Many people think Au Pairs are only for the rich and famous. This misconception could not be farther from the truth. In reality, many parents choose Au Pairs because they are often times less expensive than day care, since there are no additional fees for multiple children.

The starting salary for a live-in Au Pair is defined by the US State Department. The average hourly cost of Au Pair child care is $7.58/hour. Although there are some set compensation values, application and managing fees vary from each agency. goAUPAIR is currently waving many of those fees to make the Au Pair program even more affordable for American families:

The first fee is the Host Family Application Fee. It covers the cost of the screening, background checks and matching processes as well as the in-home interview conducted by your Local Area Representative. goAUPAIR is currently not charging  families an application fee. In fact,  with goAUPAIR, families have access to the Au Pair Preview which allows families to search, review and compare hundreds of available Au Pairs. Unlike any other search tool in the industry, the Au Pair Preview is available at no cost. Plus, our Placement Coordinators are available to help families in their search for the perfect fit for their family.

Once families have matched with an Au Pair, they will pay an initial fee and thirty days prior to the Au Pair’s arrival, they will pay the remaining fees. goAUPAIR automatically divides the program fees into two affordable installments for our Host Families. Families may also take advantage of our Flexible Choice Program which offers flexible payment plan options.

Other fees are based on the Host family’s location, the domestic airfare surcharge accounts for the difference in arrival and departure airfare.  It is based on the Au Pair’s departure airport and Host Family preferred arrival airport.  goAUPAIR has recently reduced rates and even waived fees in some locations.

All Au Pairs are required to complete six semester credit hours at a university during their year. For most Au Pair programs, families contribute $500 for a tuition allowance. This amount is paid either to your Au Pair or directly to the school.

The average total cost of an Au Pair is only about $6,000 a year, which compared to the cost of nannies and day cares, makes it truly a very affordable option. You can expect to pay up to $20+/hr for a nanny depending on your location and standards of living. Nannies may also charge more depending on the ages and number of children. Costs for typical day care still range from about $100 to $400 a week for full-time care. Infant care, adds an additional $25 to $100 to that total besides additional expenses. In many areas of the U.S., day care can cost up to $10,000 a year per child and account for 10 to 25 percent of a household's budget. (http://hr.blr.com/)

Besides being a flexible and most importantly, an affordable option for child care, Au Pairs offer what other forms of child care can’t: cultural exchange. Children can learn a new language for free with native speakers, while broadening their perspectives and world knowledge; which in today’s world is considered to be priceless.

The Dual Immersion Program in Utah has proved to be a great success. The program was first instituted at Granite School District in the summer and now the Utah State Office of Education expects that soon it could have up to 30,000 students enrolled in the program. 

The Dual Immersion Program gives kids, starting as early as 1st grade, 50 percent of their instruction in English and 50 percent in another language. Reading and Language arts classes are taught half of the day in English. While classes like math, science, or social studies are taught in their targeted language. Art, music, and P.E. can be taught in either language.

Educational representatives from other states and even other countries are coming to Utah to view the program’s model. Gregg Roberts, the world language specialist for the Utah State Office of Education says that in the fall there will be 14 more programs, making a total of 51 programs and 7,000 students enrolled. The hope is to have 100 programs and 30,000 students enrolled by 2014.

Like the Au Pair program, the Dual Immersion Program gives children the opportunity to experience culture exchange. Learning a new language is important to broaden student’s view and gain professional and personal enrichment experiences.

For more information visit KSL.com or the Granite School District’s Web site.

The Au Pair program was launched in 1989 by the U.S. Department of State. It consists of bringing foreign nationals between the ages of 18-26 to live with a family in the United States, take university credits and overall improve their English skills, while offering child care and performing light housekeeping.

Because the Au Pair program is carefully regulated by the U.S. Department of State, Au Pair and Host Family candidates must work with a designated sponsor of the Au Pair Program. These sponsors are responsible for background screening and training, travel, visas and managing Au Pair and Host Families interactions.  goAUPAIR was one of the original six Au Pair sponsor agencies designated by the U.S. Department of State.

At our headquarters office, our Placement Coordinators meticulously review the preferences and qualifications of each Au Pair to begin sending Host Families information about numerous Au Pair candidates who best fit the Host Families’ needs. They also manage the Au Pair application process and once a match has been confirmed, your Placement Coordinator will begin working on the Au Pair’s arrival process.

We also work with Local Area Representatives all over the U.S. Their job is to provide local support to our Host Families and Au Pairs. Local Area Representatives perform the initial interview in the family’s home before their Au Pair arrives, they are also responsible for an orientation shortly after the Au Pair has arrived. In addition to maintaining monthly contacts, Local Area Representatives also hold Au Pair activities as well as provide Host Family Day Conferences which every Host Family is required to attend at least once each year.

