This year our cluster had monthly coffee days like last to get to know one another better than having just our one monthly cluster event. (Those tend to be very well attended and active, but less intimate!) I personally adore these coffee times – rotating around our cluster towns – with smaller groups sharing and getting deeper into their experiences and one another. And kids are always invited. 
Yearly Archives: 2023
Holiday Lights and Magic – December 2023
The holiday lights sparkled, along with the spirits of au pairs from around the globe. We shared the traditions from many of our home countries and got a little bit closer last Sunday. Then we stole gifts… In a lively white elephant, au pairs got into the spirit of the swap. We had a fun time and walked away with a smile and another gift (if not the one we selected). When you are far from home, it’s good to know you have a community of people who understand and are there for you. Grateful for the kindness in this group toward one another in this holiday season and throughout the year.
Pottery Painting with Global Pals – November 2023
A group of our best and brightest artists painted their hearts out in our first ever pottery painting cluster meeting at the University Village shop, Paint The Town. It was cathartic and relaxing. And the au pairs got some beautiful keep sakes or gifts for the holidays. Talent abounds in this crew!
Spooky Underground Touring in Old Seattle – Nov 2023
On Sunday, Oct 22 au pairs from two of the Greater Seattle area clusters dressed up for Halloween and hit the underground tour. We learned of the history of the great Seattle fire, the diverse businesses that existed in the underground and how it is used in present day. Great to spend some time together to meet the community.
APIA Global Community Day in Seattle – September 2023
Nearly 100 people, including host parents, host siblings and au pairs from around the globe joined their Seattle area Au Pair In America community to celebrate!
The au pairs brought down the house with a culture fair that had posters, food, dancing, language and all the smiles. We had representative from Zimbabwe, Peru, Panama, France, Colombia, Brazil, China, South Africa, and Germany showing their colors and sharing themselves. We enjoyed treats specially made from Colombia and Brazil and kids got to “travel the world” with their passports collecting country stickers. Host parents shared their stories about their friendships with au pairs and best practices informally with one another. We had a nice (but small this year) water balloon toss game (so many families with babies and nap times made this a bit smaller this year). The bigger kids colored, did word searches, a bingo diversity scavenger hunt, and got tattoos for kids of all ages. After the event, they headed down to meet our new lady troll in West Seattle. And the weather couldn’t have been better. All in all, it was a lovely day for the world.
As American as Baseball – August 2023
As American as baseball…the remarkable APIA family of au pairs from all WA clusters gathered to watch the Mariners beat Kansas City in a sunshine filled stadium. We got to know one another a bit more in seventh inning stretch and won some big league chew. A gorgeous day of global, peace-seeking, adventure-driven community at the ball park.
Camp Au Pair – Nature Exploration
This week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Nature Exploration.
Crafts, recipes, activities, and games can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Nature Exploration pinboard.
Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. You can start observing nature at any local park or in your own backyard. If you want to take it a step further, Below is a list of other local places to go explore nature. Get permission from your host parents before any outings and check websites before you go for hours and information.
Safety note: When coming inside after you have been outside exploring nature, it’s always a good idea to check the children and yourself for ticks. For more information, take a look at this post.
- Aviary
- Farm
- Natural History Museum
- Nature Preserve
- Park
- Wildlife Rescue Center
- Consider joining the Free Forest School to find outings near you.
Virtual Field Trips:
Webcams – You can do a Google search for websites with webcams that allow you to observe nature.
- Nature.org has lots of webcams from all over the country including Brown Bear Cam, Puffin Boulder Berm, and Bella Diamond Hummingbird Nest
- Patuxent River Park Beaver & Osprey cams
- Wildlife Trusts has a wide variety of webcams including Barn Owls, Bats, and Birdfeeder
Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about nature.
Books – Check your bookshelves and/or stop by your local library and look for books on nature. You can also find many read aloud book videos on YouTube. Here are a few to get you started.
Image: toddleratplay.com
Camp Au Pair – Outer Space
Next week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Outer Space.
Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to outer space can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Outer Space pinboard. Here is a fun one that combines a science lesson, art, and snack time.
https://www.opticscentral.com.au/moon-phases-explained-with-oreos
Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Get permission from your host parents before any outings and be sure to check hours and admission information on the websites before you go. Here are a few places to go, that fit this theme:
- Science Center
- Planetarium
- Space Museum
- Play Place with a space-themed area
Webcams – You can do a Google search for websites with webcams that allow you to observe space. Here is one from the International Space Station to get you started.
Online Games – NASA has a gallery of free space games for kids.
Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about outer space. Here are a few to get you started.
The Magic School Bus is a television series that follows Ms. Frizzle and her class as they set off on field trips. Most episodes can be found on YouTube. Here are some episodes that fit this week’s theme.
- The Magic School Bus Lost in Space
- The Magic School Bus Out of this World
- The Magic School Bus Sees Stars
Movies – Here are some movies that fit the space theme.
- WALL-E
- Zathura
- Monsters vs. Aliens
- Star Wars
Here are some movies that are PG-13 and may be appropriate for older kids.
- Hidden Figures
- The Martian
Books – Stop by your local library and look for books on outer space. You can also find books being read aloud on Youtube. Me & My Place in Space, There Was an Old Astronaut Who Swallowed the Moon, and Mae Among the Stars are a few fun ones to get you started.
Story Time from Space is a YouTube channel with real astronauts reading children’s books aloud.
Photo: alittlepinchofperfect.com
Camp Au Pair – Dinosaurs
Next week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Dinosaurs.
Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to dinosaurs can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Dinosaurs pinboard.
Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Get permission from your host parents before any outings and be sure to take all social distancing precautions.
Field Trip Ideas:
- Children’s museum
- Natural history museum
- Parks with fossil hunting programs
- Play spaces with dinosaur areas
- Science centers
Virtual Field Trips:
- American Museum of Natural History Virtual Field Trip
- La Brea Tar Pits
- Melbourne Museum Virtual Dinosaur Walk
- Smithsonian Natural History Museum Virtual Tour
Toys – Many kids have dinosaur toys already. See what your kids have and think of fun, new ways you can play with these toys with them. Imagine taking a plastic dinosaur and making footprints in play dough to form your own fossils.
Webcam – The Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland offers a webcam where you can watch paleontologists remove rock from around fossils.
Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about dinosaurs and fossils. Here are a few to get you started.
Movies – Here are some movies that fit the dinosaur theme.
- Dinosaur
- Dinosaur Island
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
- Land Before Time
- Lego Jurassic World
- The Good Dinosaur
- Walking with Dinosaurs
- We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story
For older kids:
- Journey to the Center of the Earth
- Jurassic Park (which is rated PG-13)
Books – Check your kids’ bookshelf for books on dinosaurs. You can also find many read aloud book videos on YouTube.
Photo: krojotak.com
Pools and Shoes – Exchange Day Celebrations – July 2023
The au pairs in WA state gathered up for some swimming, singing and donating of shoes for the J-1 exchange day national celebrations. They played a water safety quiz and listened to their joint Spotify global jam mix. Summer fun!
Exchange Day is coming soon on August 7, and APIA is excited to celebrate with a shoe drive. Held on the first Monday in August, Exchange Day is a nationwide celebration of the power of international exchange. Program participants come together with their American hosts to share cultural experiences, give back to their communities, and have some fun. This day is also an opportunity to raise awareness of international exchange programs and spread the word about the power of cultural exchange.
APIA has historically celebrated Exchange Day in August with shoe drives, AP get togethers, and more. 
