New Year Ideas

I'm betting that there are a lot of au pairs out there who are really excited to be spending their first New Year here in the United States.  Most of you probably already have plans to go out with friends or your host family to parties or other events.  For those of you who don't have plans yet, but are eager to find something to do, here are some ideas for a few cities in the Mid-West Region:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-family-friendly-new-years-parties-in-chicago/

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-family-friendly-new-years-parties-in-dfw/

http://events.29-95.com/houston_tx/events/new+year's+eve

http://www.visitomaha.com/includes/events/Noon-Year-s-Eve-at-Omaha-s-Henry-Doorly-Zoo/7120/

http://www.visitpa.com/first-night-scranton-2013

If I didn't post a link to your city, be sure to ask your Host Family or Local Area Representative about ideas or events in your city.

Have a Great New Year!!

Go Au Pair Holiday Hours

Go Au Pair Holiday Hours

In observance of the holidays, Go Au Pair will be closed on the following: December 24: Closed December 25:  Closed December 31: Open until 12:00 p.m. MT January 1: Closed

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my Family to Yours!

Childcare in time for the Holidays!

So Christmas is only a week away, you have your hands full getting all the last minute shopping done, but you can't help but stress about the fact that you need full time help for Christmas break and for when school starts again in January.  You also don't have babysitters set up yet for your several adult only holiday parties.  How can you possibly get everything done and find a full time sitter during this busy season?!

Well, you're in luck! Carmen is available to live-in and be your au pair starting Friday, December 21st. She is 24 years old and has experience caring for children 0-10 years old. She enjoys cooking, sewing, and outdoor activities. She is a college graduate and speaks English, Spanish, and French.

 

Call Go Au Pair today so that you can interview Carmen and see if she is your perfect solution!

Colombia is the Featured Country for December!

This month Go Au Pair is featuring Colombian au pairs, so families matching with a Colombian au pair before the end of December save $100. 

There are several Colombian au pair applicants available and waiting in Colombia to match with a family--so they would be available starting around January.  For families who are in need of someone asap, there is a Colombian au pair, Natalia, who is currently in the US and available December 21st--just in time for Christmas break!

Chicken Tortilla Soup

 

 

On a rainy day like today I love to eat hot soups.  Here is one of my favorites, its simple and delocious!  My kids love it, too!

 

Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 4- 16oz cans Great Northern White beans (not drained)
• 4 cups cubed or shredded cooked chicken breasts (I use Rotisserie chicken)
• 1 T olive oil
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves
• 3- 4 oz cans chopped mild green chilis
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 can corn (drained)
• 6 cups chicken broth

Directions

Boil chicken until tender. Drain and cool. Cut into cubes or shred. Heat oil in large pot over med-hi heat. Add onions and saute until translucent. Stir in garlic, chilies, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper and saute 2 min. Add undrained beans and chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add chicken and corn. to chili and stir. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

 

Serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, avacado, or anything else you like. (I personally like to top it with shredded cheese and a squeeze of lime). 

 

 

**Photo Credit: http://kitchentableschool3.blogspot.com**

Individual City Information

Go Au Pair has individual website pages for a lot of the cities it services.  It's great because you can find out information tailored to each area--Resources for Families and Au Pairs, Child-Friendly Activities or Places to take the children, and Education availble for the au pairs.

Here are a few examples:

http://www.goaupair.com/Dallas.aspx

http://www.goaupair.com/San-Antonio

http://www.goaupair.com/chicago

http://www.goaupair.com/st-louis

Look to see if your city is there--It's definitely worth checking out!

Christmas Crafts for Children

Au Pairs!  Are you looking for fun Christmas crafts or treats to make with your host children?  You can make gifts for their parents or siblings, treats to give to neighbors, or things to decorate the house.  Here are some fun ideas I found online:

http://www.marthastewart.com/275712/kids-christmas-crafts/@center/307034/christmas-workshop

http://crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/christmas/christmas-crafts.html

http://pinterest.com/sassysites/christmas-crafts-for-kids/

Also, Au Pair Sis has a fun blog so check it out and sees what new ideas she has http://www.goaupair.com/au-pair-sis/blog/pinterest.aspx.

