September 8, 2011 – 6:07 pm
The new school year is officially underway! This means school lunches, play dates with friends, early mornings – and most importantly – lots of homework! Your host children probably have a new routine by now, with homework taking up a big part of the night. This new addition can be overwhelming for both the children and parents, so they will need your help even more.
Au pairs can be a great homework assistant throughout the school year. Sitting with the children and helping them work through any problems they have can be a great way to spend time together and have fun. This is also a great way to teach them about your culture and country. You may even learn something new too! Read More »
September 8, 2011 – 3:23 pm
The new school year is officially underway! This means school lunches, play dates with friends, early mornings – and most importantly – lots of homework! Your host children probably have a new routine by now, with homework taking up a big part of the night. This new addition can be overwhelming for both the children and parents, so they will need your help even more.
Au pairs can be a great homework assistant throughout the school year. Sitting with the children and helping them work through any problems they have can be a great way to spend time together and have fun. This is also a great way to teach them about your culture and country. You may even learn something new too! Read More »
August 25, 2011 – 6:06 pm
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. IT IS MANDATORY THAT YOU COMPLY WITH ALL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND FOLLOW EVACUATION INSTRUCTIONS
A SPECIAL EVACUATION PLAN FOR ALL INTEREXCHANGE PARTICIPANTS IN THE OCEAN CITY, MD AREA IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY Read More »
August 24, 2011 – 8:46 pm
Areas from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, all the way north to New York and Maine may be affected
YOUR SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY. Make sure to follow safety instructions provided by local city offices and your employer regarding hurricane emergency procedures. Also check with your local city offices to get information about whether an evacuation plan is in place and what you will need to do if the hurricane affects your area. Read More »
August 12, 2011 – 7:53 pm
We’re very pleased to announce that our 2011 Au Pair of Year essay contest has begun! Every year InterExchange Au Pair USA recognizes one au pair who personifies the best qualities of the program and acts as a contributing member of a host family.
For this year’s contest we want to highlight stories where an au pair has been successful in making unique contributions “Outside the Comfort Zone” of traditional expectations. Read More »
We are deeply saddened by the recent tragedy in Norway and extend our condolences to the young people, families and friends affected by this devastating incident.
During this especially difficult time, we at InterExchange would like to reach out to any of our au pairs or host parents who need additional support or assistance.
As always, we encourage you to contact us with any questions or requests.
InterExchange Au Pair USA
1.800.287.2477 (U.S. Only)
+1.212.924.0446
aupair@interexchange.org
InterExchange Au Pair USA Local Coordinator Heidi Karakashian set up an Au Pair USA booth for a good cause at the Birmingham, MI County Fair last week. Heidi’s cluster of au pairs painted kids’ faces for donations to a local charity, Bear Hugs, that sends underprivileged kids to camp in Michigan. Au pairs in attendance represented a truly global mix: from the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, South Africa, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine, Ecuador, Mexico and Brazil. Heidi said the event was a huge success: “We probably painted 150 kids’ faces and a few adults too. We had so many families interested in learning more about Au Pair USA and the benefits of hosting an au pair!” The au pairs took shifts with face painting and talking to local families about why hosting an au pair would be a great option for their child care needs. Photos can be found at the Au Pair USA Michigan Facebook fan page!
Local families in the Metro Detroit area who currently have full time nannies or children in school with no back up child care for vacation or sick days were surprised at how flexible and affordable hosting an au pair can be. Au pairs provide up to 45 hours of child care per week arranged around each family’s busy schedule. Au Pair USA also offers several discounts for new and reapplying host families throughout the year. For more information about our Metro Detroit area cluster and why hosting an au pair is the perfect child care choice for your family, please contact Heidi Karakashian at aupair@interexchange.org or visit the InterExchange Au Pair USA website.
Every year, hundreds of our au pairs use bicycles to get around their communities, for transportation and fun. Cycling is one of the best ways to get places – it’s cheap and improves your health and fitness. Plus, it’s good for the environment!
Here at Au Pair USA, we want to make sure that you are aware of the hazards of cycling in the U.S. and to prepare you for your summer of cycling. Even if you are an experienced cyclist in your home country, the rules on the road in the U.S. may be very different to what you are used to. Please read and follow these important safety tips:
ALWAYS
- When you first get your bike, make sure the brakes and gears are working well and that reflectors and lights are installed and working properly.
- Wear a bicycle helmet
- Install reflective lights on your bike, especially when riding at night
- Ride on the right hand side of the road, in the same direction with the traffic
- Make sure you are visible to drivers – wear bright clothing
- Pay attention to cars and trucks on the road – they may not be used to sharing the road with cyclists
- Pay attention to local traffic laws. Every state has different cycling rules. Learn about them before you ride!
- When making a turn, use hand signals and always look behind you
- In popular tourist areas, pay attention to slow moving vehicles and people crossing the road or opening their car doors in the middle of the street
- Stop at red traffic signals and pay attention to road signs
- At traffic lights, stop behind cars, not beside them
- Use your bike bell to alert others of your presence
NEVER
- Bike under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Text, talk on your cell phone or listen to music while biking
- Allow anyone to ride with you on a one-person bike. If you need to travel with a friend and they don’t have a bike, walk together or try to take public transport.
- Bike too fast in towns and busy areas
When riding with kids:
- Make sure the child bike seat is properly installed on your bike if biking with kids over 12 months and under 4 years.
- If you are using a trailer, make sure that it is properly fixed to the bike and that the child is properly strapped in.
- All children must wear bike helmets.
- Make sure kids under the age of 10 who are riding on their own bike, ride on the sidewalk close to you (check with your local town for rules on bicycle riding on the sidewalk).
- Kids on their own bikes must remain visible to you at all times.
For more information about bicycle safety, visit:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
BicycleSafe.com
Kids and Bicycle Safety
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