Here are some good tips for kids, au pairs and host families to follow : Swim safely. Take swim lessons if you don’t know how to swim. Sign your kids up for lessons as soon as they are old enough. Swim near a lifeguard and never swim alone. Don’t drink alcohol if you are swimming Read More
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The Folklife Festival will take place June 27-July 1 and July 4-8. The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage. Attracting more than one million visitors yearly, the two-week long celebration is the largest annual cultural event in the United States. The Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall Read More
National Cherry Blossom Festival 2018
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event which celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. This year’s festival will be MARCH 17-APRIL 15! The predicted peak blooming period of the cherry Read More
Daylight Saving Time Begins March 11
What is Daylight Saving Time? During Daylight Saving Time, clocks are turned forward one hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. Today, approximately 70 countries worldwide utilize Daylight Saving Time, in at least some portion of the country. The U.S. started observing it in 1918, so it celebrates it’s Read More
Focus on Play: New Ideas for Some Classic Toys
It is good to offer kids a balance of independent play time and play where you are actively engaging with them. You can make toys they may be bored with, feel new and exciting, by suggesting different ways to play with them. Try some of the ideas below as a starting point. Play Food/Dishes Teach Read More
5 Thanksgiving Tips for Au Pairs & Host Parents
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Even though a few other countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s still considered a uniquely American holiday, one that the au pairs look forward to experiencing. You can learn more about it here. “I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as Read More
Halloween Celebrations around the World
Hints for Success – Overcoming Homesickness
Almost everyone experiences homesickness and culture shock to some degree, when they come to live in a completely new environment. So much is different and it takes time to adjust. It is normal to miss your own family, at home. Try to remember that they support you and want you to make the most of Read More
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
The Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will take place June 29-July 4 and July 6-9. The Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage. This year will be the 50th anniversary of this popular event. Attracting more than one million visitors yearly, the two-week long celebration is the largest annual cultural event in Read More
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 Read More