Currently, goAUPAIR represents hundreds families across the U.S. and works with Au Pair agencies in over 50 countries around the world.

Russian Au Pairs are a great option for any family considering Au Pair child care. For years, Russian Au Pairs have been known as hard working and friendly care givers. Many Host Families prefer Au Pairs from Russia because they experience minimal cultural shock due to substantial westernization in Russia. Host Parents also enjoy Russia Au Pairs because many have good driving skills and have exposed to similar driving rules in their home country.

Russian Au Pairs are motivated to come to the United States to improve their English as this will increase their opportunities back home. The majority of our Au Pairs pursue college degrees prior to their arrival and the education component of the Au Pair program is important to these Au Pairs as well. It is common for Au Pairs from Russia to drive prior to their arrival in the U.S. They also have great linguistic abilities, it is common to speak other languages like Turkish, German, French, Danish, Finnish and even Arabic.

The majority of Russians live in urban areas so most Russian Au pair are accustomed to big cities. In the past, initiative and working independently was discouraged in place of conformity in Russia, for that reason Russian Au Pairs work best when given specific instructions. Friendship is very important in Russia and helping friends whenever possible is expected.

The main meal in Russia is eaten at lunch, not at dinner. Culturally, Russians serve more food than they are able to eat, which means prosperity in the home, Russian Au Pairs may instinctively make large lunches and smaller dinners.

While the number of Russians who own cars is increasing, public transportation is widely used in urban areas. Russian Au Pairs from urban areas may prefer to use public transportation instead of driving. As with most Au Pairs, Russian Au Pairs may be interested in obtaining a cell phone while in the U.S.

Our Russian Au Pairs placed in the U.S. have experience with a wide variety of age groups. Over 80 percent of these Au Pairs have experience with infants and with children over the age of 10, but all of our Au Pairs in the U.S. have experience with children 2-10 years old. This comes from many of our Au Pairs from Russia working as teachers prior to their arrival in the U.S.

For more information about our Russian Au Pairs, contact one of our Placement Coordinators.

Oh, the world cup...

The largest and most lucrative sporting event in the world, The FIFA World Cup Championship brings together 16 national soccer teams from all continents along with it the passion for the largest fan-following-sport on the planet.

Soccer used to be much more popular in Europe and South America, but because of the international influence America has experienced in the last decades by immigration and cultural exchange programs encouraged by the U.S. government, like the Au Pair program, the perspective on sports has also being influenced. According to Nielsen Media Research, the USA vs. Ghana World Cup match drew the largest U.S. soccer audience in history with 19.4 million viewers.

With the World Cup in full swing, Au Pairs are providing their Host Families with a new outlook on this global event. Since soccer has yet to gain the popularity in the U.S. that is seen in most other countries, we asked our Au Pairs to share some of their opinions about the World Cup.

Do you have any traditions surrounding the World Cup?
In my country (France) everyone watches it. We get together at home or at a bar and we watch it!
-Sona, an Au Pair from France currently placed in VA

What differences have you seen here in the U.S. and in your home country in the way the World Cup is viewed?
In Germany, everybody knows the player’s names.  People are on the streets cheering for them, singing hymns and really enjoy the world cup. All commercials on TV are somehow connected to soccer and there are a lot of places for public viewing, where hundreds of people are laughing, singing and - if it has a bad ending - crying together.
-Linnea, an Au Pair from Germany currently placed in NJ

What is your favorite part about the World Cup?

Does not matter which team you like, the end is always fun and passion.
-Claudia Susana, an Au Pair from Mexico currently placed in DE

Well I am a huge follower of the World Cup this year as it is being hosted by my home country!  It is the first time a Cup is being hosted on the African continent and I think that is huge.  Not to mention all the buildup of excitement our country has felt in the past few years as we prepared to host the cup.
-Uresha, an Au Pair from South Africa currently placed in NY

My favorite bit is the fact that it helps raise our economy and will hopefully help strengthen the bridge between races now that they have to work together.
-Chane, an Au Pair from South Africa currently placed in CT

Daniel, an Au Pair from South Africa, shares his thoughts and feelings about the Au Pair program and how it has affected his life. Daniel was an with a Host Family in Syracuse, UT and has been nominated for the Au Pair of the year award for two consecutive years. 

Recognized as one of the six international finalists for the Au Pair of the Year Award in 2009, Daniel was nominated by his Host Family who said he "exemplifies the qualities of an excellent Au Pair!" Daniel arrived in the U.S. in March of 2008 and began providing care for two boys, aged 12 and 2. In December 2008, the youngest child was diagnosed with a developmental delay in speech and Daniel began working with him each day to help develop and improve his skills.

In addition to his duties as an Au Pair, Daniel volunteered at a local community group for at risk youth. "There will never be enough words to describe my time and experience here in the United States! I have to constantly remind myself that this is not a dream, but that I’m actually part of an American family and living in America."