I can't wait to try these with my kids!

Sugar Cookie Tacos!

Au Pair Sis has a Recipe Challenge and they pinned this Sugar Cookie Taco on pintrest, it looks divine!

Friendships for Life

So, I know I just posted and I would have been done for the day, but the last sentance in my last post stayed on my mind and I have to share this because I think it's a very wonderful aspect of the aupair program.

I've seen various au pairs return to visit their previous host families years after their au pair year and bring their own children to meet their American Family. Host Families from around the US have made the trip to their au pair's countries to attend their weddings, and other special events. I can't think of a more rewarding experience for the entire family to have such great relationships and bonds with people from around the world.

 

 

Au Pairs for Years

Throughout my time working with au pairs and host families, it's been a lot of fun seeing families who repeat the experience year in and year out.  I started in 2002 and still know of families who were in the program when I started that are still have au pairs today. 

Some of those families have had au pairs from over 10 different countries that speak various languages and have different cultures and traditions, so their children are well versed in geography, traditions, and cultures from all around the world. 

Others have chosen to stick with one country or language and their children are fluent in that language and familiar with the culture, traditions and food.

So many families have stated that although it is hard to say goodbye to one au pair, the fact that au pairs stay only 1-2 years offers them an opportunity to meet other people, and adjust their au pair selection to meet their particular needs at that time.  For example, when their children were young, they had specific requirements for an au pair (diaper changes, bathing, feeding, etc) and as they grew, those requirements changed.  As their children grew older, their need for a driver, someone into specific sports, someone who could tutor a particular school subject--including languages, etc increased while their need for someone to "babysit" decreased.  So, the change in au pairs allowed them to focus on the specific needs of their children.

I know I say it all the time, but I'll say it again--au pair childcare is the best childcare option out there!  Where else can you give your children the gift of culture, global awareness, language, and lifelong friendships?

Have You Lived Away from Home?

A lot of people who are looking for an au pair are curious as to whether the au pair has lived away from home.  They feel that it helps eliminate the potential of the au pair getting homesick if it is not the first time they've experienced being away from their family. 

61% of Go Au Pair's available au pairs have lived away from home.  Go Au Pair suggests some ideas of questions to ask au pairs who have lived away from home:

**How long have you lived away from home?
**Where did you live?
**How often were you able to visit your family?
**How do you think that you will handle living away from home for one year?

Mandarin Speaking Au Pair Available ASAP

Occasionally there are au pairs who come to the US and are placed with a host family and then for one reason or another they have to switch host families in order to finish out their year.  Those au pairs are called Transition Au Pairs and are available within two weeks. 
Xiaoqian is a 25 year old Chinese au pair that is currently in the US and available to start with a new Host Family as soon as possible.
About Xiaoqian:

--College Graduate
--Experience with children of all ages, including infants
--Daycare, tutoring, and teaching experience (as well as her current position as an au pair)
--Speaks English and Mandarin
--Some of her hobbies include swimming, cooking, playing piano and guitar

Au Pair Abroad

I talk all the time about the au pair program benefits for people here in the US, but have neglected to mention that the au pair experience can go both ways.  If you are an American young adult who loves children and has an interest in nannying abroad, I have great news for you!

Go Au Pair has a program that helps you be an au pair abroad.  You can choose the place, from a list of 11 different countries, where you want to be placed--including China, France, Germany, South Africa, and New Zealand. 

Just like the au pair program here in the US, you would be placed with a host family, experience a new culture and language, and have the support of an agency both here and in the country in which you are placed.

I definitely recommend you do it!  It will be the experience of a lifetime!!

Au Pair Sis--Get Involved!

If you are an au pair and you haven't joined the au pair sis forums, you are missing out!  There are recipes, crafts, fitness ideas, and other discussions going on, as well as a book club starting soon. 

