Happy Holidays from Au Pair in America!

Au Pair in America wishes all of our program participants a very joyous and peaceful holiday season. We hope for a happy and healthy 2023 as we continue to bring the world together one host family and one au pair at a time.

Making Memories

Creating special moments is what the holiday season is all about. All you need is a little creativity and an open mind! Here are some ideas for host families and au pairs to share in this time of giving. Try one of these fun memory-making activities:

• Create a holiday recipe and name it together as a family.  Frame a copy of the recipe and hang in the kitchen.
• Make home movie tickets with the children for a home movie night. Keep the tickets for the next movie night.
• Decorate a jar and fill it with folded notes of 12 favorite activity ideas of the kids. They can choose one each month of 2023.
• Watch a sunrise or sunset together and make a New Year’s wish for 2023, then share the pictures.

Create a memory you can share and remember forever.  Sometimes the simple things mean so much more!

Cultural Exchange, Holiday-Style

The holiday season brings with it some special opportunities to celebrate the cultural exchange between host families and au pairs. Here are some ways to share cultural traditions and have some fun at the same time:

• Cook together ~  Make a traditional dish from the au pair’s home country!
• Combine holiday traditions ~  Combining traditions and learning about different cultural traditions is a way to acknowledge the differences that bring us together. Enjoy a little bit of both! Both host families and au pairs pick one new thing to share with each other. The children will love it.
• Make time to talk ~ We often have down time over the holidays; take some time out and talk to each other over a hot chocolate.  Ask “how are you?”
• Skype with both families together to wish all a happy holiday or happy new year.  Maybe the children can sing a favorite holiday song!
• Keep it fun! ~  Encourage the children to take part in learning about other traditions through arts and crafts, learning songs, making gifts, or simply telling stories. This is what makes our program special, the true experience of cultural exchange!

12 Months of Regulations My Sponsor Gave to Me 🎵

As schedules sometimes change over the holiday season, it is important to remember that regulations must still be followed 12 months a year. Here are 12 important regulations to remember all year round:

• Au pairs may provide children care assistance no more than 10 hours in one day.
• Au pairs may provide child care assistance no more than 45 hours in one week.
• EduCare au pairs may provide child care assistance no more than 30 hours in one week.
• Au pairs must receive 3 full days of training in the home before being left alone with the children.
• Au pairs must be given one full weekend off each month.
• Au pairs must be given one and a half days off each week.
• Au pairs must be given two weeks of paid vacation during a one year placement.
• Au pairs must complete their education requirement.
• Au pairs must be provided transportation to attend their cluster meetings.
• Au pairs must not earn money outside of receiving their stipend.
• Au pairs must not do heavy housecleaning.
• Au pairs must not be left in charge of an infant under 3 months of age.

The full list of regulations can be found on the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations website; au pair regulations are cited at section 62.31.

Global Awareness – Bringing the World Together

Global Awareness brings expanded educational and cultural opportunities to the forefront for all Au Pair in America participants. With ongoing opportunities to “meet our global neighbor” and build “cross-cultural bridges,” the aim is to encourage better understanding of other cultures, improve communication between cultures, and support the concept of mutual acceptance.

Take a look at some of our Global Awareness stories, events and competitions that help us bring the world together every day. You’ll see how we celebrated Pride Day, Juneteenth, and National Exchange Day earlier this year.

Visit the Global Awareness site

Global Awareness Corner

Cultural Presentations for UCLA Students and all au pairs

The cultural presentations have taken on a new look post-Covid. These can be as simple as having a play date with a few kids in the neighborhood. Culture-sharing presentations can be presenting to a whole classroom or community group in-person or by video. Topics can include anything from Geography, Entertainment, History, Arts & Literature, Science & Nature, Sports & Leisure or You!

GA will send supplies for in-person presentations with advance notice – click to see some sample pieces.

Every au pair who emails globalawareness@aifs.com a picture and write-up about her Cultural presentation in 2023 will receive an official GA certificate signed by APIA directors.

Get inspired here and make a plan to educate and share in 2023!

Speak Your Truth in 2023

GA will ask you a series of questions in 2023 and want to hear from you!  Find the latest “Speak Your Truth” question here. Au pairs are asked to send in a response in any format – video, audio, an essay, a TikTok, a piece of artwork, however you’d like to express yourself. All entries are entered into a raffle to win an Amazon gift card. Express yourself!

Education Update

A part of life returning to “normal,” the objective for 2023 is to fully bring back in-person classes for au pairs. Let’s remember that the au pair program’s main goal is to foster face-to-face interactions. The Department of State mandates programs to encourage in-person interaction between exchange participants and their American counterparts.

Please enroll in in-person or hybrid classes when they are offered in your area. If you need assistance, your community counselor is available to guide you through this requirement.

If you are planning on extending your program, please remember to complete your education requirement no later than the end of your 11th month.

Most importantly, enjoy your classes!

Are You Traveling Soon?

Please make sure you are prepared for any upcoming trip. As a reminder, au pairs must check to see if they are able to travel internationally and the requirements to the specific destination.

To successfully return to the US, an au pair must have a valid J-1 visa and their signed/validated DS-2019 form, which is done by an Alternate Responsible Officer from the home office. Au pairs must send their DS-2019 to APIA in the mail along with the Travel Validation Form at least 3-4 weeks before their date of travel. When they receive a travel signature from our office, it ensures that they are in good standing with the program only; it is not formal permission to travel.

Year 1 au pairs must have a valid visa to successfully travel abroad (Year 1 International Travel Checklist);Year 2 au pairs in their extension term can travel to Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent islands due to the Automatic Revalidation provision (Year 2 International Travel Checklist).

Safe travels!

As always, we’re here to support you! Your Community Counselor is your first contact. At Au Pair in America, we take great pride in being able to provide 24-hour support to our program participants. If you cannot reach your Community Counselor and the office is closed, there is always a Regional Program Manager on call for urgent situations. To reach our after-hours emergency line, call 1-800-928-7247 and follow the prompts at the end of the message.