Tag Archives: Au Pairs

Social Distancing: 5 Online Adventures for Kids

Reading, playing, and doing art projects are always great ways to entertain children and keep them physically active and learning. It’s a good idea to limit screen time. But, in this time of social distancing, technology can play an important role in allowing kids to see and connect with the world outside of their homes. Many online resources are popping up to create those opportunities.

Here are five to get you started:

And if kids have questions about the coronavirus, Live Science has created an ultimate kids’ guide to the new coronavirus that has lots of information and is appropriate for school-aged kids.

DC Region Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo 2017

The weather could no be more perfect for the gathering of nearly 30 Clusters of Au Pair in America’s DC Region!

Over 300 Au Pairs from around the world met to participate in the 3rd Au Pair in America DC Region Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo on Sunday, October 1st.

Au Pairs formed teams of 10-12 and given packets with instructions, each unique hunt map asked the team to identify 10 animals by color, region, texture etc.

Pinterest was a great resource for excellent scavenger hunt maps this year. These followed a Montessori model…

 

 

 

The Zoo was a buzz that Sunday with many young families enjoying a day out and they encountered little groups of Au Pairs in their Au Pair in America t-shirts happily saying hello and engaging children. After 2 hours the teams returned with photos of their finds and presented their results to their Counselor.

Each Au Pair received a stuffed panda toy as a souvenir of the day and their visit with the National Zoo’s own Giant Pandas…Mei Xiang (female), Tian Tian (male) and their baby Bei Bei.

 

All participants and their counselors gathered for a giant photo to commemorate the day!

 

Au Pairs and Host Families Support Race4Respect

Eight Au Pairs from Maryland and Virginia awoke at 530am to reach downtown DC by 7am to report for their volunteer positions at the Race4Respect. By 8am, Pennsylvania Avenue was abuzz with families and children all anxious to start the Race4Respect. Victoria Paton, Senior Community Counselor, was proud of her Au Pairs wanting to help out and they posed for some pre-Run photos.

As quite a few of our Au Pairs care for children with Down syndrome, Au Pair in America decided to become a sponsor of this fairly new, but important, event.

Two Au Pairs from Brazil ran with their Host Families.

Au Pairs from Victoria Paton’s Cluster came to volunteer and they had a blast! l-r Germany, Austria, Germany and Brazil were represented.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Race4Respect 5k, 1k and fun run was founded in 2014 and is the only event dedicated to Down Syndrome Awareness that stops traffic in the nation’s capital.

A run-loving Host Family participated in Race4Respect. Their Au Pair, Robyn, is from Australia and loves charity races.

These super-volunteering Au Pairs were joined by 4 DC Area Host Families who all walked and ran in the race as well.

It was a gorgeous day and everyone had fun with the Capitol as a backdrop!

The Race4Respect was created in the belief that negative stereotypes or judgements might be eliminated if persons with Down syndrome or other intellectual disabilities would participate together to share a day of friendship and fun.

The hope of Race organizers is that people might proceed in their lives more inclined to hire individuals with disabilities, help them at the bus stop, chat with them at a coffee shop, or simply believe in their ability before automatically dismissing them as unable.

 

This Host Family and their Au Pair, Cami, from Brazil, were involved in the organization of this awareness-building event.

Au Pairs pass water to thirsty runners and walkers along the route.

 

Wheels helped the littlest Host children complete the ENTIRE course!

Mariana, from Mexico, and her Host children walked the entire route proud to be part of Team Au Pair in America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariana and children walk toward the US Capital.

Team Au Pair in America!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Pairs Get Certified at MEGA American Red Cross Class

On a chilly Sunday, 35 Au Pairs traveled from all over the DC Region to become certified by the American Red Cross in Infant/Child CPR & First Aid.

teamwork

Au Pairs from Thailand work as a team to remove blockage from baby’s airway.

The class was offered free of charge to Au Pairs by Au Pair in America and was hosted by Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland.

Baby AnneAll the young women care for small children every day as Au Pairs and they realize the importance of these lifesaving skills. They were at full attention for 5 1/2 hours for hands-on practice, lecture and videos depicting real-life  situations.

View a video of this class as the Au Pairs learn to rescue a “choking baby”.

Frank and his team from Red Cross supplied 20 “Baby Anne” dolls which permitted hands-on practice with realistic chest compression and chest rise as well as life-like nose pinch for mouth-to-nose ventilation. The “Baby Anne” dolls also were realistic to react to foreign-body airway obstruction through back blows and chest-thrust

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Elise from France and Sabrina from Germany, who had never met before, became fast friends as they tended to each others’ “wounds”.

first aid

A good-spirited Au Pair from Colombia volunteered to be an accident victim bandaged by our class instructor in a  lesson on bleeding and broken bones.

