Author Archive
Au Pairs – Myth versus Reality!
January 26th, 2016by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on Au Pairs – Myth versus Reality!
There are a bunch of misconceptions about au pairs, so I thought I would try to put together one document that clears up the ones I personally hear most often. First, having an au pair is affordable. An au pair costs about $370 per family per week (plus room and board.) The average cost of care […]
Winter Safety – Sledding!
January 10th, 2016by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on Winter Safety – Sledding!
Kind of a theme – winter safety! SLEDDING SAFETY TIPS from the Minnesota Safety Council CHOOSING A SLED Look for solid construction – avoid homemade sleds, inflatable sleds that could be punctured, and equipment with sharp edges. Energy-absorbing seat pads will help cushion jolts to the spine. Examine sleds to be sure handholds are secure […]
Winter holidays
November 23rd, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on Winter holidays
This is the time of year when many families have special celebrations. It’s a great time to take advantage of the cultural exchange part of the program – au pairs usually have their own holiday traditions to share, and they are usually interested in learning about their host family’s traditions. Ask her if she has […]
Winter Survival Skills
November 19th, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on Winter Survival Skills
Winter is almost upon us! We’ve had a lovely fall, one of the nicest I remember, but it can’t last until April. Take a few minutes soon to talk to your au pair about winter safety. Be sure there is a kit with blankets, mittens, water, etc. in the car – there are lots of […]
Shipping stuff home
July 20th, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on Shipping stuff home
A lot of au pairs have LOTS of stuff to get home at the end of their year. European au pairs (only) can use this service. I haven’t used them, and they are not in any way affiliated with APIA, but I know au pairs often need this kind of thing. If anyone knows of […]
2015 Minneapolis Aquatennial
July 10th, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on 2015 Minneapolis Aquatennial
The Aquatennial is coming! Minneapolis celebration of summer is a little shorter this year so make sure it’s on your calendar so you don’t miss it! There are all kinds of fun family-friendly events including the Torchlight Parade through downtown Minneapolis on 7/22, the Twin Cities River Rats Waterskiing Show on 7/23, the crowning of […]
Camp Au Pair
June 18th, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on Camp Au Pair
Au Pair in America has a Pinterest board with great ideas for themed ‘Camp Au Pair’ weeks. Each week has a variety of ideas for activities for children of all different ages and interests. Some of the themes are Outer Space Week, Backyard Beach Week, Dinosaurs Week, Kids Cooking Week, Cars and Trucks Week, Pirate […]
Summer and Swimming Safety
June 16th, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on Summer and Swimming Safety
This link is something I shared a year ago, but it’s so important I want to share it at least once a year. We think we know what it looks like when someone is drowning and we are WRONG. Please take the time to read this. It only takes a minute for a child to […]
June Discount for new host families
June 16th, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on June Discount for new host families
We are currently offering a discount of $150 off the program fees for new families that apply by June 30. Also, we never charge an application fee! So it’s a risk-free way to explore the wonderful au pair candidates we have available right now.
St. Patrick’s Day in the US
March 15th, 2015by Jennifer Harriss | Comments Off on St. Patrick’s Day in the US
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! I’ve been told that more people claim to be Irish in St. Paul than in Ireland, although I don’t know if that’s true. But it’s still a fun way to learn a little bit about Ireland and get out into some (hopefully) springtime weather. Here’s a link to a […]
