Tag Archives: child care

Camp Au Pair – Dinosaurs

This week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Dinosaurs.

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to dinosaurs can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Dinosaurs pinboard.

Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Get permission from your host parents before any outings and be sure to take all social distancing precautions.

Local Field Trips:

    • Fossil Parks
    • Science Center
    • Science & Natural History Museums

Virtual Field Trips:

Toys – Many kids have dinosaur toys already. See what your kids have and think of fun, new ways you can play with these toys with them. Imagine taking a plastic dinosaur and making footprints in play dough to form your own fossils.

Webcam – This NPS Paleontology Lab offers a webcam where you can watch paleontologists remove rock from around fossils. The cam is normally working 9 am-5 pm PST, so 12-8 pm our time.

Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about dinosaurs and fossils. Here are a few to get you started.

Movies – The Good Dinosaur, Land Before Time, and Ice Age are all great family movies that fit with this theme. For older kids, consider movies like Journey to the Center of the Earth and Jurassic Park (which is rated PG-13).

Books – Check your kids’ bookshelf for books on dinosaurs.

Photo: krojotak.com

Focus on Play: New Ideas for Some Classic Toys

It is good to offer kids a balance of independent play time and play where you are actively engaging with them. You can make toys they may be bored with, feel new and exciting, by suggesting different ways to play with them. Try some of the ideas below as a starting point.

Play Food/Dishes

  • Teach your host children how to say the names of some of the food and dishes in your language.
  • Using English and/or your language play games where you are ordering food like in a restaurant. Take turns with who will be the waiter and who is the customer.
  • Come up with silly food combinations.  For example: Who wants pickles on their slice of cake?
  • Play a guessing game where the children have to figure out what food you are talking about.  For example: I grow under the ground in the dirt.  People eat me fried, mashed and baked.  What am I? (a potato)
  • Play a game with setting the table using your language to ask for the different items (plate, spoon, etc.)
  • Ask the children to divide the foods up into the different food groups (vegetables, meat, dairy, etc.)

Lego Blocks and Other Building Toys

  • Divide up all of the blocks between the people playing, by taking turns for each person to select block by block.
  • Suggest specific things to build (robots, houses, mountains etc.) and build together.
  • Challenge everyone to use all of their blocks.
  • Sort the blocks by color or shape and make patterns with them (red, blue, red, blue or square, triangle, rectangle.)  You can create a pattern and ask the child to fill in what comes next to continue the pattern.
  • Make the tallest block tower you can and let them knock it down (over and over again, if like most kids, they like destroying things.)

Mr. Potato Head

  • Teach your host children the names of the different parts in your language and play a game asking them to put on the body parts by name.
  • Play Hide and Seek with Mr. Potato Head. Have the children cover their eyes and count, while you hide Mr. Potato Head, then they go looking for him. Switch things up by letting them hide Mr. Potato Head and then you are the one to locate him.
  • Play the same game above, but using Simon Says.  Simon Says is a game where the leader gives commands by saying “Simon says” first. For example, “Simon says, put on the nose.”  The players are only to follow the commands when the leader says “Simon says.”  If the leader doesn’t say “Simon says” first and just says, “put on the nose,”  and the player follows the command, they are out of the game.  Repeat the game multiple times, so all kids get a turn to be the leader at least once.

Photos:  Lisa Maxwell (top) & Tom Smalls (bottom)

First Steps to Becoming a Host Family

New to Au Pair in America?

Applying is fast and easy with Au Pair in America! First, create a free account at http://www.aupairinamerica.com/applying/  This will give you risk-free access search our pool of au pairs available now and start your application online. The first phase of the online application will only take approximately 15 minutes to complete. You can return at any time by logging into your personal account.

Already have an Au Pair in America account?

If you are currently hosting with Au Pair in America, or have hosted in the past, and wish to reapply, please login to your account at http://www.aupairinamerica.com/applying/

Choosing your au pair

Once your have registered, you will be matched with a personal Placement Coordinator who will help you select the best au pair for your family. You will also be able to browse au pair applications online!

Interview in your home with your Community Counselor

Once your have registered   Your Community Counselor will contact you to schedule an interview in your home.  The Counselor will ask and answer questions, discuss the program and how APIA can help you with your childcare needs, meet everyone in your immediate family, and see the room intended for the au pair.  It is the beginning of an important relationship that will continue throughout your time with APIA.

What is an Au Pair?

“Au pair” means “on par” or equal. Au are international visitors who travel to the United States on a J-1 Visitor Exchange Visa to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of American life while living with an American family and caring for their young children.

