With summertime approaching, schools will be closed, and schedules can be very different from the school year. The children were used to a daily routine and so were the au pairs. Now, for most au pairs that routine has changed and you will be challenged to come up with ideas to keep your host children occupied.
It’s a good idea to establish a “summer routine” with your host children. Sit with them and write up a list of things to do for that week. It will also give you and your host children something to look forward to every day. The busier the children are, the happier they, and you will be!
Here are some suggestions of what to do with your host children. If you have more than one host child, give them turns on choosing what they would like to do. Make sure you discuss these with your host parents and get their permission before you do any of them!
Grow a garden-Purchase some flower seeds or veggies. Plant them in your special garden. Watch it grow throughout the summer!
Plan a picnic-Pick a nice spot near your home, or even in the garden, to have a picnic. On rainy days pick a spot in the house!
Visit the zoo, water park/pool and/or botanical gardens
Rent a movie-Make some popcorn and enjoy.
Play dates-Get together with another au pair with children of about the same age and plan to meet at a play ground or park. You can even organize a soccer game. Children against au pairs!! Make sure you bring your camera and something to drink.
Arts & Crafts-Plan an arts and crafts day. You can take the children to an arts & crafts store for ideas.
Write and/or act a Play-children like to dress up and act out plays. Write a simple play with your host children. Ask them to invite their friends to participate. Help them make their costumes, build a “stage” and make up invitations for the parents to come and see it. Perhaps you can include the grandparents, aunts, uncles.
International Day-Pick a country you and your host children would like to learn about. (maybe yours?) Go to the library with them and find some books about that country. Plan a “typical” dinner and find appropriate music. Talk about all the things we had learned about the country we had selected. If you have an artistic host child he or she could make placemats with a map of the country drawn on it. The possibilities and ideas are endless.
Memory book-You can paste in pictures, ticket stubs etc from all the things you do. They can also write in their books every day about what you did together. This will be a great thing to have for all of you. You and they will love looking back at this for years!
Plan a surprise dinner-Plan a simple surprise dinner with your host children for their parents. Take them for a walk to pick some flowers and have them help set the table. You can go to the library or on the internet to find recipes the (older) children can help make.
Treasure Hunt-Hide “treasures” around the garden (or house on a rainy day) and have the kids find them.
Make the most of this summer with your host children. Everyone will look back on this with fond memories and it will strengthen the bond you have with them!