The Winter 2014 course dates are January 6, 2014 – June 2, 2014.
Enrollment is opens at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs.
The cost is $500 and au pairs earn 6 credits upon completion of both the online and community-based requirements.
Yearly Archives: 2013
What’s it like to be an au pair?
Find out by following Nicolle, from Australia who is coming to the USA to be an Au Pair in America au pair!
Here is the link to her blog:
Claude Monet was born today!
Monet, a famous French impressionist artist, was born in 1840. He would often paint the same scene in different lights for different effects. Look at some examples of this at http://www.ibiblio.org and then download a coloring page of the same painting for the children to color athttp://www.enchantedlearning.com. Encourage them to color it their own way, not to copy Claude Monet.
Going unplugged –
Au Pairs – Imagine for a moment that you went to the hospital and you were in the care of doctors and nurses. How would you feel if those doctors and nurses who were there to care for you were more interested in texting or using their personal computer than caring for you? How would that make you feel, about yourself and about them? Would you think that you were getting the treatment you deserved? Would you feel like paying the bill after your stay?
Life as an au pair, it is a fine balance between employee and family member. You live with your host family and participate with them as a member of the family, but you also have clear responsibilities as a childcare provider. Being a childcare provider is truly one of the most important jobs I can think of, because you are helping to shape our next generation. What message are you sending them when you would rather interact with a computer than with them? How will they feel about themselves and about you? Children feel as though everything is about them. They will see this as a rejection of them and they will be more likely to act out.
It also poses a safety concern when you are not paying enough attention to the children in your care. Accidents happen, but when an adult care giver is close by and appropriately supervising the chances of a major injury dramatically reduce.
During work hours, the following would not be considered acceptable:
-Texting
-Talking to friends on the phone
-Chatting with friends online
-Using Skype
-IMing
-Emailing
-Updating your status on Facebook or your mood on MySpace
-Checking in on Orkut, Studivz, SiempreGente or any other social media site
-Watching videos on YouTube
-Tweeting on your Twitter
-Uploading photos
-Anything else on the computer unless it is going to Nickjr.com together with your host children
Think about this — even if you work 45 hours a week, that leaves you 123 hours per week for all of that other stuff, or about 70 hours (if you are getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night.)
Host Parents – You need to be clear about what you consider acceptable during work hours to avoid misunderstandings. Also, please understand that you are dealing with a new generation of people who are very accustomed to being plugged in at all times. Their intention is not to be rude, they don’t necessarily realize how their actions will be perceived. Please use this information as an opportunity to begin a dialogue on the issue.
Gymnast Nadia Comaneci was born today!
Nadia, born in Romania in 1961, was the first gymnast to ever score a perfect 10 at the Olympics. She scored seven of them before the games were over in 1976! You might want to do a mini Olympics at your house. Create medals with ribbon and cardboard in advance so that you will be ready at the end of the ‘competition.’ The children can help you make them. The competition can be simple races (running, jumping, hopping, or rolling – compete by time or by endurance) or games or throwing or lifting.
Do you like to race cars?
In the United States there is a car race almost every week of the year between February and November. Now that the professionals are done, your children ages 4 and up can make some races of their own. You need a small toy car and a pencil for each racer and some string cut into equal lengths. Younger children should use short string; older children may have the patience for longer pieces. Tie one end of the string to the front of a car and the other end to the middle of the pencil. Pick a starting line at one end of your room and put the cars down. Now walk away as far as the string will let you. Move the cars toward you by rolling the string up on the pencil. How fast can the car go? The winner is the first racer who gets the car back to where he is standing.
It’s John Philip Sousa’s birthday!
John Philip Sousa was born in 1854 and is famous for composing over 100 marches – classic American patriotic music. Make a marching band with the children (you might need to invite some friends) and have a parade. Children love to make noise, so you don’t need fancy instruments. Try two pot lids as cymbals, a stick and an empty cardboard or plastic container as a drum. Sandpaper rubbed together makes a great noise too! Homemade flags or paper hats would dress up your parade even more.
Learn about a Mexican holiday today!
Day of the Dead or el Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican celebration that remembers those who have died. It is believed that the spirits of the dead return so families visit cemeteries and decorate with marigolds to honor the dead. To learn more visit www.mexconnect.com.
Top ten tips for au pairs
10. ADMIT IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND
Let your family know if language is a problem. Admit if you do not understand a word or a direction. Ask questions. Relax-your English will improve during the first few weeks. And after you become accustomed to the family’s routine, you will find that the number of questions will decline.
9. SHOWER OR BATHE REGULARLY
Most Americans value cleanliness as a virtue. Families expect that their AuPair will bathe or shower regularly, wash hair frequently and change to clean clothes daily. Remember to launder worn clothes.
8. BE A GOOD EXAMPLE
The children you care for look up to you. Do not do things in front of the children that parent’s wouldn’t want them doing.
7. BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR HOST PARENTS
Keep them informed of where you are going. If you are planning on travelling, discuss the details with them and make sure your plans do not interfere with their schedule.
6. FOLLOW THE HOUSE RULES
The only way you will establish trust is by following rules-even the rule you may not agree with.
5. NEGOTIATE FOR CHANGE
If you have a problem, present it to your host family clearly and calmly. Suggest your solution to a situation. Listen to what they have to say and try to reach a compromise.
4. RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF OTHERS
Gossiping about other AuPairs and host families may be very harmful. If your friends confide in you, honor the confidence. Do not tell your host families what goes on in other families.
3. TAKE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR YOUR ACTIONS
No one is perfect. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and try to correct the situation. Do not blame others.
2. BE A GOOD BUDDY
Remember what it was like to be a new AuPair. Welcome new arrivals. Arrange to meet a new AuPair, take her out, or take her to the next meeting
1. STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COMMUNITY COUNSELOR
Call if you can’t come to a meeting. Let me know if you’ll be out of town. Call when you have a problem and need advice. If I do not know you have an issue, I cannot help. Or just call to check in, I love hearing from you.
image from bibliojunkies.blogspot.com
Northern VA au pairs gather at the zoo!
A big group au pairs joined in a scavenger hunt at the National Zoo!