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Hosting an au pair provides a rewarding experience to both the au pair and the family.  You and your children will learn first hand from an international visitor and you will share our culture with your au pair.  Give your children childcare “with a cultural flair.”  It is very affordable.  Take a look at our website at www.aupairinamerica.com for current fees and promotions!

Holidays Around the World

On Monday, December 20th au pairs from China, Brazil, Thailand, Guatemala and Brazil visited the HELP Suffolk Homeless Shelter’s daycare center.   They did a Global Awareness lesson called “Holidays Around the World” for the children.  The class of 3 – 5 year olds loved the passports and stickers.  There were stickers for each country with a greeting of Happy New Year or Merry Christmas in the language of the au pair.  The kids learned how to say the greetings.  Marie from Germany told the kids about the Christmas tree and how the tradition began in Germany.  Then the children decorated foam trees with colorful decorations.  We ended with a story about Santa Claus and a lively round of” O Tannebaum” (O Christmas Tree)!

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Au Pairs Decorate Homeless Shelter for the Holidays!

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The Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America decorated HELP Suffolk Homeless Shelter for the holidays!  They transformed the recreation room into a WINTER WONDERLAND filled with snowflakes suspended from the ceiling, 2 snowpeople and some cheerful packages on the walls!  The decorate the holiday tree, too!  The residents and staff were thrilled with the results!!

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HELP_logoHELP Suffolk is a 76-unit transitional housing facility for homeless families housing a maximum of 100 adults and 200 children at any given time.  Units are available for people with disabilities.

HELP Suffolk is the largest housing facility for the homeless on Long Island.  The complex sits on seven acres of property and consists of four residential buildings, a community building, two playgrounds and a baseball field.

Since its inception in 1990, HELP Suffolk has served over 4,000 families and places approximately 60 percent of families into permanent housing.

International Holiday Tree in Stony Brook Village

021The Suffolk County Au Pair in America Cluster decorated a tree for the Stony Brook Festival of Trees.  The theme of the tree is “We bring the World Together.”  Each ornament on the tree was decorated by an au pair.  Some created designs from their country, others made ornaments representing their time here in America, all are colorful and beautiful.  Our tree is right in front of Talbot’s in the Inner Court of the Village.  The inner court has many trees decorated by Girl and Boy Sout troops. 

Come see the tree until January 2, 2011!!015

Au Pair in America freezes Prices in 2011 to Celebrate 25 Years of Legal Au Pairs!!!

The nation’s largest au pair agency celebrates the 25th anniversary of America’s legal au pair program by freezing their prices in 2011.

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D-2010 –STAMFORD, CT – December 3, 2010 – To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the United States’ legal au pair program in 2011, Au Pair in America (www.aupairinamerica.com), the nation’s first au pair program, announced today that they will not increase their fees for a second straight year.

“We are delighted to offer families the high quality child care that has become synonymous with Au Pair in America at our affordable 2009 prices,” said Ruth Ferry, Sr. Vice President and Director of Au Pair in America. “We have been honored to work with the Department of State over the last quarter of a century to help the au pair program emerge as a child care solution for all types of American families.”

At just $347 per week (regardless of the number of children in the family), parents can utilize the flexible program at a cost that can be less expensive than day care arrangements.

Founded in 1986, the U.S. Department of State’s au pair program allows 18 to 26-year-old international visitors who travel to the U.S. on a J-1 Visitor Exchange Visa to acquire a better understanding and appreciation of American life while living with an American family and caring for their young children.

“Au Pair in America gave this program its foundation to build to where it is today,” states Stanley S. Colvin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Private Sector Exchange, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. “Au Pair in America is one of the founding members that introduced the model, advocated for it and established it.”

The United States Information Agency (USIA) designated the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS) Scholarship Foundation as one of two sponsors of an au pair program for a two-year trial period beginning in 1986. AIFS then launched Au Pair in America which has served as the definitive au pair program in the U.S. for the last 25 years, helping set U.S. program regulations as well as placing more than 85,000 au pairs in the homes of American families.

Au Pair in America matches potential au pairs that meet the different criteria posed by host families. Both au pairs and families complete a thorough application and matching process to ensure the best situation for all parties.

To learn more about the program, contact Au Pair in America at (800) 928-7247 or visit them on the web at www.aupairinamerica.com.
 

 

The nation’s first and largest au pair program, Au Pair in America combines live-in child care and cultural exchange for a mutually rewarding and enriching experience for the entire family. Since 1986, they have placed more than 85,000 au pairs in 43 states. Headquartered in Stamford, CT, Au Pair in America maintains offices in 5 countries and has a network of more than 600 employees worldwide.

