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.
Tag Archives: live in chidcare new orleans
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 Pairs Talk Communication
Au pair Lina from Brazil said: “The best way for you to enjoy your year as an au pair is to have a very good relationship with your host family.” Her au pair friend Julia from Sweden added that very good relationship could only be achieved through an open and honest communication.
However, communication that must bridge different languages and cultural expectation can pose challenges. A quick game of deconstructing Twitter acronyms showed just how tricky understanding and interpreting a new language can be, whether it’s Twitter-speak, spoken English or culturally inflected body language.
Samantha from Mexico spoke for everybody when she suggested that both au pairs and host families needed to show flexibility and patience when communicating and soon enough everybody will speak the same argot!
GL TTYL
APIA at Baby and Child Expo 2016
Looking forward to seeing you at the Baby and Child Expo Saturday, July 9, 2016
Please stop by our table where we’ll have information about Au Pair in America – the most experienced (30 years and going strong!) live in childcare program in the nation.
Visitors will be eligible for 2 raffle baskets, each including $850 certificate off of program fees. Kids will get coloring pages, bookmarks, frisbees for summer fun and other gifts.
Lakeside Mall – Center Court
3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd
Metairie, La 70002
Holiday Tips for Au Pairs and Host Families
FLEXIBILITY
Holidays are a lot of fun but they also require much planning, communicating, visiting, and accommodating other family members’ schedules, all of which may cause quite a bit of stress for your host parents. Try to be as helpful and flexible as possible to help your host family have a truly enjoyable time.
Childcare
More childcare duties will be required when children are out of school. Have a plan for the time when they put aside their Xmas toys and look for other amusement. Check out APIA website http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/activities/index.asp to get ideas on how to keep your host kids happily occupied.
Driving
Traffic tends to be heavier around the holidays. My best advice is to leave earlier than normal and take your time. Be the “bigger person” and allow that one last car to slip in ahead of you. It may avoid an accident. Remember au pairs can be asked to pay up to $500 of the deductible for an accident.
Healthy eating
Is your house filled with treats, and goodies that are tempting you? It is the season, and you are here for a cultural exchange, so try some of the traditional sweets your host family is offering, but it is a good idea to downsize your portions – how much you eat is as important as what you eat.
Tips for Host Families
Scheduling
Letting your au pair know her schedule in advance is important at any time but especially during holidays. For most au pairs these will be the only Xmas & New Year holidays in the States. Host families are asked to make an effort to follow the spirit of APIA program, which is cultural exchange, and both include AP in their celebrations and also give AP some time to experience and enjoy them with her friends.
Childcare
Please let your au pair know exactly what your expectations are regarding childcare. Is she supposed to let the kids be so they can enjoy unstructured time with visiting family members? Or is she supposed to keep them occupied so you can enjoy a quiet conversation with your brother and sister-in-law? Will grandparents take an active role in caring for the kids or should au pair get them ready for bedtime and read them a good night story?
Safety
If there is an alarm system for the house, be sure that the au pair is listed with the alarm company as a legitimate user of the alarm. Also, the au pair must know the appropriate security code in case of a false alarm.
TLC
If holidays can be stressful for host families, they can be doubly so for au pairs. Please keep in mind that your au pair is in a foreign country, away from her family, friends, and familiar circumstances at the time when we all celebrate family and togetherness! Please make sure to give your au pair some Tender Loving Care that you’d like your daughter to receive were she to be an au pair far away from home.
Getting School Age Host Children To Talk About Their Day
1.
Allow the child some time to wind down from his/her day. You
may be tempted to ask your host child about their day as soon
as you see them. Children may need some time to pass before
they want to open up about their day. They may be more willing
to share stories if you give them some time to get out of school
mode.
2.
Ask your host child specific questions. If you ask “how was your
day” you may find you get the same response every day. Here are
some examples of questions to stimulate conversation:
“Who did you eat lunch with?”
“What did you play at recess?”
“Tell me one new thing your teacher taught you today?”
“What was the best thing that happened at school today?”
3.
Tell your host child about your day. Talking about what you did
may start conversation and encourage your host child to share.
4.
Be silly. If you have young host children do not be afraid to act a
little silly. You can start a conversation by telling them how you
think their day went and mentioning silly things. For example,
“Let me guess something fun that happened today. Did a hot air
balloon land at recess and everyone took a hot air balloon ride?”
5.
Be patient. All children are different and some are more willing to
share stories. If you are consistent with your communication, your
host child will follow your cues and open up
Memorial Day
Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states then others followed.
It is now celebrated on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays).
Americans honor those who have lost their lives for their country by visiting cemeteries, placing flags and flowers on graves, flying the U.S. flag at half-staff until noon and attending parades.
Children can be a part of Memorial Day too. Here are some links to children’s activities: