Amy Bryan, Local Childcare Coordinator

New Host Mom Shares Her Reasons for Hosting

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 18, 2010

Wondering what our customers are saying about us?

Here is a reccent post on Big Tent from one of New Host Moms in California. She just welcomed her first au pair, a young woman from Norway, to care for 11.5 month old twins.

Kristen commented:

My au pair just arrived from Norway on Friday night. We have some friends who are very clued in to the au pair scene since they’ve been through several in the last 4 or 5 years. At her suggestion, she directed me to www.greataupair.com. She said I can find an au pair through this website, sort of like the craigslisting of au pairs.

However, after trying without any luck of searching for a suitable match, and then once finding someone who might actually work, my concerns about experience, safety, psychological and criminal backgrounds started haunting me at night. I really feel that, for our first experience of bringing an au pair into our home, going through the agency really helped me figure out numerous things about our needs that I didn’t realize before. In fact, it helped me decipher what my parenting style is, the skill set our future au pair should bring with her, which cultures and personalities would work well with our family, and much much more. Although the fee is quite steep, bringing an au pair into your home is a MAJOR commitment. (The first night she was here, I couldn’t sleep knowing she was sleeping closer to my babies than I was! What if she is a bad seed after all?? What if she harms them?) Fortunately, the agency does actually earn their fee; among other things, they interview the au pair candidate as well as the host family in person, get criminal and medical background, facilitate the visas, and handle the travel from her home country to your airport. Are you prepared to get a criminal history from a foreign country where you are unfamiliar with language and local laws? We weren’t. Our time is more valuable that the hours of frustration that would cause us, and then who even knows if it would be truthful.

We too wanted to reduce our fees, but after some deep thought about the process, we felt that for the first year at least it is worthwhile to go through an agency. Perhaps you can find a 2nd year au pair yourself and then have the agency finalize her for you. Honestly, I must have read 200 or more applications for girls that met my general requirements. Once we went with the agency, I asked them to send me 3 or 4 applications from potential candidates to help me determine what we did want and what we didn’t in our au pair. We were surprised by our list of wants and needs when it came right down to it; much more precise than we originally thought we’d need. The agency then matched us with someone they thought would work, and we disagreed. They then sent us the application of the girl who spent the afternoon caring for my 11.5 month old twins, and we couldn’t be happier. She met our requirements perfectly and we are thrilled! In fact, she just told me how thrilled she is to be with us.

I do not have any association with any of the agencies other than being a recently satisifed customer. We went through Cultural Care.

I completely understand the need to be frugal, but I don’t think child care and adding a member to your household is one of those areas where cutting back gets you ahead of the game. Quality care and bringing a positive influence into your home is worth every penny. Perhaps you can cut coupons instead, make purchases off the classifieds, and cut back in other ways. But good luck!!

Spring 2010 Customer Satisfaction Surveys Have Launched!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 17, 2010

Cultural Care wants to hear what you have to say!  Twice a year, we launch our Host Family Customer Satisfaction Surveys and YOUR feedback has been instrumental in making many changes to help families have a more positive experience with Cultural Care Au Pair.  For example, we’ve implemented some of the following changes based on past survey results:

*  Repeat Rewards for our loyal, repeat families

*  ”Peace of Mind” guarantee

*  3 Ways to Match:  Search & Select, Consultative Matching & our traditional one-to-one matching

*  Pricing has remained steady for the past two years

*  More flexible payment schedules and a lower initial deposit.

Monday, March 15th marked the launch of our Spring 2010 Satisfaction Survey. All Cultural Care host families who are actively hosting an au pair will receive a survey via email. We had a record-breaking 52% response rate this past fall and we look forward to even more feedback from our host families this time.

1. The email families receive with the invitation to complete the survey comes from “Cultural Care Au Pair” with sender email address no-reply@culturalcare.com.

2. The subject header for the email invitation is “Cultural Care Au Pair - Customer Satisfaction Survey”.

If you do not receive the survey in your in box, please also check your spam folder.

