Summer is a special opportunity for families and au pairs to strengthen bonds. Not only can au pairs provide safe, reliable childcare solutions, but they can also be part of lasting memories throughout the season. Here are some ways to maximize your au pair hosting experience throughout the summer.
Plan Ahead
Summer schedules can be different and tricky to navigate, changing week to week. Schedule a family meeting with your au pair to outline expectations, summer goals, and the moving parts associated with summertime. Ensure your au pair understands your family’s approach to balance when it comes to structure and flexibility during summer months. Routines can support your child’s ability to thrive in the summer while still enjoying the freedom of the season, and your au pair can help make that happen for your family.
Outdoor Activities for Cultural Exchange
Sometimes we forget au pairs are experiencing our own neighborhoods and communities for the first time! With each season bringing so many firsts to an au pair’s world, don’t pass up local opportunities in the community, like Memorial Day parades or Fourth of July fireworks. Even visits to the local park with your au pair can offer your children the experience of a lifetime, led by an au pair viewing things with an international perspective. For example, looking at an oak tree in your own backyard can spark an entire conversation about what type of trees grow in your au pair’s home country and how different the climate may be.
Indoor Activities for Hot Days or Rainy Weather
When the summer weather doesn’t cooperate for outdoor play, your au pair can create indoor adventures for a memorable summer season. From creative arts and crafts inspired by your au pair’s cultural traditions to international cooking lessons with recipes from your au pair’s home country to language learning games that will enrich your kids’ global knowledge, summer can be the perfect time for play and learning at home, all led by your au pair.
Managing Summer Challenges
Summer is traditionally known as a season that welcomes vacation. Communicate in advance with your au pair if you’ll be taking any trips and whether or not your au pair will be joining you on those getaways. If your au pair is wanting to take their own vacation during the summer months, talk about dates in advance to ensure your schedules align with backup care.
With new and different climates, your au pair may need some guidance when it comes to things like sunscreen and heat safety. Discuss and write down instructions in advance to ensure maximum comprehension. Don’t assume your au pair already knows what your family’s expectations are, as other countries may have very different ways of managing sun and heat safety.
Creating Cultural Exchange Moments
Summer is a fantastic time to create lasting memories through a number of cultural experiences. Why not introduce a weekly cultural sharing night where your au pair can share a piece of their culture with your family and vice versa? Including your au pair in summer barbecues, beach days, pool parties, and even neighborhood gatherings is an excellent way for them to experience American culture throughout the summer. Document your summer (and entire year) with your au pair with photos and videos and consider making them a digital scrapbook as a going away gift when their program comes to an end.
Summer can be a great time to lean on your au pair for childcare support and create lasting memories with them along the way. Shared summer experiences, even simple ones like roasting marshmallows in the backyard and making smores, can turn into your au pair’s (and children’s) favorite summer stories! Don’t underestimate the small moments and lasting impact these experiences can have on both your au pair and your family.
Summer is right around the corner and it’s the perfect time to kick off your au pair hosting experience! Au Pair USA has been helping host families and au pairs have incredible summers together for over 35 years. Apply today and welcome your au pair this summer!