 

marta

Marta from Poland worked with Nam from Thailand to “stop bleeding”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 35 Au Pairs from South Africa, Colombia, Thailand, Brazil, Germany, Poland etc. now are officially certified by the American Red Cross for 2 years, and received a large, lapel pin to wear with pride.

 

Bravo to these young women who voluntarily gave up their free time on a Sunday, to increase their childcare skills!

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All eyes on Frank from American Red Cross as he demonstrated what to do for a bloody or broken nose.

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Au Pairs Prepared for Winter Driving with Special AAA Class!

Just in time to be ready for the cold temps and possible snow soon to arrive to the DC area. Au Pairs in Victoria Paton’s and Imelda Farrells’s clusters met last week at the Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department for a class on Winter Driving with AAA Mid Atlantic (and former police officer) Joe Beddick.

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The 60 Au Pairs learned about preparing a car for winter driving, clearing car of snow, going slow etc.

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After his talk, Mr. Beddick, showed some very real videos about what happens when drivers are distracted by phone or texting etc., reminding them that it is illegal in the state of Maryland.20161129_200517

At the end of the meeting, Counselors raffled off prizes such as snow melt, snow scrapers, hand warmers, gloves, shovels etc. for Au Pairs to keep in their cars…just in case.

Brrrrr!!

Bethesda Big Train Baseball was a BIG Hit with Au Pairs!

IMG951936What could be more American than baseball in the hot summer sun?  Many Au Pairs joined Victoria Paton and Imelda Farrell for a Friday evening of minor league baseball with at a Bethesda Big Train game.af9690593ed42c34a078b1fa42b8899d.300

Au Pairs were treated to dances with the mascot. A few took home t-shirts that were shot into the audience between innings.

 

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“We Love Our Au Pairs” Awards Party

It was a perfect night for our Annual Au Pair Awards Party this year titled “We Love Our Au Pairs”.cake

Each Host Family was asked to nominate their Au Pair for an award for whatever she does best. Some awards were serious and some were humorous, but they all were intended to show gratitude for the hours and care that their Au Pair brings to their family.Group photo1

Held at the Kentlands Clubhouse, in Gaithersburg, the invitation from Senior Community Counselor, Victoria Paton, to each Au Pair read: “Put on Your Party Dress and be my guest as you are honored at our Annual Au Pair Awards Dessert Party”.  And dress-up they did!

Eating cake Party roomEach Au Pair was asked to come up one-by-one to the podium as Victoria read their Award. Then, the Au Pair was presented with a rose (a la The Bachelor) and a paper certificate as she posed for a souvenir photo.

Awards included: “Simply the Best Au Pair”,  “The Au Pair Most Eager to Join the Family for Anything and Everything:, “Most Mileage Driven,”Best Playdough Creater, Baker and Friend”, ” Most Caring Cook Ever”, ” Best Birthday Decorator”, “Best to Bond with Entire Family”, “Most Like a Big Sister”, “Best Banana Pancake Maker”, “Best Minecraft Coach”, “Sweetest, Kindest Au Pair”, “Most Punctual”, “Happiest and Most Accommodating Au Pair”, “Most Laid Back Au Pair”, “Queen of Hide and Seek”, “Safest Driver”, “Best Science Tutor and Chef”, “Best Uno Player and Most Beautiful Smile”, “Most Trustworthy and Sensible”, “Best Lego Builder, Hairdresser, Manicurist and Cuddler” etc.

Lots of love, good wishes and  a Karla great evening for all!

arleneShantalHyang EunCaraDaneGuguMelanie

 

Polish galsballoon releaseThe cake was almost too pretty to cut up and serve, but we all enjoyed the dessert during the ceremony then we all went outdoors as the sun set for a balloon release. Each Au Pair was asked to write on a card what her hopes, dreams or a wish was. It was attached to an APIA red balloon and sent off into the sky. Let’s hope all their dreams will come true!balloons off

Handling Miscellaneous Household Expenses or “Petty Cash” with Au Pairs

As summer has arrived, the kids may be home more often requiring Au Pairs to spend “petty cash” on snacks for the children at the pool, taking them to the movies, crafts projects, lunches in the day etc.

So, here is is a tip on “Handling Expenses” by Au Pair in America Senior Community Counselor – Christine Connally of Bowie, MD

May 15, 2014 – 12:56 am

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 this kind of expenses.  Here 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 and cluster meetings
  • 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.

National Pancake Day at IHOP

A fun group of pancake-loving Au Pairs joined their Counselor, Victoria Paton, at the Rockville Pike IHOP on National Pancake Day. Every Au Pair dove into a free short-stack while they chatted and met new friends. We even had the pleasure of a pair of twins who ate their pancakes from within their stroller for comfort.20160308_104929 20160308_110956

 

 

 

 

Our cluster donated $100 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 20160308_114224who were raising money via Pancake Day.