Shopping Bags for Thanksgiving Food Delivery

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Suffolk County Community Counselor Cindy Garruba and her Au Pairs donated Au Pair in America shopping bags to HELP Suffolk.  They were used to distribute food to feed hungry families this Thanksgiving. The bags are reusuable shopping bags and the families will be able to use them even after the food has been eaten.

Au Pairs and Host Families are Thankful for Each Other

On Sunday November 21 the Au Pairs in Suffolk County learned about the holiday season in the USA.  The discussion began with Thanksgiving and what we are grateful for this year.  Many of the host families had sent messages to their au pairs on what they are grateful to them for this year and the au pairs were very touched to see how much they are appreciated!  They expressed their gratitude as well.  The au pairs loved the pumpkin pie served at the meeting, too!

Here are some thanks from the Host Families:

Thankful Host Families

I am thankful to my au pair because she doesn’t leave us even though my children (especially my son) are very naughty and give her a hard time.

We are thankful for our Au Pair for the great care she takes of our daughter.  We are thankful that she is considerate and willing to always help out.

We are thankful to our au pair because she is flexible, friendly, honest and caring. She loves playing soccer with the kids and she is always having fun and hearty laugh with the boys. Thanks to her for joining our family.

We are grateful to our au pair because she is a lovely and kind person. She truly cares for our children and she is interested in everything that our family does. In just a few months, she has become an integral member of our family (much appreciated also by grandparents on both sides) and we cannot imagine being without her!!!

She hasn’t quit even though our children can be difficult and a bit bratty!

She eats well and keeps the junk food away from us!

We are thankful because she plays so nice with our son.  He LOVES her so much! I am very thankful for her because she is very flexible and accommodating with her schedule all the time. We appreciate her helping us out with our busy lives!! 🙂

We are grateful to our au pair because she takes such good care of our kids, and is a great cook and a terrific Spanish and salsa teacher.

 We are grateful to our au pair because she is more than just an au pair…she is the second best thing to mommy, a sister, a friend, an angel sent to our family…we love her so much!We are thankful beyond all reasonable expectations for the wonderful, thoughtful, kind, smart, funny and all around easy going yet amazing au pair.  We are lucky to have her in our lives and all five of us in our family feel the same way about her!

 

 We are grateful to our au pair because she has done so much to fit into our lives, while having to give up so much of hers.

 We are thankful for her kindness and creativity. She has also quickly assimilated into our family and we cannot imagine our lives without her.

 We are grateful to our au pair because she has become a wonderful addition to our family.  She takes wonderful care of our children and we know she loves them too.  That makes it so much easier for us to leave and go to work because we know our children are in such great hands.  Every mother should be blessed enough to have an au pair like ours.  We can’t thank her enough for all of her help and the wonderful things she does for our family.  The kids say “I is thankful because “she makes great brigadero and she has fun with me and my brother!”  The brother says, “I am because “she has fun with me!”  The baby says he is thankful because “aaaa!”

And thanks from the Au Pairs:

Thankful Au Pairs

I am thankful for the great year I’ve been spending in USA, for my awesome host family, lovely and fun children and for the great friends I’ve made here!

I am thankful for being happy here in the USA.  I’m having the biggest experience of my life.  That’s just amazing!  I love my host kids and I feel they love me back and that’s wonderful!

I am thankful for living here, for my host family being friendly with me and for knowing new people and visiting a lot of places.

I am thankful for my host family who are very very nice to me.

I am thankful for having a good host family and for because I’m here in the USA living this experience.

I am thankful for the support of my family because they supported my dream to come to America!

I am thankful for being in America and having a wonderful, caring and loving host family.

I am thankful for having the most awesome host family that anyone could wish for.  I am also over the top thankful for finding my   BIF (Best International Friend.  I know she’s going to be a friend for life! <3

 I am thankful for being a really great host family and staying in amazing country!

I am thankful for my great host family and that they treat me like a family member, taking me to all their activities.  I’m also very thankful to have found such a great friend!

I am thankful for a host family who makes me happy and gives me a good time in USA!

I am thankful for being an au pair in my host family, having a chance to stay in America, and having a good time with the kids and host parents, and meeting new friends from all over the world!

I am thankful for the great opportunity to spend one year in the USA and to live with a very interesting and nice host family.  I am very happy to meet everyone!

I am thankful for my whole year with my host family and friends.  I am thankful for having this opportunity.

I am thankful for the opportunity of being here and enjoying this great time with my host family and friends!

I am thankful for having this opportunity.  I am thankful for the babies I take care of and for all the friends I have.

I am thankful for having been here 9 months with one of the most great host families.  For the good friends and for this great experience in my life!  Dreams come true!