Au Pair Sis also has a Facebook page, so be sure check to it out.  If you have any questions (about the au pair program, childcare advice, etc) there is a place there where you can ask Au Pair Sis and see what other people are asking.

Dish Detergent vs Dish Soap

The Au Pair Sis posted an informational video on Facebook about the difference between Dish Detergent and Dish soap.  I found it really ironic because the other night, my mom was at my house doing my dishes and she accidentally put dish soap in my dishwasher.  So, au pairs, don't feel bad if you have made this mistake!  It happens to the best of us :)

Thanksgiving

As we dedicate tomorrow as a special day to give thanks and spend time with family and other loved ones, please remember to include your au pair and make it a memorable cultural experience for her.  This is your chance to share a very American tradition that will help make your au pairs experience in the US, and with your family a cherished one.

May you all have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Introducing Au Pair Sis!

Yesterday Go Au Pair introduced their new Au Pair Sis persona.  This is an exciting new way to help au pairs get involved with an online community of au pairs.

As an official resource from Headquarters, Au Pair Sis will provide:

•    Games, crafts and activities for Au Pairs to do with the children they're watching
•    Healthy recipes for Au Pairs to prepare for their family's children
•    Fitness challenges and educational series to keep Au Pairs both physically and mentally stimulated
•    A place for Local Area Representatives to share their expertise as a LAR on questions Au Pairs may have regarding polices and procedures
•    And Much More! 

“The mission of the Au Pair Sis is to create an interactive and fun community for Au Pairs by providing ongoing support and advice to maximize their cultural exchange experience while enhancing the quality of childcare they provide for their Host Families.”

New Zealand

Go Au Pair is featuring New Zealand for the month of November.  Hurry and match with an au pair from New Zealand and take advantage of the $100 discount!

Cultural Exchange During the Holidays

Below is a letter that, in years past, I have sent to host families and au pairs at the beginning of the holiday season.  I thought it would be helpful to share it on this blog, a bit earlier, in hopes that it will give you time to plan and prepare for the upcoming holidays.

As the holiday season is appearing on the horizon, Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas and the New Year, I thought it might be helpful to remind us all that during this intense and busy season, the au pair/host family relationship can benefit from an extra dose of sensitivity. 

For the au pair, the holidays will remind you of home and may stir up some homesickness or even the desire to be the child again in your parent’s home. I know some of you have expressed concern about having to work on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve.

For the family, you are probably wondering how you are going to get everything done! You will probably need the au pair at this time, more than ever, to help you manage the extra demands the holidays bring.

If this is the case, be sure to talk about these things beforehand and agree together on plans and priorities, so that no misunderstandings or resentments are allowed to build up.

As an au pair, remember that the Holidays (whichever is observed) are family time and if you share it with your host family you share it as an adult member. The excitement of the season often contributes to high activity levels in the children. This will require all of the adults to pull together in a spirit of cooperation and good cheer! If you are confused about what is considered family time and what work time is, or about what your role as a family member is during holidays, ask your host family to help you sort this out.

Families, for those of you who do not observe Christmas, but have an au pair who does, try to help him/her arrange something that will feel comfortable and meet his or her needs. Feel free to talk to me if you need help with this.

In the true spirit of cross-cultural exchange, I hope you will share your unique and wonderful holiday traditions with each other.

Benefits of an Au Pair

There are many benefits to getting an au pair. Among them are:

--They are dedicated exclusively to your children so that they are given one on one attention and care

--Because they live in your home, there is no need to take them out of your house early in the morning or worry that your children will catch something from the other children in a daycare setting

--If your children are sick, you don't have to find alternate care, the au pair is there to care for them

--Your children will have the opportunity to get out--the au pair can take them to museums, parks, zoos, etc.

--They can help you around the house with light housekeeping related to the children as well as help the children with homework

Stay-at-Home Moms--Get Extra Set of Hands

Are you feeling overwhelmed with your kids busy schedules, homework, housework, and all the running around? Would you like to find someone who can be an extra set of hands to relieve some of that stress??