Not only do we value your feedback to help our organization continue to be the Number One au pair agency in the industry, but I also personally value your feedback on how I am performing as your LCC.  The survey gives me an opportunity to review what you have to say and make improvements to the support I provide to both your family AND your au pair.

I look forward to seeing what you have to say!  Here are the results from our Fall 2009 survey, as well as testimonials from host families on my performance as an LCC from our past surveys.

Should My Au Pair File With the IRS For Tax Purposes?

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 17, 2010

This time of year, LCCs frequently get asked questions regarding whether or not au pairs need to file a federal tax return.  Au Pairs do not need to pay social security or Medicare; however they could be responsible for federal taxes depending on the amount of stipend they received.  As a general rule, ALL au pairs should file a tax return.  Most will not owe any taxes, but in some cases depending on when they arrived in the U.S., they could owe some tax.

See below some information from Cultural Care Au Pair:

Our advice to host families and au pairs is that all au pairs need to file taxes for stipend earned in a given tax year. The IRS is pretty clear that they are not treated as “normal students” for tax purposes and are those not automatically exempt from federal income taxes. Au pairs will need a Individual Taxpayer ID Number (”ITIN”) for this (looks like a social security number, but starts with the digit “9″).

Most au pairs, especially those who arrive in the summer, will owe little or no tax - they are allowed to claim the personal exemption ($3,650 for 2009) but are not allowed the standard deduction. The maximum tax bracket for their income would be 10% so they usually will be paying 10% of their received stipend minus the $3,650 exemption.

It is easiest to just have them file regardless of arrival date or expected tax burden.  Rather than trying to do these calculations with them, we advise that they just file the 1040NR-EZ form.

If you require Cultural Care Au Pair’s federal tax ID number in reference to program fees paid to Cultural Care Au Pair, that ID number is 20-2020345.

Please note:  As situations can vary from state to state, and even from family to family, and because we are not licensed tax advisors, we strongly advise that host families consult an income tax professional with any questions regarding au pairs and income taxes.

Census 2010 - How to Count Your Au Pair

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 17, 2010

While filling out census forms for the 2010 census, some host families have been asking us whether or not they should count their au pair as a household member.

Cultural Care recommends that host families check off the box for live-in babysitters and others in the home who may not be members of the family to count their au pair.  This box can be found in the first section, where it asks about household members.

If you have any further questions, you can go to the census website.

Childcare Tip of the Week #12: Prevention & Treatment for Common Outdoor Hazards

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 16, 2010

Now that the weather is getting warmer, you will be spending more and more time outside.   Although getting out for exercise and fresh air is important, it’s also important to be aware of three common hazards of outdoor play-insect bites, sunburn and poison ivy.

Be sure to review with your host family whether or not your host kids have any allergies to any types of insect bites, plants or anything else they might run into while outdoors.

INSECT BITES

Children are at risk of stings and bites from bees, mosquitoes, gnats and even some flies.  Spiders and ticks can also pose threats.  These bites or stings can range in size and severity, depending upon the insect and some may be itchy, while others may actually be painful.  It is common for some children to have allergic reactions to bee stings, and sometimes these allergies can be quite severe, so be sure that you are aware of what to do in case anything should happen.

To keep children safe from insect bites, you can also:

• Make sure to keep as much of her skin covered with clothing as possible, including long sleeve shirt, long pants, socks, and a hat.

• Wear light colored clothing, so as not to attract bugs.

• Avoid using any scented soaps or other products, since the fragrances can also attract insects.

• Apply insect repellents to clothing instead of to skin so that it won’t be absorbed.

• Wash off insect repellents as soon as possible.

• Avoid areas with insects nest.

• Follow the instructions on bug repellents, including age restrictions on any product you are considering using.

5 Ways to Prevent and Treat Insect Bites

REPEL THEM WITH DEET
Scientists think mosquitoes avoid the chemical DEET because it masks the human scents that attract them. But new research suggests that maybe mosquitos just can’t stand the stuff. Many humans, worried about toxins, agree.

Bottom line: DEET remains the most effective insect repellent on the market, and the American Association of Pediatrics says it’s OK for kids ages 2 months and up if used properly (go to aap.org for details).

