Well, I think male au pairs may be on the rise in the USA very soon! The Au Pair of the Year Award for 2009 went to a Brazilian young man, Ricardo, who takes care of a special needs teen. Visit our website, http://www.aupairclearinghouse.com/ to read his story and view his video. The runner up was also a male au pair!
This kind of publicity may turn America families on to the idea of hosting a male au pair for their families. Americans typically do not hire males to care for their children - hosting a male au pair is much more common in Europe than it is here in the States.
Why? Probably because we are wary of sexual predators - pedophiles that pose as people interested in children for all the wrong reasons!
However, male au pairs are on the rise in Europe and have been used for many years with no or little trouble and families often report happy, secure and outgoing guys who sign up to become an au pair.
Male au pairs are characterized as having better driving skills and are stronger, lifting children all day will not tire out a male au pair in the same way as female au pairs often complain about.
Parents also report they look for male au pairs when they have multiple boys in the family - where a "big" brother is needed, particulary in the area of sports. Soccer, baseball, rugby, football, hockey, etc., are all active sports that male au pairs are often good and and are willing to play with the children they care for.
Maybe we will see a rise in the hiring of male au pairs here in the States, or maybe not. The worry American families have around sexual abuse is high and they might pass on this option when they start to look at agencies.
Has anyone had a great experience with a male au pair in the States?
We would love to hear from you and if you would recommend a male au pair.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Au Pair of the Year Award Announced in Vienna, Austria
Here is the announcement made by IAPA, written by Ozgur Tore, on the official release of the winner of the Au Pair of the Year Award:
Au Pair of the Year awarded at City Hall in Vienna
Published by Ozgur Tore
Monday, 30 March 2009
IAPA - the International Au Pair Association has announced the winner of the Au Pair of the Year, 24-year old, Ricardo Silva de Araujo of Brazil. He was placed with a family in the United States.
Now in its sixth year, the annual award presented by IAPA goes to an Au Pair that embodies the spirit of cultural exchange. Families from around the world that have received an Au Pair from one of IAPA’s 140 plus member agencies can nominate candidates for the award. A panel of IAPA representatives then selects three finalists from the hundreds of entries, with a winner chosen from these.
“As is the case every year, we had a very difficult time selecting just one winner from the many, many deserving entries we received. Ricardo was so special for his openness, sharing and commitment to his host family and their son Taylor,” said Jack Hompes, IAPA chairman.
Cultural Care Au Pair, an organisation based in the USA placed Ricardo with the Boyer family. The family’s now 17-year son, Taylor is multi-handicapped, having suffered an allergic reaction to an immunization as a six month old. He is unable to speak, has difficulty walking and experiences seizures. In Ricardo’s words however, “he may not able to talk, but he is able to feel. His feelings are pure as an angel and his smile when happy, is the best way to say thank you.”
Upon Ricardo’s arrival with the Boyer family that was in the midst of preparing for their daughter’s upcoming wedding, Ricardo was amazed by the incredible patience and support the family showed him during this stressful time. There was much Ricardo had to learn in order to help properly care for Taylor and the family’s support made the enormous transition to a new culture, new language and learning new skills much easier.
Talking about his time with the family, Ricardo says, “I learned the real meaning of love, patience and respect. Real love does not come in phrases like: “I love you,” this is easy to say but difficult to feel.
Taylor’s disability is not an obstacle for his happiness, this has made me feel good. I love Taylor and know he loves me back. I can feel it.”
Ricardo concludes, ”I came to America as an au pair, I will leave a better human being.”
For his achievement, Ricardo Silva de Araujo received a commemorative plaque and prize from IAPA, in addition to an all expense paid trip to Vienna to receive the award.
The award is presented as part of the IAPA Annual Conference and in conjunction with the Work Experience Travel Market.
About the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) The International Au Pair Association (IAPA) was established in 1994 by cultural exchange organisations seeking to improve and protect the rights of au pairs and host families around the world. The association has been responsible for the creation of internationally recognised guidelines for au pairs and exchange programmes with its 140 plus member organisations agreeing to abide by the IAPA Code of Conduct: signifying competence, fair dealing and high integrity.
Au Pair of the Year awarded at City Hall in Vienna
Published by Ozgur Tore
Monday, 30 March 2009
IAPA - the International Au Pair Association has announced the winner of the Au Pair of the Year, 24-year old, Ricardo Silva de Araujo of Brazil. He was placed with a family in the United States.
