Au pairs gathered up in Bellevue to witness the lights of the Bellevue botanical garden. We ended with some flute music, a secret Santa gift exchange and a discussion about wellness and tradition. Nice to be together and look back on the beauty of 2022.
Tag Archives: Child Care
A Global Friends-Giving – Nov 2022
Au pairs from around the world came together to try pie! (and some to first test out using a whip cream dispenser with the help of new friends.). They shared the year’s gratitudes, their advice for one another on winter shopping spots, advice for classes they enjoyed and thoughts on cluster meetings for 2023. And our pie vote revealed pecan to be the clear #1 winner followed by blueberry at #2.
Cultural Fair and Family Day AT LAST – October 2022
APIA host families from around the Greater Seattle area and their au pairs participated in our annual cultural fair and family day (after a two year hiatus). So lovely to have the community together again to do word searches, tattoos, face painting, cultural bingos, water balloon tosses and a cultural fair put on by delegates from six countries. The kids had a blast learning about Poland, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Germany. Thanks to all who came and to this little one from Vashon Island who fell asleep on the host for an hour. A real gift to be together.
Delegates from Six Countries Share Thoughts and Donuts – Sept 2022
Au pairs this month gathered up in a host family’s gorgeous backyard in Redmond. We “solved the current childcare dilemmas” for one another, talked about why we were named what we were named, chatted education requirements for the visa and ate donuts. A lovely, intimate get to know you kind of cluster meeting with delegates from Norway, Germany, Luxemborg, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.
Earlier this month, thanks to a generous donation from friends of the au pair program, several au pairs attended a Mariner’s ball game free of charge. Those in attendance shared their thoughts on Peace Day, the UN sponsors holiday on Sept 21. Put out the good and it will come back to you.
Scavenger Hunting with the World – August 2022
Au pairs from over 10 counties ferried over from Seattle to Bainbridge Island this month to participate in a photo scavenger hunt. We ended with a taste of the world famous Mora ice cream. 
Celebrating Exchange Day with Private Pool Parties – July 2022
Check out the pictures from our community gathering of over 60 au pairs in our multi-cluster event. It was a special night with a pool just for us! Celebrating J-Day, the community brought shoes to donate – over 100 pairs! Click here to see more about Exchange Day: https://www.alliance-exchange.org/events/celebrate-exchange-day/.
We played just a few ice breakers before deciding to simply have a dance party with the top US summer hits in the pool with no agenda. And some high diving for fearless women was had!
Camp Au Pair – Dinosaurs
This 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.
Local Field Trips:
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- Fossil Parks
- Science Center
- Science & Natural History Museums
Virtual Field Trips:
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 – This NPS Paleontology Lab offers a webcam where you can watch paleontologists remove rock from around fossils. The cam is normally working 9 am-5 pm PST, so 12-8 pm our time.
Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about dinosaurs and fossils. Here are a few to get you started.
Movies – The Good Dinosaur, Land Before Time, and Ice Age are all great family movies that fit with this theme. For older kids, consider movies like Journey to the Center of the Earth and Jurassic Park (which is rated PG-13).
Books – Check your kids’ bookshelf for books on dinosaurs.
Photo: krojotak.com
Play Ball! – June 2022
Well, we are sure playing ball now, metaphorically speaking. Watching a Mariners v Red Sox baseball game with over 110 APIA au pairs was a great kick-off to our first multi-cluster event in over 2 years. We are coming back stronger than ever in our community of interculturalist community counselors, globally-minded host families and adventurous au pairs. We had a seventh-inning stretch with a childcare safety quiz tossed in the mix, since we know full well how to play hard and work hard. A lovely day at the ball park had by all
Here’s to summer and more fun in person together! Go APIA!
Strong in our Diversity and Strong in our Selves – May 2022
What a day! Sunshine in our hearts and in the sky. Au pairs from Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Germany, South Africa, China, Panama, Poland, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, and Costa Rica shared their culture and themselves. German chocolate, Colombian coffee, Costa Rican pura vida, Brazilian sweets, South African handmade shoes, the love of futball, the love of family and the love of self were just a few of the shares. So proud of this group for living their truths! They were vulnerable and they were brave and we admire them for it all! We are the APIA family. We are diverse and the whole world is stronger for it.
Cougar Mountain Hike – April 2022
Au pairs talked about anxiety with their “counselor” who has a MA, not in counseling, but in International Relations. New friends were made from South Africa, Peru, Colombia, Germany, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Brazil and forest bathing happened. Casual and calm on a Saturday as we get back to in-person community bonding. 