GO NATURAL
Studies show that geranium, peppermint, and other essential oils can repel some mosquito species for more than an hour. In one study, a 2% soybean oil product kept bugs away for about 90 minutes.

Bottom line: Leery of DEET? Try a repellent with geranium oil in it, such as Bug Bam or BugBand (both offer repellent wristbands) or a soybean oil-based product, such as Bite Blocker for Kids.

COVER UP
Thwart mosquitoes and ticks by wearing pants and long sleeves. (If you’re wearing thin layers, though, you’ll still need repellent.) Mosquitoes home in on dark colors, so wear white as much as possible.

Bottom line: Although it may not be practical during the dog days of summer, the simplest way to avoid bug bites is to not give bugs access to your skin. For maximum protection against ticks, commit a fashion faux pas and pull your socks over your pants.

CHECK YOUR YARD
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, and they don’t need much: they can breed in the water in an upturned soda-bottle cap.

Bottom line: Get rid of standing water, fix clogged gutters, and change birdbath water at least twice a week. If you have a pond, try mosquito dunks, which contain bacteria harmful to mosquito larvae, but nontoxic to mammals, fish, and birds.

STOP THE ITCH
Hydrocortisone is an old standby. If you don’t have any handy, try a home remedy. Jennifer Zartarian, a wellness expert at Long Island College Hospital, recommends mixing a heaping tablespoon of baking soda with just enough water to make a paste, then smearing it on the bite. For an even quicker fix, rub the area with an ice cube.

Bottom line: Bug bites itch when blood vessels at the site swell, irritating nerves. Ice and astringents like baking soda help shrink the vessels, which relieves the itch.

SUNBURN

Children can be extremely susceptible to sunburn, so always be sure to apply sunscreen before spending time outdoors. Apply the sunscreen in a thick coat at least 30-45 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours (or more often in he is swimming or perspiring heavily).

Here are some other tips to protect your child from the damaging effects of the sun.

• Wear protective clothing, including a hat and long sleeve shirt and long pants. Keep in mind that most clothing only has a SPF of 5-9, so you can still get sun damage with a shirt on.

• Limit exposure to the sun when it is at its strongest (10am-4pm).

• Protect your child’s eyes with sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB radiation.

• Use sunscreen daily, even if it is cloudy, since most of the sun’s radiation penetrates clouds and can still cause sunburn.

• Consider using a sunscreen with ingredients (such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) that physically block the sun’s radiation if your child has sensitive skin.

• DEET lowers the effectiveness of sunscreens, so use a higher SPF if you are using a combination product that has both a sunscreen and an insect repellent.

Treatment of Sunburn
If your kids show any symptoms of severe sunburn, one is advised to consult a doctor immediately.

• A cool (not cold bath) is effective in reducing irritation and pain levels.

• Increase liquid intake for 2 to 3 days.

• Take aspirin for pain and inflammation (Kids are advised to take Ibuprofen containing or other physician recommended pain killers).

• Ensure all areas of sunburn are not exposed to further sun damage until healing has occurred.

• Vitamin A, C and E containing creams have a beneficial effect on the sunburned areas.

• Elastin-containing creams may shorten healing time

• Creams with a cooling and evaporative effect can prove soothing

Natural Sunburn Remedies

• Aloe Vera and other Succulent herbs ( eg. Bulbanella Species ) are reported to have positive effects.

• Cold Milk Compress: The fatty acids and possibly lactic acids in milk are reported to have healing effects on sunburn. Use a cloth or compress and soak with milk before placing on sunburned skin areas. ( Use full cream milk or half cream and milk as the fatty acids are more present in cream)

• Cold Sugarless tea: Cold ceylon tea is rich in tannins which might have positive effects on healing your sunburn. Apply cold, used tea bags to sun-burned eyelids to relieve pain and swelling

• Cucumber cut into thin slivers and applied to the affected area’s is claimed to reduce inflammation and swelling

• With sunburn our bodies dehydrate and lose water as well as mineral salts. Lots of Fruit juice as well as water will replenish your natural stocks.