As the weather warms up and children get ready for school to end, many families and care providers will be looking for activities to keep their children entertained. The internet holds a plethora of great craft ideas for children of all ages. Plus, the great thing about crafts is that they allow your children to step away from their "connected" worlds of technology and spend some time creating.

Although there are millions of craft ideas to choose from, we have selected three of the most simple to highlight in this post. We also invite Au Pairs and Host Families to contribute their favorite summer craft by emailing us or commenting on this post.

Dazzling Dragonfly

The dragonflies, caterpillars, and beetles are a snap to make and great for sparking your kids' creativity.

Materials

• Wire (20 gauge)
• Ruler
• Wire cutters
• Multifaceted plastic beads (with diameters of 12 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm)
• Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

Start by creating a long straight body. Bend an 18-inch length of wire in half. Use the pliers to curl up a 3/4-inch section near the bend to create the tip of the tail. From the other end, slide nine 6 mm beads onto the doubled wire. Next, add two 8 mm beads followed by one 12 mm bead.

Make the wings by threading eighty 6 mm beads onto a 20-inch length of wire. Bend the tips to keep the beads from sliding off. Shape the upper two thirds of the strand into a figure 8 for the top set of wings; then shape the lower third into a smaller set of wings.

Set the body on top of the wings and attach the two by wrapping the trailing wire ends of the wings around the body wire between the 8 mm beads.

Information and instruction provided by Disney's Family Fun

Paper Plate Porthole

This project, adapted from the well known Paper Plate Aquarium, is a unique and fun way for kids to create their own world under the sea. If making this as a classroom project, line the wall with gray paper and line up your portholes for all to see.

Be sure to explore all of our fun summer activities including great crafts for kids, summer printables, fabulous recipes, outdoor fun and more!

What you'll need:

• 2 paper plates
• Silver craft paint
• 8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
• Fish-shaped crackers
• Silk plant leaves
• Sea shells
• Sand
• White craft glue
• Blue cellophane
• Wax paper
• Scissors

 How to make it:

1. Take both paper plates and set them on the table. One should be right side up and the other should be upside down.
2. On the plate that is right side up, draw your sea floor about 1/3 up the center of the plate.
3. Line the floor area with white glue, use an old paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out evenly.
4. Cover the wet glue with sand and set aside to dry.
5. On the upside down plate, draw a circle where you will cut out your porthole in the center of the plate.
6. Glue ring shaped cereal pieces around the circle; these are the bolts on the porthole. Let dry.
7. Paint the cereal pieces and the paper plate from the outer edge to your penciled lines. Don’t worry about painting over the lines a little, as you will be cutting it out. Set aside to dry.
8. Take the paper plate with the sand on it and hold it over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the plate sideways and gently tap it to loosen any excess sand. The sand should end up on the wax paper and you can save that for another project.
9. Glue sea life onto the plate with the sand floor. Glue on shells, silk leaves, and fish shaped crackers. Let dry.
10. Take the silver painted plate and cut out the center circle to create your porthole window. Place it gently over the top of the other plate to see if you are happy with its size and viewing area. Increase size of the hole if you like.
11. Turn silver plate upside down.
12. Cut a piece of blue cellophane large enough to cover the hole on the plate and glue in place. Let dry.
13. Place porthole plate over the top of the sea life plate and glue together. Let dry.
14. You can add a hanger to the project if you like, simply glue some string or yarn between the two plates at the top during step 13.

Tips:

You can simplify the supplies in this project by using construction paper to make fish, plants and even shells.

Make your fish scene more cartoonish by adding wiggle eyes to the fish.

If you don’t have blue cellophane, use clear plastic wrap and paint the background of the seal life plate blue before adding sand and sea creatures.

Information and instruction provided by Kaboose

Bubble Art

What you'll need: 

• Bubble solution, either store bought or homemade (see "recipe" below)
• Food coloring or tempera paint
• Paper
• Straws
• Masking tape
• Clean disposable containers (such as plastic takeout bowls, aluminum trays, etc.)

What you'll do:

In a disposable container, combine bubble solution with a few drops of food coloring or tempera paint, until the solution is tinted to the desired shade.

Tape together several drinking straws. Let the kids blow gently into the tinted bubble solution (for best results, don't let the straws touch the bottom of the container) until the top is filled with a layer of bubbles.

Quickly place a sheet of paper over the bubbles. When you remove it, you will see a colored pattern of bubble circles.

If desired, the kids can start over with a different color for the bubble solution to make a multicolored design.

To make your own bubble solution, mix a quarter cup of Joy dishwashing detergent (it contains the most glycerin, which makes the bubbles "stronger") with half a cup of water. Add a few drops of corn syrup to make the solution last longer.

Information and instruction provided by iVillage