{"id":10552,"date":"2024-03-11T17:00:27","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T17:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.aupairusa.org\/host-families\/?p=10552"},"modified":"2024-05-02T19:01:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-02T19:01:09","slug":"au-pair-or-summer-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.aupairusa.org\/host-families\/advice\/au-pair-or-summer-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Au Pair or Summer Camp? Choosing the Ideal Option for Your Child\u2019s Care"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Even though we haven\u2019t officially started the spring season, summer planning for working parents is in full swing. It can be tricky to figure out childcare solutions when school is out. You may be considering summer camp for your kiddos, which is definitely a super fun option to keep them busy during the summer season. But have you considered hosting an au pair? Our 12-month au pair program may prove especially beneficial once the kids are out of school for the summer!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Au Pair USA<\/a> has been supporting host families through the summer months and beyond for over 30 years. Here are our top five reasons why hosting an au pair this summer might be a better fit than sending your kids to summer camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Making the Most of Your Kid\u2019s Summer, Au Pair USA-Style<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

1. Schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While there is usually an option to select full-day or half-day camps, most don\u2019t consider commute times and parents\u2019 work schedules, which can be challenging for a working parent. There\u2019s also sleepaway camp, but not all parents may be comfortable with this option, which only lasts a maximum of a few weeks typically. Additionally, most camps do not offer transportation (or there is an additional fee associated with it).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An au pair in summer, on the other hand, lives with you, which means no need to wake everyone up early to get out the door on time for camp drop-off or manage the additional responsibilities of camp drop-off and pick-up. An au pair\u2019s schedule is also flexible, allowing you to receive up to 10 hours of childcare a day for up to 45 hours a week \u2013 an au pair program definitely aligns with parents\u2019 busy work routines over the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Fun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Camps were made to promote fun, no doubt about it. But what about the au pair who loves to have a water balloon battle in the backyard or create scavenger hunts in the neighborhood or lead a Pinterest<\/a>-worthy arts and crafts project from the comfort of your kitchen table? Fun can be created anywhere; it\u2019s up to the people to make it happen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Affordability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Parents.com, in 2022, the average cost of summer camp in the United States was around $178.49 a day. If you have two kids in camp, that\u2019s a whopping $14,279.20 for just eight weeks of camp, which doesn\u2019t even cover the entire summer! Fortunately, the cost of an au pair doesn\u2019t increase with the number of children you have, and the investment will support your childcare needs not just for the summer but throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Lifelong Relationship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most kids don\u2019t keep in touch with their camp counselors, even if they had a great summer bonding with them. Au pair and host family relationships often last beyond the au pair\u2019s program year. It\u2019s not uncommon for host families and au pairs to reunite years later for milestone events like weddings<\/a> and bar mitzvahs<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Continuous Care<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wouldn\u2019t it be nice to not<\/em> have to reinvent the wheel every season when it comes to childcare? No need to stress about getting a spot in the aftercare program at school or how you will get to the office on time while juggling two different drop-offs in the morning. The au pair program lasts one year with the option to extend an additional six, nine, or 12 months. Most au pairs arrive with an international driving permit as well, which will take the hassle of organizing carpools, pick-ups, and activity transport off your plate completely. What a relief for working parents!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in learning more about welcoming an au pair into your home this summer? As a U.S. Department of State-designated nonprofit organization, Au Pair USA<\/a> supports host families by matching them with carefully screened au pairs from all over the globe. We look forward to helping you solve your summer childcare gap through the help of an amazing au pair!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even though we haven\u2019t officially started the spring season, summer planning for working parents is in full swing. It can be tricky to figure…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":10553,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,21],"tags":[33,68],"class_list":["post-10552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice","category-become-host-family","tag-childcare","tag-summer"],"yoast_head":"\nAu Pair or Summer Camp? Benefits of Hosting Au Pairs During Summer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Make the most of your kid's summer, Au Pair USA can help. Why hosting an au pair this summer might be a better fit. 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