POISON IVY

Do you know what poison ivy looks like? If not, take a look at this picture:

Exposure to any part of the poison ivy plant can cause a rash, which may not show up until several hours, or even days, later. You are most likely to come in contact with poison ivy in a wooded area, such as on a hike, nature trail, park or even your own backyard!

Symptoms of poison ivy include:

• an intensely itchy rash

• red bumps that often are in a straight line or streaks, from where the poison ivy plant had contact with your child’s skin

• vesicles and blisters that are filled with fluid

Keep in mind that children exposed to poison sumac and poison oak can get these same symptoms.

Other characteristic signs and symptoms of poison ivy are that the rash will worsen over days or weeks without treatment with steroids, the rash may not go away for up to three weeks without treatment, many children will have worsening symptoms with each exposure, and that some areas of a child’s skin that had less exposure to the poison ivy plant will get the rash later than others.

Treating Poison Ivy Exposures
If you are exposed, according to the FDA, you should quickly (within 10 minutes):

1. Cleanse exposed areas with rubbing alcohol.
2. Wash the exposed areas with water only (no soap yet, since soap can move the urushiol, which is the oil from the poison ivy that triggers the rash, around your body and actually make the reaction worse).
3. Take a shower with soap and warm water.
4. Put gloves on and wipe everything you had with you, including shoes, tools, and your clothes, with rubbing alcohol and water.

Unfortunately, if you wait more than 10 minutes, the urushiol will likely stay on your skin and trigger the poison ivy rash. You may not be able to stop it on your skin, but you might still scrub your nails and wipe off your shoes, etc., so that you don’t spread the urushiol to new areas.

Commercial products, like Zanfel, Ivy Cleanse Towelettes, and Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub, are also available over-the-counter, if you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol.

Remember that poison ivy isn’t contagious though, so touching the rash won’t actually spread it.
Since your kids get poison ivy a lot, having a ‘poison ivy action kit’ ready, with rubbing alcohol, a large bottle of water, and some soap, might be a good idea. Since rubbing alcohol can be poisonous, children should be supervised with it though and it is not something you should send off into the woods with them.

Preventing Poison Ivy
In addition to getting rid of poison ivy when you find it, you can avoid poison ivy by:
• wearing long pants and a shirt with long sleeves, boots and gloves when your kids will be most at risk, especially when playing in wooden areas, around lakes, or going on hikes
• apply Ivy-Block to exposed areas

So, get those kids outside to enjoy the weather, but be aware of your surroundings and make sure to watch carefully to help avoid run-ins with these outdoor dangers.  If your kids do get exposed to any of these things, be sure to discuss it with your host parents as soon as possible, in case of any severe reactions.

National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 6, 2010

Is the Nation’s Capital on your list of places to visit during your year?  If so, the end of March and beginning of April are an excellent time to go!  Even if you have been there, consider another visit during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The plantings of cherry trees originated in 1912 as gift of friendship to the United States from the people of Japan. In Japan, the flowering cherry tree or “Sakura”, as it is called by the Japanese people, is one of the most exalted flowering plants. The beauty of the cherry blossom is a potent symbol equated with evanescence of human life and epitomizes the transformations Japanese Culture has undergone through the ages. The date when the Yoshino cherry blossoms reach peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions.

For the past 98 years, people from all over the world have gathered in Washington, DC to welcome the arrival of spring and to share the special season with each other. The splendid cherry trees, the focal point of the Cherry Blossom Festival, are constant reminders of the strong and enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.

Festival: March 27 - April 11
2010 Peak Bloom Date Forecast: April 1

Another great thing about visiting Washington, DC is that all the museums along the National Mall that are part of the Smithsonian Institution have no admission fee.  Other sites, like the famous Lincoln Memorial, are outdoors and you can walk right up to them.  The Washington Monument also has free tickets distributed day, but they are first-come, first-serve, so you may need to plan ahead get there early if this is on your itinerary.  You can call ahead to reserve tickets for a small fee (about $2.00 per ticket.)