Now in its sixth year, the annual award presented by IAPA goes to an Au Pair that embodies the spirit of cultural exchange. Families from around the world that have received an Au Pair from one of IAPA’s 140 plus member agencies can nominate candidates for the award. A panel of IAPA representatives then selects three finalists from the hundreds of entries, with a winner chosen from these.
“As is the case every year, we had a very difficult time selecting just one winner from the many, many deserving entries we received. Ricardo was so special for his openness, sharing and commitment to his host family and their son Taylor,” said Jack Hompes, IAPA chairman.
Cultural Care Au Pair, an organisation based in the USA placed Ricardo with the Boyer family. The family’s now 17-year son, Taylor is multi-handicapped, having suffered an allergic reaction to an immunization as a six month old. He is unable to speak, has difficulty walking and experiences seizures. In Ricardo’s words however, “he may not able to talk, but he is able to feel. His feelings are pure as an angel and his smile when happy, is the best way to say thank you.”
Upon Ricardo’s arrival with the Boyer family that was in the midst of preparing for their daughter’s upcoming wedding, Ricardo was amazed by the incredible patience and support the family showed him during this stressful time. There was much Ricardo had to learn in order to help properly care for Taylor and the family’s support made the enormous transition to a new culture, new language and learning new skills much easier.
Talking about his time with the family, Ricardo says, “I learned the real meaning of love, patience and respect. Real love does not come in phrases like: “I love you,” this is easy to say but difficult to feel.
Taylor’s disability is not an obstacle for his happiness, this has made me feel good. I love Taylor and know he loves me back. I can feel it.”
Ricardo concludes, ”I came to America as an au pair, I will leave a better human being.”
For his achievement, Ricardo Silva de Araujo received a commemorative plaque and prize from IAPA, in addition to an all expense paid trip to Vienna to receive the award.
The award is presented as part of the IAPA Annual Conference and in conjunction with the Work Experience Travel Market.
About the International Au Pair Association (IAPA) The International Au Pair Association (IAPA) was established in 1994 by cultural exchange organisations seeking to improve and protect the rights of au pairs and host families around the world. The association has been responsible for the creation of internationally recognised guidelines for au pairs and exchange programmes with its 140 plus member organisations agreeing to abide by the IAPA Code of Conduct: signifying competence, fair dealing and high integrity.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rate our Top Three Agency Picks!
Please take a few moments to take our short survey on our Top Au Pair Agency Picks!
We want to continue to ensure that our ratings of these au pair agencies are accurate and up-to-date!
Thank you for taking the time to complete the short survey - click below to start:
http://www.polldaddy.com/s/06EC37D1D9E06A6B/
We want to continue to ensure that our ratings of these au pair agencies are accurate and up-to-date!
Thank you for taking the time to complete the short survey - click below to start:
http://www.polldaddy.com/s/06EC37D1D9E06A6B/
Friday, March 20, 2009
Economic Downturn Linked to an Increase in Child Abuse
Economic Downturn Linked to Increase in Child Abuse?
March 2009: In Boston, safety advocates warn cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are rising and pleaded with lawmakers not to cut funding for the education and prevention of this deadly form of child abuse.
Dr. Deborah Eappen, whose son, Matthew, was killed by the British au pair Louise Woodward 10 years ago, said she was concerned the current economic downturn will burden families and cause stress between parents and children, leading to domestic violence. “Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome is the way to go,” said Eappen. “It's like an immunization against child abuse.”
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, who prosecuted the high-profile Louise Woodward train, said, “It’s a decade after Matty Eappen was killed -- shaken and slammed to death -- and we’re still here talking about shaken baby syndrome and shaken impact syndrome as being a prominent and prevalent form of child abuse.”
Apparently, cases of the brain injury known as Shaken Baby Syndrome have increased in the past few months, a spike that Massachusett's child abuse specialists say may be linked to families' depressed economic situation.
Research has shown a relationship between increased family stress and domestic abuse where the more stress a family experiences, the more vulnerable the children are to incidents of abuse.
Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is violently shaken, causing the brain to hit against the sides of their skull, causing neurological injury that can lead to life-long mental and physical disabilities or death.
You can view Dr. Eappen and District Attorney, Gerry Leone, plead with Massachusett's lawmakers not to cut the state's $350,000 budget alloted for Shaken Child Syndrome: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/18969408/index.html.
Caution: If your infant is cared by an au pair, who is typically young, often
inexperienced, make certain you educate her about Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Tell her,"Never Shake the Baby!" under any circumstances. Tell her what can happen - she may not know she can cause neurological damage to the baby or even death.