An Au Pair may be the perfect solution!! Au Pairs are an extended member of your family and are personally invested in the happiness, well being and success of your children. 

Here are just a few examples of how an Au Pair can help you:

-- driving the children to and from school and/or other activities
-- staying home with the children while you run errands
-- helping children with homework while you make dinner
-- playing with the children while you get other things done (or while you get some much needed rest!)
-- doing the children's laundry or other light child -related housekeeping while you spend quality time with your children
-- give you a chance to spend one on one time with each of your children individually
-- provide date night childcare

Featured Country for October: PANAMA

This month Go Au Pair is featuring Panama.  Families who match with an au pair from Panama during the month of October will receive a discount of $100.

9/11 Never Forget

As I reflect on the meaning of today's date, I think about the impact it has had on the lives of people everywhere. I'm so grateful for the love and support of people everywhere--I was in Italy when the towers went down and I saw first-hand how people from all over the world responded with love and compassion.

It is with that thought that I send my gratitude out for all cultural exchange programs that help bridge cultural gaps and bring a sense of unity and love.  I feel that only through understanding each other and through meeting people on a personal level can we achieve world peace.

Never Forget...

DS-2019 and I-20 Information Update

Go Au Pair will be sending the following information out in all Au Pair Welcome Packets when they arrive to the United States:

Important information regarding DS 2019 and I-20

There has been a recent change with regard to the processing of I-20 and DS-2019 forms at ports of entry. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has stopped the practice of placing admission stamps on these forms upon entry. This has caused problems for some Au Pairs, especially at Social Security Administration (SSA) and DMV offices, where some participants were being turned away and asked to secure the stamp.

After looking into this issue, it was learned from CBP that it had indeed instituted this change, but had neither posted the change to its website, nor shared the change widely with all of its field offices (some CBP offices were still unaware of the change and forms were still being stamped). 

CBP has since posted the information to its website and is now communicating with SEVP, SSA, and DMVs about the change. With the information about the change now getting out to the relevant parties, most of the problems should hopefully subside.

http://www.nafsa.org/resourcelibrary/Default.aspx?id=34155

Featured Country for September--MEXICO!!

This month Mexico is Go Au Pair's featured country, match with a Mexican au pair this month and receive $100 off of your program fees.

Click here to learn more about the wonderful culture, food, and people of Mexico.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!!

Go Au Pair offices will be closed on Monday, September 3rd in honor of Labor Day.  If you are a Host Family or an Au Pair and need assistance this weekend, your Local Area Representative is available to assist anytime.

Have a fun and safe Labor Day Weekend!  

Do You Need Someone Who Can Cook?

Many families are looking for a childcare provider, or an au pair, who can cook.  99% of Go Au Pair's applicants say that they can cook.  Since we all know have different needs in regards to food preparation, it's important that you ask specific questions to find out if the au pair can cook to your standards or needs.

Here are some examples of things to consider when you are coming up with questions to asses the au pair's cooking skills:

1.  What kind of food do you want her to cook?
2.  Do you need a cook, or just someone who can warm things up, or throw something simple together (like a sandwich)?
3.  Do you have any specific foods you want prepared?
4.  Do you have religious or allergy-caused restrictions on foods?
5.  How much cooking will she be doing?
6.  Are you willing to teach her to make specific foods?  Remember that she is from a different country so she may not be familiar with some of the American foods or how to prepare them.
7.  Do you like the kind of food served in the country she is from?  This food is most likely what she knows how to make.

Visas vs. I-94 Cards

People often get confused about the difference between a visa and an I-94 card.  Here is a great resource that can answer your I-94 and Visa questions.  You can also find out more about the DS-2019 form and the J-1 visa on Go Au Pair's website.

Need Someone Who Can Swim?

A lot of host families have the need for a Childcare Provider who can swim.  This can be because they have a pool in their back yard, or they spend a lot of time at a lake, the ocean, community pool, etc.  It's great to be able to trust your care provider to take your children swimming or to play in water, but it is also important for most parents that the person know how to swim in case of an emergency.  90% of Go Au Pair's au pairs say that they can swim.

