HIGH NUMBERS OF CHILDREN IN CHILDCARE

I read an article in the April 4th Salt Lake Tribune that caught my eye.  It talks about the growing demand of daycare for children in the United States.  It quoted the report, "Who's Minding the Kids?  Chldcare Arrangements:  Spring 2011" saying that during a typical week in spring 2011, 61% of all children under age 5 were in some type of regular child care arrangement.  I'm sure the number has increased in the last two years.

The national study also found that the preschool children of working mothers spent an average of 36 hours a week in childcare.  It continues that more older children (ages 5-14) now have some sort of adult supervision after school or in the evenings instead of staying home alone. 

As I read this article I thought about the kids being taken to daycare centers early in the mornings, most likely still in their pajamas, or the kids getting out of school and just wanting to go home and relax or change into their pajamas.  I thought of kids getting to their care centers and trying to find a quiet place to do homework, and wishing they had someone who could sit down with them individually, and listen to them read, or help them with a math question. 

I wonder how many of these children have someone who is waiting for them with open arms when they come home from school.  Someone who asks them how their day went, someone who cares about how their day went. 

Children get home from school with stories to tell, worries to express, jokes to share.  How many of these 61+ percent of children in childcare get one-on-one attention?

I wish that I could reach out to these families and tell them there is a great alternative to daycare.  That they can keep their children in the comforts of their own home with someone who is like an extended member of the family.  Someone who's entire focus is THEM. 

With the increased need to work outside the home, I can't think of a better childcare option than an au pair.  Hands down.

AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR CHINESE AU PAIRS

The world has become so global in the last several years that it has become increasingly important to expose our children to other cultures and languages.  Children who grow up understanding other cultures and who can communicate with people of other countries have so much more the advantage as they grow up and go into the real world to begin their careers.

China has become a huge global economic leader.  More and more we will see the need for people who speak Mandarin to be our business leaders, teachers, doctors, etc.  There will also be a need for people who understand the Chinese culture and way of life.  Without an understanding of the people you are working with, there can be misunderstandings and barriers.  A simple high school or college course is great, but what if your children could grow up with the language and culture right in their homes?  That is an advantage that cannot be replicated in any other way. 


Also, with so many families adopting little girls from China, it's no wonder that so many people are looking for a childcare provider that not only speaks Mandarin or Cantonese but can share the beautiful Chinese culture with their family in the process.

As people become aware of the advantages of finding childcare providers who can teach their children the Chinese culture and language, Go Au Pair is seeing a huge increase in demand for Chinese au pairs.

They have a large pool of applicants to choose from--many of which are infant qualified and/or have driver's licenses.  The average age for a Chinese au pair right now is 24, so you also get someone who is mature and ready for a cultural experience themselves.


Since there is such a great demand for Chinese au pairs, Go Au Pair has selected China to be the Featured Country for the month of April.  Families who match with an au pair this month will receive $100 off their program fees.  The embassy appointments are usually about 2 days out, so there is not a long wait time, which means people looking for someone to start before summer have plenty of time to select the au pair that best fits their families needs.

Pillsbury's Crescent Roll Taco Bake Recipe

I saw this recipe (on the Incredible Recipes FB page) and thought it looked like a fun, easy recipe for both au pairs and host families to try out.  It's fun for the kids, too!

 ☆.•♥•Pillsbury's Crescent Roll Taco Bake Recipe!.•♥•☆

2 crescent roll tubes
1 LB ground beef (or ground turkey)
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce
1 or 2 diced tomatoes depending on size
1/2 small can sliced olives if desired
Sour cream optional
sliced avacado optional

Lay out the two tubes of crescent pastry, thick sides in. Use some of the left over crescent rolls to to make the center a bit thicker.
Brown beef and add taco seasoning.
Lay beef in a circle inside of the laid out crescent rolls
Add cheese to the top
Pull over crescent rolls and tuck in under meat and cheese.
Add cheese, lettuce, tomato, black olives, sour cream or whatever you desire for your tacos, in the middle.

Follow cook time on the pack of crescent rolls, and once it's done, you're good to go!

Happy Women's Day!

Although it is spoken here in the US, Women's Day just doesn't seem to have the same significance as it does internationally.  I remember when I went to live in Italy.  I had been there only a day or two when I discovered how big Women's Day really is in other countries.  There were street vendors selling flowers, chocolates, balloons, etc all over the place.  It was like Valentines day all over again!   I have to admit I had no idea what they were celebrating.  I had to ask.  People couldn't believe I didn't know.

So, a suggestion to host families and Local Area Representatives: take a moment to recognize your au pair and do something special for her (a flower, a box of chocolates, a phone call or email, etc)--it will mean so much to her!

Featured Country for March is Mexico!

For the month of March families who match with a Mexican au pair will receive $100 off of their program fees.  Au Pairs from Mexico are a great option if you are looking for someone bi-lingual in Spanish/English.  Also, most au pairs from Mexico have experience cooking for children, enjoy music and dancing, and have hundreds of hours of childcare experience with infants.

Embassy wait times are very quick in Mexico--usually about 1 day.  So, if you need an au pair right away, I recommend you take a look at the Mexican candidates to see if one would fit your families needs.

Au Pair and Host Family Taxes

With the tax season here, whether you are a host family or an au pair you may have questions about paying taxes.  The following URL will direct you to the IRS website that outlines the au pair program tax requirements:  http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=96420,00.html.

Go Au Pair is not licensed to give tax advice, so you should consult with a tax professional, however some helpful information can be found on Go Au Pair's website.

Your Placement Coordinator can also provide you with a letter from Go Au Pair that highlights some of the frequently asked questions--and gives the answers given directly from the IRS website given above.

Cabin Fever

I often wonder how children are able to spend every day stuck inside of a daycare center or in home daycare--where the caretakers are unable to take them out--without getting a bad case of cabin fever! 

I had a friend who cared for children at home and she complained to me that because she had various children from different parents who had different requirements and needs for their children, she was unable to go anywhere during the day.  She even had some parents who requested she not take her children anywhere--not even the park!  So, that left every other child she cared for stuck in the house with no outdoor time and no opportunity to explore and learn.

Then, you look at daycare centers.  They are unable to take the children on daily trips to the library, museums, malls, parks, etc.  It's just not feasable with the number of children they have and the different times they are coming and going, etc. 

So, here again, I go back to boasting about what a great childcare option having an au pair can be.  You don't have to worry about what other parents want, the au pair is there for YOUR FAMILY and only your family.  You don't have to worry about the few times a daycare center does take your kids out and have to wonder if there are sufficient adults to manage all the children--and if your child will stay with the group or get lost.  The au pair would responsible for YOUR CHILD(REN), and only YOUR CHILD(REN). 

I just read an article on babycenter.com about how important fresh air is for children and the importance of everyday outdoor time that will help build their sensory stimulation (the birds, the sun, the dirt) that can't be replicated indoors.  When you have an au pair, you run the show.  If you want your children to have outdoor time, museum time, library time, etc.  You tell her!  She'll make sure it's done.  I love that!  What a unique opportunity for your children to learn and to grow.