Brain Science for Au Pairs and Host Families?

(Brain Parts, Public Domain,http://
http://www.molwick.com)

Many times the determining factor for bringing an au pair into the family can be the need for special support for a child’s education. Brain science offers a new direction to help these challenged children—a direction that au pairs and Host Families may pursue together.

LearningRX is one helping organization based in brain science that is spreading across the United States. Their mission is to help families find and fix the deeper reasons their children are struggling to learn.

Au pairs and Host Families have long been engaged in academically tutoring their children. However, brain training and cognitive skills training focus on helping children learn to learn, rather than on particular academic  areas.

Moms, dads, and au pairs learn about their children by watching and listening at home. Does the child see and hear well? Does he or she process well? Brain science is more specific. For example, does the child not just process visual and auditory information, but process it efficiently?

To learn about cognitive skills training, you may like to visit http://www.LearningRX.com . For information on how au pairs can provide unique supportive services, you may like to visit http://www.goaupair.com.

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Au Pair Sis De Nuevo: 02.24.13

Earlier this evening, Au Pair Sis (Go Au Pair’s online au pair presence) posted the following photograph on Facebook.

 

Attitude is one of the biggest good things we can do for ourselves and others–and it doesn’t cost a penny!

 

(Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/goaupair )

Awesome thought!!!

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Simple and Hearty: Baked (Not Stuffed) Peppers and Rice

Do you like peppers stuffed with rice and tomato sauce? Now there is an easy way for busy au pairs and Host Families to enjoy this international classic.

No-Measure Recipe

(Red pepper, Public Domain,
http://www.public-domain-image.com)

Slice 4-6 bell peppers of all colors into a large baking bowl

Add 1 24 oz jar of prepared pasta sauce, e.g., Regular, 4 Cheese, or Garlic

Mix ¼ to ½ cup white or brown rice, depending on consistency desired

Cover and bake at 350 degrees until the rice is soft, about 1.5 hours

 

Pre-cooked meats may be also added. Try hamburger, shredded pork, or chicken.

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Go Au Pair: Focus on Baltimore

Ignatius Loyola (Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

Baltimore has the distinction of hosting Loyola University,  a historic college founded in 1852 by the Jesuits. This rigorous religious order is known for an approach called cura personalis, which translates approximately as “care for the whole person.” Thus, the undergraduate strength of Loyola University is its liberal arts curriculum, based on a worldwide academic approach with which many international au pairs may already be familiar.

“Loyola has been included in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine 2009 list of Best Values in Private Universities as well as being ranked in the top 10 in the North region for U.S. News’s ‘Great Schools, Great Prices.’” (http://www.loyola.edu/about.aspx ).

Baltimore just might be a perfect choice for an academically-oriented au pair.

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The Cutest Clothes for Kids

Students in Kabul (Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

Do you like European-style clothes for kids? Try the selection at http://www.olivejuicekids.com . Do you think overalls are the cat’s meow? How about www.oshkoshbgosh.com/ ?  Following popular brands? Try www.cwdkids.com/ .

The world of children’s clothing is exciting in 2013. Au Pairs will know many internet sites that can bring the “look” of their home country to share with host families.

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You say “oh pear” and I say “aw pear”

Ad for Pears’ Soap (Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

Au pairs originated in Europe after World War II, where they were called “oh pear” or “equal,” to reflect their status as family members rather than servants.

As “oh pears” have traveled around the world, different countries may pronounce their title a little differently (I recently overheard a Jersey accent saying “aw pear”), but their duties remain the same.

The following list comes from Wikipedia, and shows that au pairs (however you pronounce their title) are truly a bargain:

•  waking the children
• taking/collecting children to/from school
• helping with school homework
• playing with the children
• taking the children on outings to parks, playgroups and other activities
• preparing light meals for children
• doing the children’s laundry and ironing their clothes
• making the children’s beds
• cleaning the children’s bathroom
• keeping the kitchen tidy and clean, including sweeping and mopping the floors
• light shopping

(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_pair )

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Albuquerque Chile Season

(Photo Source: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

In the fall, the streets in Albuquerque and surrounding communities are lined with ristras—long (or short) collections of red chile pods tied together. Ristras are used for ornaments, and (if natural) may be used for cooking throughout the winter and into the spring.

Green chile is not gathered into ristras, but rather is roasted. The pungent odor travels hundreds of feet around the outdoor fire roasters. Hungry New Mexicans buy the now black and green pods by the sack and store or freeze them for later use.

In the winter, flu and virus epidemics make local residents hunger for the red and green delights they have stored away. One local eatery that specializes in New Mexican cuisine is Flying Star, a café chain that has been in business about twenty-five years and is “still cooking.”

Graburritos (a linguistic pun that tells customers what to do with this dish) are big, thick rolled burritos stuffed with scrambled eggs and covered with cheese and red chile, green chile—or both. For just a little more, a graburrito may be “smothered” with additional melted cheese and a double portion of  freshly prepared chile sauce.

Does chile really stop the winter flu and colds? Are graburritos medicinal? No scientific data exists at this time, and none is projected.  Albuquerque au pairs and host families may wish to conduct their own research!

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Go Au Pair in Austin, TX

First Berlitz Language School in Providence, Rhode Island 1878  (Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

Go Au Pair’s presence in Austin, TX is exciting—and linked to growth opportunities for both Host Families and au pairs.

One educational opportunity for au pairs is the Berlitz Language Center. Berlitz specializes in Global Leadership Training, to allow individuals from multiple cultures to prepare for international career  assignments—and fit in like a native. A variety of instructional methods–private, group, and web-based–are available. Remember that for au pairs to receive education credits, instruction must be in-person.

Berlitz adult programs may be appropriate for au pairs who wish to increase their English language skills. The Berlitz Kids and Teens program may become an adventure for the entire family.

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Details, Details, Details. How Do Finish All the Details for My Program and Still Have Fun?

English: Red Pinterest logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

Go Au Pair ‘s Au Pair Sis can help.

Au pair Sis is a major resource for both au pairs and Host Families in the United States. Her videos pinned at Pinterest start with the process of matching and continue through details like filing taxes and traveling internationally, maybe to Canada?

Need to know something specific about your program year? Want to understand the au pair program before you sign up? Just curious?

She’s also on Google. “Be here. Be happy.”

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What Families Can Best Use Au Pair Childcare?

English: Au Pair (Photo credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain)

In the 2010 statistics from the United States Census Bureau, 10-15% of total family income may be comfortably spent on childcare, and up to 25% may be spent from the income of a working mom (http://www.census.gov/hhes/childcare/data/sipp/2010/tables.html , Table 6). Some cultures spend a little more, and moms with a higher educational level may spend a little more. In dollars this often works out between $120 and $200 per week spent for 12-20 hours of childcare outside the home. Parents fit travel time and errands around that schedule.

A cultural au pair costs less than $10 per hour, works 45 hours a week, and provides live-in care. An ongoing estimate for weekly au pair costs is $340. Using the percentages from the Census Bureau, a working mom who hires an au pair may make about $4000 per month, if her income alone comfortably pays au pair costs (about 25%). Alternatively, the husband and wife  may both work and reduce the percentage of monthly childcare costs to 10-15% of their total income.

For a family in this demographic, what are the advantages of au pair care? There are many advantages—improved schedule, help with homework (tutors not required), help with a special needs child, childcare when they travel, driving support to children’s events, and the security of a federally supervised program that broadens the cultural experiences of the whole family. Additional children do not increase au pair fees.

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