Tag Archives: au pair

Make Plans for Summer Fun with the Kids!

When the kids are out of school on summer break there are soooo many possibilities. But, if you don’t make plans, you will often end up in the house with bored kids getting into trouble and arguing with their siblings.  Make plans!

Having lots of ideas ready can minimize those problems.

Looking for fun activity ideas to get the summer started off right with your host kids?

The Au Pair in America Summer Fun Pinboard is a great place to start. Together, create a Summer Bucket List. Talk with the kids about things they would like to see and do. Even toddlers and preschoolers can contribute to the conversation. Run these plans by your host parents and clear things like how much you may spend and when is best to do some of these activities.

Check back here next week for information on Camp Au Pair in America: a weekly blog series with themes for a summer break filled with fun and new adventures.

Photo: MissMessie (Flickr)

Welcome to Camp Au Pair in America!

When kids are out of school for the summer, it doesn’t take long for them to become bored and  sometimes that leads to sibling squabbles and mischief. Even though they don’t realize it, they are usually missing routine and predictability in their daily schedule. One solution is to make fun plans to keep them busy! 

Each week this summer we will share a different Camp Au Pair theme. These weekly themes are designed to give you ideas to keep your host kids occupied and engaged all summer long. They will also be learning. (But shhhh, don’t tell them that part.) Check back each Friday, for the next week’s theme. This gives you a chance to make plans and gather materials for the next week. For each theme there will be crafts, games, snacks and activities. You can just use these ideas or add your own and customize the themes to fit the ages and interests of your host children.

Here are the themes you can look forward to:

  • Art Experiences
  • Backyard Safari
  • Bugs & Butterflies
  • Cars and Trucks
  • Dinosaurs
  • Explore the World
  • Nature Explorations
  • Outer Space
  • Pirate Adventures
  • Princesses & Knights
  • Science (STEM)
  • Under the Sea

Check out Summer Fun & Summer Holidays pin boards for even more ideas.

If you get some great pictures doing these activities with your host kids, please send those to your counselor. We love to share your accomplishments and inspire other au pairs!

Let’s make this an amazing summer!

 

Camp Au Pair – Nature Exploration

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week is all about nature. Our Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/camp-au-pair-nature-exploration/

Here are just a few samples of the kind of thing you’ll find:

easy bird feeders for kids to make #kidsactivities #kidscraft #craftsforkids #nature Twig Boat Craft - Fun nature craft for kids to make

Gone Camping Craft - Can be personalized with a photo of your child! Botanical Sun Catchers -- these look so pretty!!

Camp Au Pair – Pirate Week

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week is all about pirates. Imaginative play at its finest! Our Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/camp-au-pair-pirate-adventures/

Here are just a few samples of the kind of thing you’ll find:

Pirate Party Treasure Map Pizza black balloons filled with water make a great cannon ball toss game for a pirate party

Edible Sailboats Make a Pirate Hat - wikiHow

Avast, me hearties – time to set sail!

Camp Au Pair – STEM/Science week

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week we are going to do some amazing experiments that are sure to keep the kids engaged. Our Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/camp-au-pair-science-stem/

Here are just a few samples of the kind of thing you’ll find:

DIY Solar Oven from a repurposed cardboard box 35 Magical Science Experiments. Make crystal words, fireworks in a jar... tons of ideas!

Erica Stolan (11-19-17). I think this is an interesting science activity. I also believe it could be STEM related because it has to do a little with science math and engineering. Since Students will have to know how to build a sturdy structure to hold the weight of someone and relate gravity and mass into the task. Overall I think it is a fun science lab to incorporate. How to Make Butter in a Jar. Super cool science for kids. And it's so easy! Just 10 minutes and a few simple ingredients.

Mad scientists – have fun!

Camp Au Pair – Princesses and Knights

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week we are going to all be royalty. Pretend play is an important part of child development, and fun to boot! Princess, knight, dragon, fairy – they’re all here!

Our Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/camp-au-pair-princesses-knights/

Here are just a few samples of the kind of thing you’ll find:

Ribbon Wands - A Fun And Easy DIY Craft To Do With Your Girls by Somewhat Simple   Knights tunic! Made from a pillow case.

Fairy playdough recipe - Laughing Kids Learn How to make a fire breathing dragon using a cardboard toilet roll

Have fun with their royal highnesses!

Camp Au Pair – Backyard Safari

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week we are going to focus big animals – lions, tigers, elephants. The coolest. Maybe on Friday you could all head over to Como Zoo, if it’s open by then…. Here’s our Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/camp-au-pair-backyard-safari/

Here are just a few samples of the kind of thing you’ll find:

Jungle themed rainsticks - a simple and easy jungle themed craft perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. A wonderful music craft Elephant Stomp Gross Motor Activity on FSPDT

FREE ANIMAL TRACKS PUZZLES (Instant Download!) Learn about zoo animals by reading zoo books and practicing zoo animal yoga poses for kids. Learn, be active, and have fun!

It’s going to be wild!

Camp Au Pair – Art Experiences

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week we are going to focus on learning about art. The board has a ton of great ideas for kid-made art, and also some advice for taking kids to the museum. Here in Minneapolis, we have some amazing museums and when there’s a rainy day. it can be the perfect activity. MIA in particular is very family-friendly and free. Here’s a Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/camp-au-pair-art-experiences/

Here are just a few samples of the kind of thing you’ll find:

Rock Painting Ideas & Painted Rock Crafts! Learn how to paint rocks and explore the best rock painting ideas for kids with the easy ideas. Have you ever found a painted rock in nature? Come see what we found! | #RhythmsOfPlay #ArtOutside #Rocks #NaturalLe Learn how to make colorful suncatchers from leftover homemade slime.

Combine math and art for creative kids. { These totally make trips like this much more fun! } Great tips and fun games ot play at the art museum.

Now go be creative!

Camp Au Pair – Dinosaur Week

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week we are going to focus on learning about dinosaurs. I think kids really like dinosaurs because it fascinating to think of such gigantic animals roaming the same places they do themselves. Here’s a Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/apiaminnesota/camp-au-pair-dinosaur-week/

Some of the things you’ll see there:

Salt dough dinosaurs Make your own dinosaur eggs, fun preschool craft from Projects for Preschoolers

Dinosaur shape game Awesome Dinosaur themed snack

 

Have a roaring good time!

Camp Au Pair – Under the Sea

Thanks to COVID19, a lot of kids are going to miss out on day camp this year. Our au pairs can run a weekly camp for the kids that will be even more fun, since it’s designed just for them! Plus they don’t have to spend all that time on the bus going back and forth. Every week I’ll post some ideas from the Au Pair in America Pinterest, Camp Au Pair boards. But feel free to browse them on your own.

This week we are going to focus on learning about the ocean!  There are so many amazing things to study in the sea. Here’s a Pinterest board with a ton of ideas for kids of every age. Check it out and pick one or two for every day this week.

https://www.pinterest.com/apiaminnesota/camp-au-pair-under-the-sea-week/

Some of the things you’ll see there:

Jellyfish craft Magnifying waterscope craft

Clever clothespin crafts - big fish little fish Bathtub Fishing- Make your own fishing game!