Long Island Au Pair Childcare

Guest Answer Mom on Play, Safety and Fun

Posted by: lbrust on March 18, 2010

Au Pair Answer Mom Susan Robinson invites guest host mom Dr. Jennifer Canter to provide advice for host parents on important toy and play safety topics for discussion with your au pair. “Dr. Jen” is a pediatrician with two sets of twins who is also a Cultural Care Au Pair host mother. In addition to her regular practice as a general and child abuse pediatrician, Dr. Jen is the creator of a new educational toy called the U-Play Mat (www.playthisway.com).

My twin 3-year-old sons went to a birthday party recently and received a goodie bag treat they absolutely LOVED. A plastic snow shovel. It was a winter birthday party for good friends, who happen to have one son. I am sure they see the shovel as a lovely winter activity. My husband came home from the party with the boys and the shovels knowing exactly what I would say, “Great, they can use the shovels to clock each other over the head, put them in the garage so we can make sure we’re watching them!”

And, at the birthday party of our 2-year-old twin cousins (yes, a lot of twins in our family), I was the “party-pooper” explaining the hazards of popping latex balloons over the birthday cake while secretly hyper-ventilating around a group of seemingly unaware parents.

As the mom of two sets of twins, now ages 6 (girls) and 3 (boys), we’ve had our fair share of fun, play, and bumps, over the years! As a board certified general and child abuse pediatrician, I’ve personally witnessed tragic and horrific consequences of momentary lapses in vigilance. I am a specialist in the medical evaluation of children when safety measures have failed. I am also a toy creator, having invented and brought the U-Play Mat to market in 2009. So, parenthood, child abuse pediatrics and toy creating have made me a clairvoyant. “A clairvoyant?” you ask, “You can see things in the future?” Yes, I see accidents before they happen! And I talk about them with my au pair.

Even for au pairs with significant child care experience, any new home presents an opportunity to learn. I start with any new child care provider going over a list of safety items. We talk about food safety, stairways, kitchen safety, crossing the street and little fingers getting smashed in doors. I make sure that my au pair truly understands by asking her to explain back again, and if necessary demonstrating what I’m referring to. One topic I also cover is safety during play.

Children’s toys and games are age specific, and intended for particular uses. Older children may have games and toys with small parts or strings, presenting a hazard to younger children. Common toys and games in many homes may not be familiar to an au pair from another country. And, instruction manuals may be difficult to interpret. Including careful and clear training on the toys and games your children play with, and safe ways to play, is a critical part of the au pair orientation to a new house.

I’ve outlined some basic toy and play safety topics for discussion with your au pair below:

1. Make sure your au pair understands how toys are intended to be used, and that instructions are understood.

2. When opening new toys, it is important to discard plastic wrappings. When assembling toys or changing batteries, it is important to secure small parts and batteries in a safe place. Also, tools used such as a screwdriver, may present their own safety hazards.

3. Make sure your au pair understands age recommendations for toys and what your expectations are for safe play between different aged siblings. Do you want older children to play with small parts in a designated area of the house? Do you want your au pair to double-check after clean up?

4. Explain safety hazards with soft toys and young children. Soft toys (as well as blankets, pillows, and other soft items) are not intended to be in the sleep environment of young babies.

5. If a toy breaks, it may present a new safety hazard. Make sure your expectations are clear – do you want her/him to throw a toy away when it breaks, or show to you to decide about the next step?

6. Toys should be put away safety to avoid unnecessary trips and falls. Toy boxes and toy chests should have a lid that will stay open in any position and ventilation holes.

7. Think about small parts with children ages 3 and younger, or older children who exhibit hand-mouth behaviors. Thing about long strings/cords and the risk of strangulation. Explain this to your au pair. Don’t have toys with long cords in reach of an infant’s sleep or play space.

8. Broken or un-inflated balloons are a choking hazard. This is one of the most common causes for choking. Discuss this with your au pair.

9. Talk about your expectations when you au pair buys your child a gift. Do you want to see it first and make sure it is something you feel is safe?

10. If your child has a developmental or physical disability, make sure to explain specific safety issues that may apply.

Putting Kids First: helping at-risk children worldwide

Posted by: lbrust on February 26, 2010

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s mission to break down barriers of culture and language through educational exchange, a group of local childcare coordinators and staff recently visited South Africa to see firsthand the difference the donations from the Cultural Care community have made through our charitable organization Kids First.

Since it’s inception in 2004, Kids First has supported many worldwide organizations that work with at-risk youth. From the daycare center in Brazil to the school library in New Orleans to an orphanage in Russia, Kids First has supported a wide range of global organizations. Our most recent work at an orphanage and daycare center in a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown, South Africa is another great example of the work we are doing worldwide.

Cultural Care staff and LCCs had an opportunity to visit several projects funded through CHOSA, an organization that Kids First supports. CHOSA provides support to programs that work with at-risk children and their families to provide nutrition, medication, clothing, food, shelter and an education.

