Category Archives: Host Family Tips

Making Safe Decisions about Driving – Tips for Au Pairs

  • Ask your host parents where the insurance and registration documents are in the car.  These documents should always be in any vehicle you are driving.
  • Make sure you have a clear understanding of the car use rules with your host family, if not talk to them about it or call your counselor
  • Make sure you know how everything in the car works! Ask questions, even if you have to ask twice, that’s okay!
  • Find out about areas that may not be considered safe, especially in and around cities, ask your host family or me for guidance if you are not sure
  • Be extra careful at night, park in well lit safe places, avoid empty looking car parks and indoor garages when you are alone
  • Do not use your phone or any electronic devices while driving, pull over in a safe spot if you need to send a text or check your messages
  • Let your host family and/or me know immediately if you get into an accident so we can help you
  • Drinking and driving is extremely dangerous. It puts lives at risk.  If you are arrested for drinking and driving there are very serious consequences.   Be a good friend and don’t let your friends drink and drive.   If you are caught drinking and driving you will go home
  • Reminder! drinking under 21 years of age is illegal in the United States
  • Always lock the car and the trunk when leaving the car unattended
  • If there is public transportation available where you live, find out how to use it and give it a try!
  • Download the apps for Uber or Lyft ~ both taxi services will pick you up and take you anywhere you need to go

Be safe and make smart decisions.  We want you to have a wonderful and safe time in the United States.  Call me if you have any questions.

Drive safe!

Helpful Webinars for APIA Au Pairs

Au Pair in America continues to offers webinars for Au Pairs six times a month.  Au Pairs receive emails from the head office several times a month inviting them to attend the webinars.  They are offered at various times and are 30 – 40 minutes in length.  

The webinar are designed for Au Pairs who are currently in the country to help them manage their year in America.  Au Pairs can register and attend for free.

Some of the recent webinars that au pairs enjoyed were: “Teenagers: The Love and Hate Relationship” and “Travel Tips for Au Pairs.”

Magie Talks about APIA at Baby and Child Expo

Au pair, Magie, from Mexico, was happy to share information about Au Pair in America with interested parents. She answered questions about the program and talked about the great opportunity the program provides both for young women from abroad who learn about life in the United States and for host families who get culturally enriching childcare help for their children.

Preventing Dehydration in Hot Weather

Dehydration means that the body lacks the necessary amount of fluid. Infants and small children are more likely to become dehydrated than older children or adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly.

Here are some steps to take to make sure children remain hydrated in the summer months:

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. On hot days, children should drink significantly more water than usual, as they are losing more due to the heat.
  • Do not wait until your child is thirsty to give him water. By the time they feel thirsty, they are already becoming dehydrated.
  • If your child is resistant to drinking enough water, have other liquids on hand for your child to drink throughout the day.
  • Be alert to changes in behavior. A child may act confused or more irritable when they are becoming dehydrated/overheated. Get them into cooler temperatures and drinking more fluids.
  • Dress your child in lightweight clothing in the summer months, particularly if she’ll be playing outdoors in warm weather. You may also consider clothes that are well ventilated as they do not trap heat close to the body.
  • When there are heat and/or air quality advisories because the weather is dangerously hot, you should avoid taking the children outdoors. Check with your host parents for further guidance on this topic.

Remember to follow these tips for yourself too, so you stay well hydrated.

Photo: Darwin Bell (Flickr)

Holiday & Vacation Reminders

“Rest and be thankful.” – William Wordsworth

Holidays and vacations are a great opportunity to rest, recharge and explore the U.S.

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer travel season. Here are some reminders about program rules regarding holidays and vacations.

Holidays

  • Host families are not required to give au pairs any specific holidays.
  • Each host family will make different arrangements on holidays, some au pairs will be off and others will be required to work.
  • Au pairs should not make plans for holidays without checking with your host family first.

Vacations

  • Au pairs earns 2 weeks of paid vacation during the course of her year.
  • Vacation time should be mutually agreed upon.
  • All vacation should be preplanned (at least 4 weeks in advance.)
  • All au pair’s friends and/or family visits/vacations should be pre-approved prior to purchasing tickets.
  • If an au pair travels with her host family, it should be discussed in advance whether this is the au pair’s vacation or if she is working.
  • If an au pair travels with the host family to work, the host family is required to pay for her transportation, lodging and meals.

Important: If an au pair is traveling outside of the U.S., she must have her DS2019 signed (travel validation) PRIOR to her departure from the US. More information about this may be found here on the Au Pair in America website.

Photo: torbakhopper (Flickr)

APIA at Baby and Child Expo 2017

Please join us at Baby and Child Expo offered by La Leche League of Jefferson on Saturday, June 24 at 10am-2pm at Lakeside Mall Center Court.

In addition to getting information about Au Pair in America program visitors will have the opportunity to chat with the local APIA representative and au pairs who are currently placed with local host families.

Two gift baskets with certificates offering discounts off of the program fee will be raffled during the Expo. Children will receive gifts of coloring pages, Frisbees, bookmarks and more.

Au Pair in America, the first federally approved live-in childcare program, has a long record of successfully connecting thousands of American families with young out of country women seeking au pair experience. APIA au pairs have provided host families with outstanding childcare help while learning about life and culture in the United States.

Baby an Child Expo

June 24, 10am-2pm

Lakeside Mall – Center Court

3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd

Metairie, La 70002

https://www.facebook.com/BabyandChildExpo/

Au Pair Tips for Success

Stay in touch with your Community Counselor

Call if you cannot come to a monthly meeting.

Let your counselor know if you will be out of town.

Call when you need help or advice.

Be a good buddy

Remember what it is like to be a new au pair. Welcome new arrivals.

Arrange to meet a new au pair.

Take her out.

Accompany her to the next cluster meeting.

Take responsibility for your actions

No one is perfect. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and try to correct the situation.

Respect the privacy of others

Gossiping about other au pairs and host families can be very harmful.

If your friends confide in you, honor the confidence.

Do not tell others about what goes on in other host families.

Communicate

Share your ideas, discuss cultural differences, ask questions when you don’t understand.

If you have a problem, present it to your host parents clearly and calmly. Suggest a solution to the situation. Listen to what they say and try to reach a compromise.

Let your host family know if language is a problem. Admit if you do not understand a word or instructions. Ask questions.

Follow house rules

The only way you will establish trust is by following rules – even those with which you may not agree. If you are not sure of the house rule, ask.

Be considerate of your host parents

Keep them informed of where you are going.

Let them know if you are staying out overnight.

If you plan on traveling, discuss the details with them and do not interfere with their schedules. Remember that your host parents are tired when they get home from work.

Show appreciation – return the favors your family does for you with kindness and generosity.

Take initiative – don’t wait to be asked, anticipate children’s needs, offer to help when you are sharing “family time.”

Set a good example

The children you care for look up to you. Don’t do things in front of the children that their parents would not want them doing.

Shower or bathe regularly

Most Americans value cleanliness as a virtue. Families expect that their au pairs will bathe or shower regularly, wash hair frequently and change into clean clothes daily. Use deodorant.

Take care of yourself

Have reasonable expectations of yourself – be patient as you learn to adjust to life in America.

Try to understand and accept cultural differences – that is part of why you came here. Learn from the experience.

If you are feeling homesick or house-bound, call someone and give yourself something to look forward to.

Keep reasonable evening hours if you are expected to get up early to work the next day.