AuPairCare Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Continuing commitment to develop cultural exchange program that connects families and au pairs worldwide.

"We are wholly dedicated to providing safe, affordable and flexible live-in childcare..."

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) April 29, 2014

AuPairCare, an au pair agency that matches American families with international au pairs, is celebrating 25 years as a leader in the live-in childcare industry.
“My work with AuPairCare has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience,” said Theresa Edwards, AuPairCare Regional Manager. ‘I’ve been with this company for 20 years and the joy and satisfaction that we all feel when we bring together people from diverse cultures to create bonds that last a lifetime, is truly thrilling!”
Since 1989, AuPairCare has established itself as a live-in childcare and cultural exchange industry leader and has placed over 50,000 au pairs from more than 40 countries. AuPairCare became one of the first au pair agencies designated by the United States Department of State to legally sponsor au pairs to come to the US. In addition to this designation, AuPairCare has longstanding relationships with the International Au Pair Association and the Alliance for International Education.
“The past 25 years have not just been about providing a quality program,” stated Vice President, Sarah McNamara, “but always enhancing it to ensure the best experiences for both our au pairs and our host families.”
The quality of the AuPairCare program has only increased with age, including their Infant Specialized Au Pair Program – an offering that they alone provide. AuPairCare has a unique EasyMatch™ system that searches their au pair database and matches candidates based on 15 different criteria. They have also developed the Safety Care™ Training Program, a mandatory au pair training program through AuPairCare’s Au Pair Academy to ensure that all au pairs are familiar with American ways of caring for children.
With dedicated staff members nationwide, AuPairCare provides local and personal support to all host families and au pairs throughout the duration of their placements. AuPairCare’s local and regional staffing is comprised primarily of women with very diverse backgrounds with many hosting or having been host parents in the program themselves.
“We are wholly dedicated to providing safe, affordable and flexible live-in childcare to American families while also empowering young people to come and experience life in the United States.” McNamara emphasized. “That’s been our goal for 25 years and it will continue to be our goal for years to come.”
About AuPairCare
AuPairCare is a leading au pair agency providing affordable live-in childcare services to American families since 1989. Designated by the U.S. Department of State, AuPairCare offers superior childcare to fit families’ unique needs. AuPairCare has matched more than 50,000 au pairs with American families across the U.S. AuPairCare is a division of Intrax, a family of organizations that provide a lifetime of high quality educational, work and volunteer programs that connect people and cultures. Intrax is headquartered in San Francisco with offices on four continents. To find an au pair to fit your family’s needs call 1(800) 428-7247 or visit http://www.aupaircare.com.

50 Ways to Fully Experience Kansas City

by Kristina Light

1. Eat delicious barbecue on a quest to find the very best.
2. Run barefoot through the grass at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
3. Take a photo from the top of the National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial.
4. Tailgate at Kauffman Stadium.
5. Ride all seven roller coasters at Worlds of Fun.
6. Sip a Skyscraper at Winstead’s.
7. Visit the Truman Home.
8. Draw under the black light at Kaleidoscope.
9. Listen to amazing live jazz.
10. Build a giant LEGO tower at LEGOLand Discovery Center.
11. Bottle feed baby goats at Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead.
12. Sit under the stars and enjoy a Broadway show at Starlight.
13. Ride a stagecoach at Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop.
14. Stop and smell the roses at Loose Park.
15. Touch a sea star at Sea Life Kansas City.
16. Cheer for MLS Cup Champions Sporting KC.
17. Delight in delectable gourmet chocolates at Andre’s or Christopher Elbow’s.
18. Buy fresh fruits and veggies at City Market.
19. Spend a First Friday in the Crossroads.
20. Shop in the West Bottoms.
21. Savor your favorite brew at The Roasterie.
22. Ride the world’s tallest waterslide at Schlitterbahn.
23. Play at Penguin Park.
24. Sample chocolate a Chip’s Chocolate Factory at Crown Center.
25. Rent a paddleboat at Lake Jacomo.
26. Camp out at Watkin’s Woolen Mill.
27. Photograph friends in front of a fountain.
28. Explore the river bank at Fort Osage.
29. Pick fresh berries at a local berry patch.
30. Meet friends for lunch in Westport.
31. Window shop in Historic Overland Park.
32. Get free money at the Money Museum.
33. Taste test every flavor of Glace Ice Cream till you find your favorite.
34. Explore the Central Branch of the Kansas City Library because any library with a parking garage painted with classic books has to be cool.
35. Ride the African Sky Safari at the Kansas City Zoo.
36. Pet oxen at Missouri Town 1855.
37. Find fairies at Firefly Forest.
38. Dine on the sidewalk at the Country Club Plaza.
39. Ride a bicycle across a high wire at Science City.
40. Watch a NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway.
41. Applaud the Kansas City Ballet at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
42. Find faces in the woodwork at Vaile Mansion.
43. Buy spices at Planter’s.
44. Learn how to make a motorcycle at the Harley-Davidson Factory tour.
45. Challenge your friends to Laser Tag at Paradise Park.
46. Bike Trolley Trail.
47. Shop in Brookside.
48. Catch a show at the Sprint Center.
49. Munch on Topsy’s popcorn.
50. Find something new because Kansas City is always full of surprises

9 Tips for Culturally Aware Children

Here are 9 activities that parents, host children and au pairs can do together to learn about new cultures:

1. Read Bedtime stories that take place in another country and include some foreign words, so you can practice pronunciation.
2. Try a cultural dance or martial arts class, such as Bollywood, Flamenco or Capoeira.
3. Enroll your child in foreign language classes for kids.
4. Choose art activities based on different cultures such as Japanese calligraphy, Chinese paper cut outs and Puerto Rican Ponce Carnival Masks.
5. Prepare food from a different country dinner once a week.
6. Plan a heritage party for your children and their friends, and encourage each child to bring food and games from their family’s heritage.
7. Watch family-friendly movies that take place in another country.
8. Listen to popular music from different cultures while in the car, or teach your kids a simple song in a foreign language.
9. Attend local festivals and parades that celebrate different cultures such as Cinco de Mayo, Carnival, Chinese New Year, and Bastille Day.

Children are little sponges, taking in the world around them with wide eyes and curious minds. This curiosity is a great thing and should be cultivated through as many avenues as possible, in an effort to raise a globally and culturally aware next generation.

Apply NOW! Secure your summer child care needs

The addiction to social media

The addiction to our  phones, tablets and computers needs to have boundaries. Why when the phone dings we need to look at it immediately,during dinner, during a face to face conversation...If a person were to interrupt you like that mid sentence you would ask them to wait. What is so important that we need to check our smart phones at all times?
We need to set limits and control ourselves. Aupairs , when you are watching the children all your focus is on them. No texting, face booking,tweeting, NO smart phones. A child can get hurt in a split second. Do not be that aupair where your story of being in the virtual world and not the present world goes viral!
As for host parents please set a good example, no smart phones at the dinner table , playground, bedtime...be present for your children and aupair. Watch and hear what they do in real time not in cyber space.