Next week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Paris Summer Olympics. The 2024 Summer Olympics are taking place in Paris, France, July 26-August 11.
Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to the Summer Olympics can be found here on the Camp Au Pair Summer Olympics pinboard.
Culture Sharing – The Olympics bring so many opportunities for learning about other countries. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Show your kids photos of your country’s Olympic team and tell them about any athletes you are aware of.
- Host an international playdate with au pairs with kids of similar ages (with host parent’s permission), so you can each teach the kids a little about each of your countries.
- Help your kids look up countries they see competing in the games on a map or globe.
- Print out a blank world map and help your kids mark the countries they see represented in the Olympics.
- If you are French or have any au pair friends from France, talk with your kids about what Paris is like and things children their age like to do in France.
Videos – On YouTube you can find many videos for kids about the Olympics.
Books – Stop by your local library and look for books about the Olympics.
Some good ones include: Olympig!, G is for Gold Medal: An Olympic Alphabet, How to Train with a T-Rex and Win 8 Gold Medals, Wilma Unlimited, America’s Champion Swimmer: Gertrude Ederle, Way to Go Alex!, Touch the Sky, Pele: King of Soccer, A Picture Book of Jesse Owens & Babar’s Celestville Games.
You can also check on YouTube for videos of books being read aloud.
Fun Fact: The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions, used alone, in one or in five different colors, which are, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green and red. The Olympic symbol (the Olympic rings) expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.
Image: Project Nursery
On Sunday, July 29th, Suffolk County Au Pair in America host families and au pairs gathered at their Community Counselor’s beach house for some Olympic fun. The kids started by coloring some Olympic rings and creating their own flags. Games were played with host kids, au pairs and the parents. Lots of giggles were heard as they filled up buckets of water in a relay race, dressed up in silly outfits during another race, did a ring toss and other games. Time for a swim in the Long Island Sound, digging in the sand, walks on the beach and then a potluck dinner & BBQ. 
Everyone learned a little more about each other. Experienced host parents chatted with new host parents. New au pairs met long term au pairs. Friendships grew between host kids. After dessert & coffee, everyone headed home a little closer then when they arrived. 