March 2009: In Boston, safety advocates warn cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome are rising and pleaded with lawmakers not to cut funding for the education and prevention of this deadly form of child abuse.
Dr. Deborah Eappen, whose son, Matthew, was killed by the British au pair Louise Woodward 10 years ago, said she was concerned the current economic downturn will burden families and cause stress between parents and children, leading to domestic violence. “Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome is the way to go,” said Eappen. “It's like an immunization against child abuse.”
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone, who prosecuted the high-profile Louise Woodward train, said, “It’s a decade after Matty Eappen was killed -- shaken and slammed to death -- and we’re still here talking about shaken baby syndrome and shaken impact syndrome as being a prominent and prevalent form of child abuse.”
Apparently, cases of the brain injury known as Shaken Baby Syndrome have increased in the past few months, a spike that Massachusett's child abuse specialists say may be linked to families' depressed economic situation.
Research has shown a relationship between increased family stress and domestic abuse where the more stress a family experiences, the more vulnerable the children are to incidents of abuse.
Shaken Baby Syndrome occurs when a baby is violently shaken, causing the brain to hit against the sides of their skull, causing neurological injury that can lead to life-long mental and physical disabilities or death.
You can view Dr. Eappen and District Attorney, Gerry Leone, plead with Massachusett's lawmakers not to cut the state's $350,000 budget alloted for Shaken Child Syndrome: http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/18969408/index.html.
Caution: If your infant is cared by an au pair, who is typically young, often
inexperienced, make certain you educate her about Shaken Baby Syndrome.
Tell her,"Never Shake the Baby!" under any circumstances. Tell her what can happen - she may not know she can cause neurological damage to the baby or even death.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Child Chokes to Death on Carrot - Does your Au Pair know CPR?
Tragedy struck a Long Island day school Wednesday, March 16, 2009, when police say a two-year-old girl died after choking on a piece of raw carrot.
According to the Carousel Day School in Hicksville, New York, the girl began to choke after eating a piece of carrot. Daycare employees tried to perform CPR on her, before rushing the toddler to Nassau University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 4:25 p.m.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics one child in the U.S. dies from choking on food every 5 days!
Is your au pair certified in CPR? Did your agency train your au pair to adequately handle such an emergency if your child started to choke on food?
If your au pair does not have the CPR Certification or the necessary skills required to dislodge food from a child's throat, it may mean the difference of life or death for your child.
We took a look at the 12 au pair agencies and we found health and safety information on all their sites that confirm all au pairs do receive some training in first aid and CPR. The U.S. Department of State requires that some form of basic training must be provided during the 4-5 day au pair orientation.
We found that only one of the agencies provides the full CPR Core training that results in a CPR Certification! We also found one agency that will reimburse you or your au pair if she completes the training after she arrives at your home.
To find out who these au pair agencies are, (and the basic training the other agencies do provide), read the entire article at www.aupairclearinghouse.com under Current News.
According to the Carousel Day School in Hicksville, New York, the girl began to choke after eating a piece of carrot. Daycare employees tried to perform CPR on her, before rushing the toddler to Nassau University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 4:25 p.m.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics one child in the U.S. dies from choking on food every 5 days!
Is your au pair certified in CPR? Did your agency train your au pair to adequately handle such an emergency if your child started to choke on food?
If your au pair does not have the CPR Certification or the necessary skills required to dislodge food from a child's throat, it may mean the difference of life or death for your child.
We took a look at the 12 au pair agencies and we found health and safety information on all their sites that confirm all au pairs do receive some training in first aid and CPR. The U.S. Department of State requires that some form of basic training must be provided during the 4-5 day au pair orientation.
We found that only one of the agencies provides the full CPR Core training that results in a CPR Certification! We also found one agency that will reimburse you or your au pair if she completes the training after she arrives at your home.
To find out who these au pair agencies are, (and the basic training the other agencies do provide), read the entire article at www.aupairclearinghouse.com under Current News.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Johnson's No Tear's Baby Shampoo Carcinogenic?
A new report just released confirms the presence of carcinogenic chemicals in popular baby bath products. These chemicals have caused cancer in animals and in humans!
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 48 top-selling children's products for 1,4-dioxane and 28 of them for formaldehyde.
Formaledehyde is used for embalming corpses and as glue in chipboard.
The 1,4-dioxane chemical is used as a foaming agent in bath products.
