Tag Archives: trusted childcare

Happy New Year to all of our Thai au pairs, colleagues and friends,

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 สงกรานต์

Songkran (สงกรานต์) is the traditional Thai New Year water festival which starts on April 13 every year.  It is a national holiday in Thailand.

The festival lasts for 4 days. Maha Songkran Day is the first day of the celebrations which marks the end of the old year. April 14, Wan Nao is the day between the ending of the old year and the beginning of the New Year when foods are prepared for the temples. The third day of Songkran, April 15, is Wan Thaloeng Sok – the day on which the New Year begins and on the last day, Wan Parg-bpee, the ancestors and elders are honored.

Happy Songkran everyone!

 Read more about this special holiday at http://www.chiff.com/home_life/holiday/thai-songkran.htm

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year: Happy 4709! The True Meaning of the Year of the Rabbitchinese year of the rabbit

 Dust off your fluffy tails and bring out your bunny ears: This party’s sure to be hoppin’. 

February 3  marks the start of the Year of the Rabbit and all over the world people will be celebrating with crazy pyrotechnics, outlandish costumes and goodies galore. Lion dancers will take to the streets and gifts of money and food (like rabbit shaped sweet rice cakes) will be given to family members. The party lasts for almost two weeks and makes up the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar.

About 230 million people (more than the entire Brazilian population) will be traveling home for the festivities this week, making it the world’s biggest annual human migration.

To welcome in the New Year many Chinese have been buying baby bunnies as presents for friends and family. The Tu Baobao (Baby Rabbit) pet shop in Shanghai has had to order extra little critters to cope with the demand, and bunny costumes for dogs and cats have been flying of the shelves. Grilled, fried and roasted rabbit has also been popular, with restaurants seeing previously neglected delicacies gobbled up with gusto.

The rabbit is the fourth of 12 astrological signs in the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Each sign denotes different characteristics and is said to influence the course of life, much like the western zodiac.  If you’re a bunny baby you are said to be talented, virtuous, reserved and kind. Rabbits are also prosperous and fashionable, enjoying the finer things in life. Famous rabbits include Elle Macpherson, Jonny Depp, Sting and Drew Barrymore.

The transition from Tiger to Rabbit brings a change of vibe to the lunar year: The Year of the Rabbit is said to be a peaceful one, with those on either side of it (Tiger and Dragon) known for global unrest and change.

So Happy New Year Everyone and let’s hope the Year of the Rabbit is a peaceful and prosperous one!

Suffolk County Au Pairs Celebrate the New Year!new year

Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/02/chinese-new-year-happy-4709-the-true-meaning-of-the-year-of-the-rabbit/#ixzz1CuKK7A1V

Winter Fun For Au Pairs and Host Children

winter is fun

ABC’s of Winter Fun

A is for Art – try drawing, painting or gluing
B is for Baking – bake a dessert together for dinner
C is for Clay – Use non-hardening clay or play dough to shape and mold
D is for Dance – put on a lively tape
E is for Exercise – be sure to get some everyday
F is for Friends – invite some over
G is for Greenhouse – find a local greenhouse to visit to enjoy the sights and smells
H is for House – make a playhouse from a large appliance box
I is for Ice skating – take the children to a local rink
J is for Jigsaw puzzle – be sure to pick one that isn’t too difficult
K is for Kitchen science – try a safe experiment

tea partyL is for Library – borrow some new books
M is for Movie – make one with a video camera, or watch one
N is for Necklace – make one out of cereal or macaroni
O is for Origami – learn to make simple paper creations
P is for Puppets – socks make easy and fun puppets – put on a show!
Q is for Quiet Time – everyone needs some of this
R is for Reading aloud – choose a good book and a comfortable place to sit
S is for Seeds and Suet – put out food for the birds and watch them eat
T is for Tent – make one from old blankets and chairs
U is for Unplugged – do a day with no TV
V is for Variety – try something new everyday
W is for Walk – take one in any weather (be sure to dress appropriately)
winter playingX is for Xylophone – make your own with glasses, water and a metal spoon
Y is for Year – make a calendar or scrapbook to remember the year
Z is for Zoo – play zoo, pretend to be animals in the zoo, what noises do they make?

indoor playtime

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!

Long Island Au Pairs at Bryant Park Ice Skating

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CitiPond in Bryant Park offers free skating, just rent skates and enjoy.  The rink is set up for the winter months and is the Long Island clusters of Au Pair in America met on a Sunday in January to skate and get together.  The Community Counselors arrange cultural activities for the au pairs each month with quarterly childcare safety meetings.  Lucky to be near enough to visit New York City several times a year, the Community Counselors try to plan an activity at least a few times a year in the city.

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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.

Au Pair in America is the Most Trusted Au Pair Agency!

Welcome to Au Pair in America!
families_welcomeWe invite you to discover how Au Pair in America is the most flexible, cost-effective child care solution for your family.

 Apply with Au Pair in America before Tuesday, November 30, 2010 and we will waive the $350 application fee, plus receive $150 off your family’s program fee. Save an additional $500 when you select an au pair in 2010!

About Au Pair in America

Au Pair in America brings skilled caring and qualified au pairs from around the world to help care for your children.

Au Pair in America offers:

  • The largest selection of screened, qualified au pairs from more than 60 countries.
  • Au pairs with a legal, one year visa with an option to extend for a second year.
  • The support services of America’s most trusted live-in child care provider!

The nation’s most trusted name in live-in child care invites you to join the thousands of satisfied families who have experienced our program and benefitted from a mutually rewarding cultural exchange for the entire family.