Putting Kids First: Helping At-Risk Children Worldwide

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 2, 2010

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s mission to break down barriers of culture and language through educational exchange, a group of local childcare coordinators and staff recently visited South Africa to see firsthand the difference the donations from the Cultural Care community have made through our charitable organization Kids First.

Since it’s inception in 2004, Kids First has supported many worldwide organizations that work with at-risk youth. From the daycare center in Brazil to the school library in New Orleans to an orphanage in Russia, Kids First has supported a wide range of global organizations. Our most recent work at an orphanage and daycare center in a poverty-stricken township outside Capetown, South Africa is another great example of the work we are doing worldwide.

Cultural Care staff and LCCs had an opportunity to visit several projects funded through CHOSA, an organization that Kids First supports. CHOSA provides support to programs that work with at-risk children and their families to provide nutrition, medication, clothing, food, shelter and an education.

During the service visit, those who participated had a chance to visit the Ubuhle Babantwana Care Center, which helps 150 children, some of whom are HIV positive. Donations received from au pairs, host families and Cultural Care LCCs and staff have provided funds for the building of a new structure for the infants and toddlers in the center. The group from Cultural Care Au Pair had an opportunity to see the new structure, meet the inspirational director and dedicated teachers and had some time to play with the children.

In addition, the group visited the Ilitha-Labantwana Place of Safety, the Philani Child Health and Nutrition Project, the Emasithandane Children’s Project and the Baphumulele Children’s Home. The Cultural Care team is now bringing their experience back to the U.S. to raise awareness, and additional funds for even more projects that Kids First supports.

“Our Kids First trip to Cape Town was truly amazing and inspiring,” says Local Childcare Coordinator Trudy Mar. “The work, effort, love and sacrifice the women heading up these projects give to all of the kids goes well beyond what most of us could imagine. If one little body sleeps better, eats better and smiles more, we’ve helped to change their future and make the world a better place. Every dollar we raise for Kids First definitely does make a difference.”

For information about how you can make a contribution to Kids First, or raise awareness for the programs it supports, visit this link or the Kids First tab at the top of this page.  You can also contact me directly.

Our local au pairs can help by participating in our May regional event, the Au Pair Amazing Race.  A portion fo the $5 registration fee will be donated to Kids First.

We love our “mannies!” Reasons to host a male au pair

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 2, 2010

Parents who host male au pairs are quick share that their au pairs offer their family everything that female au pairs do and more. Cultural Care is one of the only au pair programs that recruit male au pairs and we are very proud of our male candidates! Here are some reasons to consider hosting a male au pair. Watch the video.

As an LCC, I have had the privilege to get to know some truly wonderful male au pairs, who were not only positive and outgoing within our au pair group, but became invaluable members of their host families and I would highly recommend considering one.  Check out my Au Pair of the Month page and you will see that our very first Au Pair of the Month was a male au pair from Colombia, and the International Au Pair Association’s Au Pair of the Year last year was a male au pair from Brazil.

If you’d like more information about hosting a male au pair, please contact me!

Childcare Tip of the Week #11: Creating a Fun, Clean Play Space

Posted by: Amy Bryan on March 1, 2010

Have toys taken over your host kids’ rooms or play room? I know that is a common problem at my house…lots of stuff, and in our case, not much room for it all. It is okay for you in your role as an au pair to help with tidying up the children’s rooms and toys, so this would not be something that would go against your duties. If you think any of these things might work, please be sure to check with your host family beforehand!

The following tips come from an article in the January 2010 edition of MetroKids.

Have your kids’ toys, books and games taken over your home, multiplying at a furious pace and spreading like wildfire through every room? If you answered an emphatic “yes!” it’s time to talk to your host family about creating an inviting play area that your children and their stuff can call home.

Tidy Playroom Tips

• Run a colored marker over the back of puzzle piecesand you’ll always know where they belong. Store puzzles in Ziploc bags.

• Store children’s artwork in a large artist portfolio,available at art supply stores. Save only the favorite work. Photograph three-dimensional items.

• To help your child organize, take a child’s eye view:Look at the room from her vantage point.

• Use expandable or pegged hat racks to hold stuffed animals, dress-up clothes, belts, scarves and, of course, hats.

