The weather has turned this September here in WA, but this small but mighty group of au pairs took Tacoma by storm and bid Laura a fond farewell as she heads out to year 2 in another part of the US. We walked the (rain-free) streets, sharing in the journey of exchange and just simply getting to know one another. Back to simple. And to celebrate Peace Day took this shot.
Tag Archives: childcare
Hiking for a Fall – Snoqualmie Falls
What a day! Au pairs made the journey to bear witness themselves to this iconic WA site. Snoqualmie Falls is gorgeous and powerful and these women fit right into that scenery. In that moment in time, countrywomen representing Poland, Mexico, Colombia, Thailand, Panama and Argentina came together as one.
Camp Au Pair – Art Experiences
This week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Art Experiences.
Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to art can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Art Experiences 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. Some museums are requiring advanced tickets or have reduced hours due to the pandemic.
- Art Museums
- Paint Your Own Pottery Studio
- Clay and Ceramics Studio
Online Art Fun – Here is a great website with lots of art activities including ones for older kids.
Webcams – You can do a google search for art websites with webcams. Here are a few to get you started:
Pottery & Ceramics webcam
Glass Blowing webcam
Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about drawing and all kinds of art.
Books – Stop by your local library and look for books on famous artists and art.
Check YouTube for books on art being read aloud:
Image: teachkidsart.com
A Pool of Our Own – July 2021
Our second in-person cluster event was a night pool party – with the pool reserved just for APIA for safety. We relaxed in water and got to know one another a little bit more from a distance, outside. It’s been a long time coming and it was nice to gather young women from around the globe together in one place for a moonlight dip.
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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.
Here are a few places to go that fit this theme:
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- Children’s museum with dinosaur exhibit
- Natural history museum
- Nature center with fossils
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
Reunited and It Feels So Good
What has been lost in a year that much has also been gained? That’s a question we asked when thinking more about our first in-person, outside, masked cluster event with APIA au pairs. Our answer was our personal relationships suffered. Sure, it is great to see au pairs on video – in zoom rooms, in WhatsApp video chats, but nothing beats in-person, get to know you-s. In light of that, we kept our first event SAFE, but also as powerful as it could be and that power comes in connection. We set up blankets outside in a park – 3 feet apart – and went from one to the next to chat with each other like we have in the past on the Mt Rainier bus trip. A speed dating of sorts. And it was an energy boost and made this CC tear up…waiting made meeting up all the sweeter….
The Crystal Ball for a Year of the Unpredictable – May 2021
We had the au pairs vote on the cluster zoom they would find most entertaining this month and a guided Tarot card reader won with most votes. It was a fascinating night with personal stories and encouragement from a woman who learned these arts from her grandmother growing up in Mexico City. And some others joined to just listen and learn about another way of knowing and seeing the unpredictable world… Open minds, open hearts and forward movement prevailed. 
Earth Day Contest and Spring Celebration – April 2021
Au Pairs celebrated Earth Day this year by purchasing and using earth friendly products, collecting trash, planting seeds, hiking, biking, going to the beach, doing yoga, taking pictures, and of course, visiting the tulips in the Skagit Valley. Our Earth Day winner, earning the title of Earth Mothers of the Cluster and a gift card was Marine from South Africa for her self watering vegetable garden. Congrats to all for their dedication to cleaning up 
Team USA (Unbelievably Smart Au pairs) Makes Top 16 in Trivia – March
March Madness Trivia stars shown above know their stuff. When questioned about arts, culture, geography, history, they pulled out some great facts and figures and represented well. Our team “Team USA (unbelievably smart au pairs)” came in with only 16 other teams remaining. Smarties in Seattle! Thank you especially to Anna, Laura, Sharon, Natalia, Mariana and Sofia for representing. We are still apart, but we are together.
Getting our Happiness on for the New Year – Jan 2021
After watching an inspirational TED talk, we launched a happiness challenge as a group and over the next 21 days, those willing to take the challenge will be doing these 5 things daily: 1 random act of kindness, list 3 daily gratitudes, journal about something good that happened within last 24 hours, exercise, and meditate. We will be sharing our efforts in our WhatsApp group throughout the month to inspire one another. Au pairs also are encouraged to take an amazing class (this APIA counselor very much enjoyed) offered by Yale University entitled The Science of Well Being https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being.
The world is in a dark place right now, but we are digging deep for the light and these ladies have what it takes! Their American adventure this year and last is like none others yet in history and the teachings are deep. We will emerge even more wise, strong and fierce. This is our pledge.