During the service visit, those who participated had a chance to visit the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center, which helps 150 children, some of whom are HIV positive. Donations received from au pairs, host families and Cultural Care LCCs and staff have provided funds for the building of a new structure for the infants and toddlers in the center. The group from Cultural Care Au Pair had an opportunity to see the new structure, meet the inspirational director and dedicated teachers and had some time to play with the children.

In addition, the group visited the Ilitha-Labantwana Place of Safety, the Philani Child Health and Nutrition Project, the Emasithandane Children’s Project and the Baphumulele Children’s Home. The Cultural Care team is now bringing their experience back to the U.S. to raise awareness, and additional funds for even more projects that Kids First supports.

“Our Kids First trip to Cape Town was truly amazing and inspiring,” says Local Childcare Coordinator Trudy Mar. “The work, effort, love and sacrifice the women heading up these projects give to all of the kids goes well beyond what most of us could imagine. If one little body sleeps better, eats better and smiles more, we’ve helped to change their future and make the world a better place. Every dollar we raise for Kids First definitely does make a difference.”

For information about how you can make a contribution to Kids First, or raise awareness for the programs it supports, visit http://www.culturalcare.com/aboutus/kidsfirst/ or contact your Local Childcare Coordinator.

Getting an au pair is more affordable than ever

Posted by: lbrust on January 8, 2010

Our host families spoke, and we listened. The economy had an impact on everyone last year. Many families faced new financial challenges, but in the end, they still needed flexible, affordable childcare. As a result, Cultural Care Au Pair has created several new payment options that help lower the initial cost for welcoming an au pair into their home in the New Year. Along with this exciting new change, we are also keeping our prices the same for the second year in a row!

Now new families applying to Cultural Care Au Pair will have even more payment options available. Not only have we reduced our application fee, we have created several new payment plans for new and repeat families. As a result, they can continue to enjoy all the benefits they have enjoyed from Cultural Care Au Pair in the past - and even more!

Lower application fee, lowered payment plan options
How does it work? Now new families applying to the program will pay a $75 non-refundable application fee -a savings over our previous $350 application fee. Upon finding the right au pair, a $275 selection fee will be due so the au pair can finalize arrangements to come to the U.S. Offering this new payment structure not only helps secure the au pair for the family, it allows the visa process to begin moving forward.

In addition, families now have even more flexibility when it comes to making payments. On our regular payment plan, families now have the ability to pay the program fee 30 days prior to the au pair’s arrival, instead of upon selection of an au pair. This is great for families who select an au pair early, as it provides them with additional time to pay their program fee.

In addition, our Extended Payment Plan option now lowers the initial deposit to $2,395, plus a $200 payment plan enrollment fee. Families have the option of making a payment in three easy installments or they can log into their host family account at their convenience and pay weekly, bi-weekly or monthly - whatever works best for the family, as long as it’s within the Extended Payment Plan timeframe. Repeat and extension families enjoy all these flexible payment benefits as well, with the additional benefit of a waived application fee!

Along with keeping prices the same in 2010, and creating several new, lower payment plan options, we are also decreasing the cost for enrolling in our Extended Payment Plan, making it even easier to afford an au pair in the New Year. For more information about how to utilize these new options, contact me, your local childcare coordinator, and I will be happy to provide you with additional details about Cultural Care Au Pair’s exciting new payment options for 2010!

Recognize your au pair! Nominations due for 2010 IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award

Posted by: lbrust on December 31, 2009

Every year thousands of young people from all over the world embark on a special journey by becoming an au pair. Now it’s time to recognize the extraordinary and ordinary daily accomplishments that each au pair makes in his or her host family by nominating your au pair for the International Au Pair Association’s seventh annual Au Pair of the Year Award.

The International Au Pair Association established the Au Pair of the Year Award to recognize the many great young men and women participating in the au pair program worldwide. In addition, the award helps highlight public awareness of this valuable cultural exchange program.

For the last two years, au pairs with Cultural Care have been honored with the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award. In 2009, the honor was awarded to Francisco Ricardo Silva de Araújo, of Brazil, an au pair to the Boyer family of Virginia. In 2008, Linda Falter, an au pair from Germany, received the award while she was an au pair for the Sato family of Hayward, California.

What makes your au pair outstanding?
Maybe it’s the day-to-day things he or she does, such as kicking around a soccer ball, helping the kids with homework or entertaining them while you cook dinner. Maybe it’s the way he or she has embraced your family, such as teaching your kids her language, baking treats from her home country or coming to watch your children in the winter program at school. Every thing your au pair does that helps your family or brings a rich cultural exchange into your family is worthy of recognition, and a great way of saying thank you to your au pair!

Host families who would like to nominate their au pair should submit an essay detailing what makes their au pair exceptional in the form provided. Nominations for the Au Pair of the Year Award must be received by Friday, January 15. Once you’ve submitted your nomination, don’t forget to share it with your au pair to show her or him how much you think of what she or he does for your family!

Simply nominating an au pair for the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award is a wonderful honor that can show your au pair how much you value what she or he does for your family. This award allows so many in the au pair community to reflect on what an incredibly positive program this is and the many lives it touches and enriches along the way.

For more information about the Au Pair of the Year Award or nominating your au pair please click here