Here are a few questions you might consider asking an au pair candidate to determine if they have the swimming skills you feel necessary for them to care for your children while they swim:

1.  How long have you been swimming?
2.  Are you able to swim on your own, or do you need a flotation device?
3.  How often do you go swimming?  Where?
4.  Have you had experience caring for children in a pool, lake, at the beach, etc?  Are you comfortable caring for children in the pool...etc?  Just one child, or multiple children?
5.  Create scenarios that could help you know what they would do in specific situations.

The summer may be over soon, but don't let that stop you from looking for someone who can swim, if you feel you will be needing your au pair to take the children swimming at indoor pools, on vacations, or even next summer.

Back To School

With so many children going back to school, families are looking at their childcare needs not only for basic childcare, but for homework help, and tutoring.  That's one of the great things about the au pair program--you as the host family can put that on the list of your au pair's responsibilities.

No more having to come home from work only to sit down and spend the next few hours helping your kids with their homework because your au pair has already done that.  Host Families have commented to me on several occasions how wonderful it is to be able to spend quality time with their children doing fun activities such as going out to throw a ball, take a walk, play some games, or simply have a heart to heart on the front porch.

If you plan on having your au pair help your children with their homework, be sure to consider that when selecting your au pair.  Depending on how old your children are, you'll want to make sure the person you choose has the skills and knowledge needed to tutor and help your children.  Go Au Pair has many au pairs that are college graduates--so look at what they studied and see what fits best for your situation.  Be sure to ask detailed questions when you interview the au pairs to be sure that they are willing and able to perform this responsibility to your satisfaction.

The Olympic Games

If you are like me, you are probably enjoying the wonderful opportunity to see the world join together for the Olympic Games.  I love to watch not only to cheer on the US teams, but to learn more about other countries, people, and cultures.  It's amazing to see the passion and commitment each team has.  I also love to watch friendships and respect develop between the athletes from opposing countries.

My children have been so blessed to have the opportunity to cheer for the US teams, as well as my husband's home country of Brazil.  They have really enjoyed cheering the Brazilian soccer team on and I can see a sense of pride in them as they say "That's where my daddy came from!"

If you have an au pair, this is a wonderful opportunity for a great American Cultural Exchange--for both you and her.  Watching the Olympics together can help give you both a better perspective on each other's countries.  Your children will learn so much when asking questions and gaining a love for not only their own country but for their au pair's as well.

Strawberry Treat

If your kids love strawberries, I found an easy recipe that looks delicious on Jamie Cooks it Up.  It could be a great activity for au pairs to do with the kids, too!

August Featured Country: CHINA

This month Go Au Pair is featuring the country of China.  Host Families who match with a Chinese Au Pair during the month of August will receive $100 off of their program fees.  Click here to learn more.

Free Au Pair Applicant Search

I've spoken with a lot of people who are interested in reviewing au pair applicant profiles to see if there are any good fits for their family, however, they don't want to feel obligated.  They also don't want to go through a pile of application forms unless they know they want to proceed with interviewing the applicants.

Did you know that you can log on to Go Au Pair's website and by just entering in some basic information you can receive log in information to view applicants for free?  Just go to http://hostfamilies.goaupair.com/search-au-pairs.aspx.  It's really easy, and you aren't obligated to anything!

Summer Au Pair Program

The Summer Au Pair Program was a 3-year pilot program started by the U.S. Department of State in 2005.  As it was only a pilot program, the Department of State terminated this particular au pair program in 2009.  Go Au Pair continues to get a lot of inquiries regarding this program.  Unfortunately, because this summer program was terminated, the Department of State is no longer issuing au pair visas for au pairs wanting to come for the short summer months.  


The au pair visa, as allowed by the Department of State, is restricted to only those who are willing to commit to a one year program.  Families looking for short term care for the summer months can look at au pairs who are in the US already and looking to finish out their visas with a new family (they are called Transition au pairs).  Those au pairs would be placed in your home for the remaining months on their visa, so you may have an au pair who stays a few months beyond the summer months.  


