once you get past the initial homesickness, most au pairs report how quickly the year goes by.

5. Make Plans – Create your own Au Pair Bucket List (places you want to go, new foods to try, new things to experience during your year in the U.S.) and start doing them now. Post on our cluster Facebook group to find others who may want to join you on your adventures.

Photo by:  Shimelle Laine (Flickr)

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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

 

Preventing Dehydration in Hot Weather

Dehydration means that the body lacks the necessary amount of fluid. Infants and small children are more likely to become dehydrated than older children or adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly.

Here are some steps to take to make sure children remain hydrated in the summer months:

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. On hot days, children should drink significantly more water than usual, as they are losing more due to the heat.
  • Do not wait until your child is thirsty to give him water. By the time they feel thirsty, they are already becoming dehydrated.
  • If your child is resistant to drinking enough water, have other liquids on hand for your child to drink throughout the day.
  • Be alert to changes in behavior. A child may act confused or more irritable when they are becoming dehydrated/overheated. Get them into cooler temperatures and drinking more fluids.
  • Dress your child in lightweight clothing in the summer months, particularly if she’ll be playing outdoors in warm weather. You may also consider clothes that are well ventilated as they do not trap heat close to the body.
  • When there are heat and/or air quality advisories because the weather is dangerously hot, you should avoid taking the children outdoors. Check with your host parents for further guidance on this topic.

Remember to follow these tips for yourself too, so you stay well hydrated.

Photo: Darwin Bell (Flickr)

Holiday & Vacation Reminders

“Rest and be thankful.” – William Wordsworth

Holidays and vacations are a great opportunity to rest, recharge and explore the U.S.

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer travel season. Here are some reminders about program rules regarding holidays and vacations.

Holidays

  • Host families are not required to give au pairs any specific holidays.
  • Each host family will make different arrangements on holidays, some au pairs will be off and others will be required to work.
  • Au pairs should not make plans for holidays without checking with your host family first.

Vacations

  • Au pairs earns 2 weeks of paid vacation during the course of her year.
  • Vacation time should be mutually agreed upon.
  • All vacation should be preplanned (at least 4 weeks in advance.)
  • All au pair’s friends and/or family visits/vacations should be pre-approved prior to purchasing tickets.
  • If an au pair travels with her host family, it should be discussed in advance whether this is the au pair’s vacation or if she is working.
  • If an au pair travels with the host family to work, the host family is required to pay for her transportation, lodging and meals.

Important: If an au pair is traveling outside of the U.S., she must have her DS2019 signed (travel validation) PRIOR to her departure from the US. More information about this may be found here on the Au Pair in America website.

Photo: torbakhopper (Flickr)

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. 

Helping Young Children Learn Language

Being an au pair is an important role in a child’s life. When you are caring for a young child up to 45 hours per week, there are lots of opportunities to help them learn language. Many host parents are eager for their children to be exposed to foreign language. If this is true of your host parents, you can try the suggestions below, in both English and your native language.

Below are a few tips to start with, for more ideas, check out Ready at Five.

  • Read – Read to them daily, point out pictures and ask questions. Even if they can’t answer the questions, this is still modeling conversation.
  • Talk – Point out objects around them, names of their body parts, explain what you are doing and places you are going. Long before babies can speak, they benefit greatly from being spoken to.
  • Sing – You can sing childhood classics or make up your own silly songs. If you are looking for song ideas, HERE is a great website with lists of songs, lyrics and links to YouTube videos* of the songs.  Children’s music is also available at the public library and even on iTunes.
  • Words – As children move from toddlers to preschoolers begin to point out written language.
  • Writing – Toddlers and preschoolers can begin to learn pre-writing skills by drawing with crayons or doing finger paints.

*The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for babies under 18 months of age. For children 18 months to 5 years they recommend no more than 1 hour of high quality content. You can play the songs on youtube for the audio and not necessarily show the screen to the child.

Photo: Quinn Dombrowski (Flickr)

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