• Store picture books as a flip-file, standing upright in a plastic dishpan rather than on bookshelves, which are harder for little fingers to access.

• Organize bottom-to-top. Place the most used toys closest to the floor. Even if you don’t have space for a separate playroom, it’s still possible to create a distinct play area within a larger space, and well worth the effort. “There might be an alcove or niche you can use. For integrated spaces, try suggest using rolling shelving that can be turned toward a wall and wheeled out for playtime. “You can do faux finish painting on the back so it looks like a decorative part of a den or living room.

Decorating Pointers

• Once you’ve chosen your playroom space, it’s time to think about decorating. Be sure to let the kids provide some input; they’ll enjoy the room even more if they have a role in the design process.

• Proper lighting is a crucial, and often overlooked, component of playroom décor.  It’s important, even when kids are little, that they can see well and don’t get frustrated.

Fun and Functional

• Furniture should be both fun and functional. For young children, a pint-size table and chair set is a must; for older children, a desk/computer station is the way to go. Fun seating such as beanbag chairs or kid-size fold out foam sofas also work well.

• Experts recommend maximizing space by installing floor-to-ceiling shelving and/or cubbies to hold books, toys, and games. “I like open shelving, but you can also do shelving that has a combination of open shelves and some that are behind closed doors.

Storing the Stuff

• Once the decorating is complete, it’s time to organize. Begin by grouping toys in categories (dolls, stuffed animals, action figures, etc.) and storing each group separately. Clear plastic bins that are labeled work well. (For pre-readers, take a picture and attach it to the outside of the bin.)

• Use a variety of sizes of plastic containers, some with lids, some open dishpan style for bigger, bulkier things.  Avoid using toy chests; invariably, kids end up dumping them out in search of that elusive toy at the very bottom. Place less popular items, or items that require adult supervision, on the higher shelves. Periodically, rotate appropriate items that are out of reach to lower shelf positions.

• Arts and crafts items can be a challenge to organize. Set up a dedicated section of the playroom for these items “using either plastic holders with pull out drawers or plastic shoeboxes with lids, one for crayons, one for markers, another for colored pencils; separate everything but have it all together in the same area.

• For tiny items such as beads or sequins, plastic tackle boxes with many small compartments are a great solution. Collections such as Barbie dolls or Beanie Babies can live happily ever after in clear plastic shoe bags with pockets.

Separate and Label

• Separate toys and label them.  It makes it much easier for kids if they know exactly where things go.  If you can say ‘put the blocks back on the block shelf, put all the play food back in the kitchen area, put the crayons back in the crayon bin,’ and give them specific instructions, it can make everybody’s life a whole lot easier.

• Try to regularly clean out and purge unused items.  A lot of kids today have so many toys they really feel overwhelmed.  Experts recommend packing one-third of a child’s toys away for six months. If the toys aren’t missed, give them away to a local children’s charity, or try bringing them back a few months later and pack away a new set of items in their place. That way kids have less to focus on at any point, and it feels like Christmas all the time, too.

Please remember to check with your host family before doing any organizing or decorating.  If you’re given the “green light,” get the kids invloved and have fun!

Philadelphia International Flower Show - 28 February to 7 March

Posted by: Amy Bryan on February 27, 2010

The Philadelphia International Flower Show opens tomorrow and runs through next Sunday, March 7th.  It takes place at the Philadelphia Convention Center, located at 12th and Arch Streets in Center City.  This year’s theme is “Passport to the World” and will feature flowers and plants from Europe, South America, Asia and New Zealand.

There are garden and floral displays, as well as individual entries, which are judged.  Some of the displays will feature flowers and plants from the Brazilian rainforest, orchids from Singapore, Japanese flower displays, Dutch tulips and wildflowers from the US East Coast and PA.  For a full list of all the different displays featured, click here.

For more information such as hours, admission fees and maps, visit the Flower Show’s website by clicking on the link above.  You can also find directions and how to get there via Septa or Amtrak.  Amtrak offers a 15% discount as well, so look for the discount code on the “Directions” page.