There is also the option to get an au pair who is completing her first year and wants to extend with another family for 6, 9, or 12 months.

The Au Pair Bedroom

Unlike some cultural or student exchange programs, the au pair cannot share a bedroom with the children or with another adult.  One of the things the Local Area Representative is required to check when doing the Host Family Interview when a Host Family submits an application for the program is whether the Au Pair Room meets the Department of State and Go Au Pair's requirements.

In general, the local area representative will look to ensure that the au pair will have:

** a private room with a door that locks
** a room that is not used for other purposes that would require the host family to have to be going in and out of the room (ie. storage room, den, etc.)
** a room that provides a comfortable atmosphere including adequate lighting, a bed, dresser, desk, etc.
** a room with a bathroom nearby that would not be shared with the host parents (it is okay if she shares the bathroom with the children)

What is a DS-2019?

Once an au pair arrives, there are a lot of questions regarding their paperwork.  One of the main questions asked is "What is a DS-2019?"

What I always tell my au pairs and families is to look for the form that the au pair was given by their US Sponsor Agency (in our case, Go Au Pair) to take to the US Embassy to apply for their Au Pair Visa (basically, their visa application form).  It is a white form with a bar code on the right hand side.  This form was stamped when they entered the US and should be kept in a safe place as it is not replaceable.

When an au pair travels outside of the US, she will need the DS-2019 form validated by her sponsor agency (Go Au Pair) before she leaves the US.  She will be asked to provide the form when re-entering the US at the port of entry.  This proves that she her visa status is in good standing.  Without the form, she would be denied re-entry.

In order to have the form validated, you will need to FedEx or UPS (don't send it regular post as I said above the form is irreplaceable) it, along with $30 so that they can return it to you, to Go Au Pair--151 East 6100 South, Murray, UT 84107. The responsible officer at Go Au Pair will sign the form and return it via Fed Ex to you.  Note that you only need to have the form validated once, so if you decide to travel multiple times during your year, just be sure to take the form with you when you travel.

Free Food At Chick-Fil-A

Au Pairs!!  I have a fun activity for you to do with the children tomorrow.  If there is a Chick-fil-A in your area (you can find out by going to www.chickfila.com and find your location), tomorrow is their annual "Cow Appreciation Day".  You dress yourself and the children up like cows and they will give you each a free meal!  They even have printable cow spots, hats, etc to help you get dressed.  

You can go anytime tomorrow during the morning, afternoon, or evening.  They will also have other fun activities, the cows will be there to take pictures, and they always have a play area.

Easy Fruit Dip Recipe

Here's an easy fruit dip recipe that au pairs can make for the children to snack on a variety of fruits during these hot summer months.  My kids love helping me make this!

Simply combine with a (hand-held or stand up) mixer (to taste):

Marshmallow Creme
a few Tbsp of Orange Juice Concentrate
Cream Cheese

I like to serve it with fruits such as bananas, strawberries, melon, cantaloupe, apples, oranges, mangoes, etc.

Busy Bags

A group of us are getting together next week to do a "Busy Bag Exchange".  I had never heard about it before my friend planned this exchange and I love the idea!  I thought it would be fun to share with you so that either au pairs can get together to do it or even mothers who are interested can put something together.

Here is a link to what Busy Bags are:  http://therigneys.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/toddler-busy-bag-swap/.  Basically it's a bag full of different learning activities for young children to do to keep busy (at home, in the car, at church, in waiting rooms, etc). We have a group of 21 women getting together.  Each person is assigned or chooses an activity that they will make for each child and when we get together, each of us will get one of each activity in a separate plastic baggie to bring home to use for our children--making 21 different activities for our kids to choose from!  Obviously I'll keep the big bag at home and just take a few different ones each time I go out.  

One thing we made sure of is to ask everyone to laminate anything that is made of paper so that they stay good for a long time.

