Each year Go Au Pair invites families to nominate their au pair for theAu Pair in Excellence Award. Host Families write nomination letters telling Go Au Pair why their au pair deserves to be recognized. This year the winner is Phila Sozomblile. You can read the families' letter here. Congratulations, Phila!!
It's so fun to read the experiences families are having as well as see that each family has a unique situation that makes having an au pair such a great childcare option. The quality of au pairs coming to care for children is apparent in the words of love an appreciation that each host family expressed in their letters. It makes it such an honor to work with these wonderful young adults.
Now is a great time to look at the au pair program if you are interested in a Native English speaking au pair. Ilona (pictured above) is one of the South African au pairs who are currently available.
For the month of February, if you match with an au pair from South Africa you get a $100 off our program fees.
It never fails, I am always finding new reasons as to why an au pair is such a great childcare option. I recently moved to a new city. I no longer live near my friends that I could call on for childcare help.
Whether you stay at home, work outside the home, are married, or single, there are so many things an au pair could do to help out during and after a move. In addition to the obvious things (such as watching the children while you pack) here are a few others to consider:
--You have a long list of to-do's when you move (find a home, research then register kids for school, set up utilities, pack, unpack, etc). How nice not to have to research daycare centers or other childcare options in the middle of all that choas!
--I went to apply for my new State License and to register my car. Have you ever done that with kids in tow? Not fun. Then they tell me I have to take a written test and cannot have my children with me while I take it. Not so easy to find someone to watch the kids when you don't know anyone.
--Date nights--it takes time to get to know people--especially that you feel comfortable enough to leave your children in their care.
If you're like me, you are protective over your infant. I won't let just anyone take care of my sweet baby. I need to be sure that they have experience with babies and that they feel comfortable taking care of them. It's a lot different to take care of a 5 year old compared to a 5 month old.
That's why I think it's such a relief to parents that not only can they choose the au pair with the experience that meets their specific needs, but the Department of State goes one step farther in requiring that all children under age 2 can only be matched with an au pair with a minimum of 200 hours of care for children under 2--and it cannot be an infant that they are related to. So, when host families are looking at applications, they know that the applicants they are reviewing have already been screened and have the infant experience they need.
Go Au Pair has just announced their dates for
2013's New York Workshop. Host Families interested in having their au pair attend this training should keep these dates in mind when planning on your au pair's arrival.
January 14-17
February 4-7
March 4-7
April 15-18
May 6-9
May 20-23
June 3-6
June 17-20
July 8-11
July 22-25
August 5-8
August 19-22
September 9-12
September 23-26
October 14-17
November 11-14
December 9-12
Do you need childcare for a child with special needs? Do you want them
to have the care they need, while being given one on one attention? Au Pair are able to work with children with special needs. In fact, the IAPA Au Pair of the Year was awarded to one of Go Au Pair's fabulous au pairs--Mariela Poveda. She cared for a special needs girl and did an outstanding job-in fact she went above and beyond what any normal childcare provider would do. See her video above.
Here's a few things that may help you consider the au pair route:
-Parents form close relationship with Au Pair, work as a team to raise child/children
-Can care for your special needs child exactly as you train them to
-One-on-one care, safely in home environment
-If multiple kids, allows you to spend precious time with your special needs child and/or with the other children
-Au Pair can take your child to therapy or doctor appointments, or stay with the other children while you go
-More focus on quality time with your child vs. doing tasks like laundry / cleaning
-Coverage for personal time (shopping, exercise, hobbies, date night)
-Less crazy mornings, can relax in evenings
-Giving your kids quality child care plus unique cultural exchange
exposure, broaden your kids' horizons, learn
foreign language, language exposure for overall increased creativity
-Big sister or big brother, part of the family, like a year-long sleepover with best friend, fun!
-Flexible schedules, in home convenience
-Consistency for you and child(ren), because most placements are one year long or more
Although Au Pairs are not trained / registered nurses nor medically
qualified, MANY Au Pairs are interested in working with / learning about
special needs. They may want the experience for themselves, for a
career, or for future education. You can learn more during the matching process when you
choose your Au Pair.
Au Pair Sis did a fun Craft Challenge on Pintrist and posted in on Facebook. For some reason the blog is not allowing me to post pictures right now, so you'll have to go to the Pintrist link to see an example of what rain sticks look like.
I bought a rain stick in Brazil several years ago, the kids love them!