Here are some links to other Busy Bag Ideas:

http://theprincessandthetot.blogspot.com/2011/07/toddler-busy-bags.html

http://www.mydeliciousambiguity.com/2010/06/toddler-busy-bag-activities.html

http://www.mydeliciousambiguity.com/2010/09/toddler-busy-bag-activities-month-3.html

http://www.gerberadesigns.com/triedandtrue/?p=505

http://moneysavingmom.com/tag/busy-bag-ideas

Things to Look for in an Au Pair's Application

Before you start looking at au pair applications, here are a few tips on what you  may want to look for to make sure she is the right fit for your family.  This will help you narrow your search down to the candidates that you really want to call and interview further.

** Childcare experience. What are your needs?  What are you expecting from your au pair?  What ages is the au pair experienced in and what ages are your children?  Do you have multiple children?  Does the au pair have experience taking care of more than one child at a time?

** Something that makes the right candidate stand out. Is there something extra that would make the au pair that much more fit for your family?  Perhaps she plays the piano, enjoys hiking, speaks a certain language, etc?

** Letter and photo collage. You can find out a lot about a person and what is important to them in both the pictures they submit as well as their letter.

** References. Look at their past experience and length of time they held other child care positions.  Read over the references and see what they have to say about the au pair.

** Driving experience. What are your driving requirements?  Do you live in a city?  Rural area?  What kind of traffic will she be driving in?

Featured Country--Brazil

Each month Go Au Pair features a country and offers a $100 discount for families who match with an au pair from that country.

For the month of July, the featured country is Brazil.  I personally have a place in my heart for the people of Brazil as my husband is Brazilian.  I've been to Brazil four times and have fallen in love with the people, the food, the culture, and the Portuguese language.  They are a warm, fun-loving, happy people with a strong dedication to family and friends.

Click here to find out more information on the Brazilian culture, language, food, etc.

Kids Bowl Free

Looking for something fun to do this summer with the kids? I have my kids signed up for this free bowling program and I thought I'd share it with you--it may be the perfect solution for au pairs looking to get the kids out of the house for a few hours!

Simply go to www.kidsbowlfree.com, select your state, and sign each child up.  You'll get coupons online for two free games of bowling every day! You only pay for the shoe rental.

Happy 4th of July!

Have a wonderful 4th of July!!

As the Go Au Pair offices are closed today, please contact your Local Area Representative with any emergencies.

Fun Idea for Kids--Origami

Go Au Pair recently sent out a newsletter to all au pairs with ideas for entertaining the children.  One idea was origami making.  Here is the link to the article (that was also posted on the Go Au Pair blog) if you are interested in doing this activity with your host children!

Toddler Tantrums

It's ironic that I should be writing about this right now, as my two year old is throwing a tantrum because he wants some candy.  I think we all experience the toddler tantrum our share of times throughout each week.  It can be a bit frustrating trying to deal with a small child who is throwing a fit.  Which is why this article caught my eye...

I found it on Baby Center and think it can be helpful to both au pairs and parents.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_tantrums_11569.bc?scid=momstodd_20120619:2&pe=MlV5WVJwRHwyMDEyMDYxOQ..

Now it's time to put it into practice...gotta go :)

Fun 4th of July Food Ideas

I love coming up with fun, festive holiday menu ideas (or even just treats that help celebrate the holiday).  I just received my Target ad and they had some fun Kid-Friendly ideas that I wanted to share with both Host Families and Au Pairs.  Here is what they suggested:

Star Burgers--use a cookie cutter to create star shaped hamburgers

Strawberry (I'll throw in Blueberry or Raspberry, too) Lemonade--add frozen fruit to ice cube trays for extra flavor

Make your Own S'Mores Station--Offer ice cream toppings to make super special s'mores

Fun-Flavored Hamburger Sliders--Create different kinds, like BLT sliders, meatball sliders and buffalo sliders with blu cheese

Sweet & Salty Corn on the Cob--Use flavored popcorn salts to jazz things up

Fruit Salad Skewers--Add chocolate, marshmellows, and other treats (their picture showed watermelon stars, blueberries, raspberries and Strawberries so it had the good old red, white and blue)