According to the US National Cancer Institute, studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have linked the chemical to cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, brain and possibly leukemia.
Among the products that had one or more of these chemicals in their ingredients were:
Johnson's Baby Shampoo
L'Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 shampoo
Pampers Kandoo foaming hand soap.
According to the US National Cancer Institute, studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have linked the chemical to cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, brain and possibly leukemia.
Read the entire post and get the link to the study by visiting http://www.aupairclearinghouse.com/.
Is there a possible link between shampooing infants' heads with these products and the dramatic, unexplained spike in the numbers of children diagnosed with autism?
We know autism is a disorder of the brain, but experts have not been able to fully explain how this happens and why so many children have been diagnosed with this disorder in the past 30 years.
This new study may start to raise questions about this possible link between the use of these products on infants' heads (where the fontanel only forms a thick skin over the top of an infant's head, leaving them vulnerable to environmental hazards) and the staggering rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism and other brain-related disorders.
What is your opinion?
Let us know!
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 48 top-selling children's products for 1,4-dioxane and 28 of them for formaldehyde.
Formaledehyde is used for embalming corpses and as glue in chipboard.
The 1,4-dioxane chemical is used as a foaming agent in bath products.
According to the US National Cancer Institute, studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have linked the chemical to cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, brain and possibly leukemia.
Among the products that had one or more of these chemicals in their ingredients were:
Johnson's Baby Shampoo
L'Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 shampoo
Pampers Kandoo foaming hand soap.
According to the US National Cancer Institute, studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have linked the chemical to cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, brain and possibly leukemia.
Read the entire post and get the link to the study by visiting http://www.aupairclearinghouse.com/.
Is there a possible link between shampooing infants' heads with these products and the dramatic, unexplained spike in the numbers of children diagnosed with autism?
We know autism is a disorder of the brain, but experts have not been able to fully explain how this happens and why so many children have been diagnosed with this disorder in the past 30 years.
This new study may start to raise questions about this possible link between the use of these products on infants' heads (where the fontanel only forms a thick skin over the top of an infant's head, leaving them vulnerable to environmental hazards) and the staggering rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism and other brain-related disorders.
What is your opinion?
Let us know!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Nanny Cams - Right or Wrong?
We have all heard stories of childcare workers abusing young children they were hired to care for. Perhaps you have given some thought to this and considered a "nanny cam" yourself. Working parents worry about their children and particulary their babies, who cannot tell them they are mistreated by their au pair. After all, your new au pair is a stranger, from a foreign country, young and perhaps inexperienced!
Do you have the right to install a nanny cam and record her during the day? What are your rights, as parents? What privacy rights does your au pair have not to be recorded without her knowledge and approval?
It is legal, in all fifty states, to use a hidden camera in your home. However, it is illegal to record someone's conversation via the camera without their consent in the following fifteen states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennyslvania, and Washington.
If the prospect of video taping your au pair conflicts with your sense of ethics, be upfront and during the interview, ask her if she would mind being monitored while taking care of your infant. You can tell your au pair that you would like to be able to see your baby while you are at work, and discuss the camera as a way to connect with your child(ren) during the day. This explanation presents the nanny cam as a positive experience for the family, rather than a looming doubt on your part about her ability to care for your children.
Keep in mind, most au pairs would bristle at the thought of being taped without their knowledge! It is a matter of trust vs a feeling of deception.
Caregiver surveillance is more common nowadays and is an integral part of any good daycare. Some daycare centers now provide parents with the ability to check in and watch their child from their office - so it is not much of a stretch to consider installing a nanny cam in your own home. The public in general are becoming more comfortable with camera surveillance and we know we might be on video shopping, going to the bank, entering apartment and office buildings, etc. So, why not use nanny cams to protect children?
If you are considering installing such a device (and have the okay from your au pair), make sure you are not violating her rights by placing the camera in inappropriate areas of your home (her room, the bathrooms, etc.) where she does expect privacy. Nanny cams are usually placed in rooms where the baby spends most of her day: kitchen, her bedroom, the family room.
There are many type of nanny cams available on the market and most are small and wireless so they can be tucked away without being noticed. Just place the camera in a discreet location within the recommended transmission signal range. Plug the receiver into your computer and it will lock onto the camera’s transmission signal. Video is then recorded onto the hard drive of your computer. You can also set it up with software programs that enable you to watch the video live on the internet while you’re at work.
After a while, the au pair will not even think about the camera and just get on with her busy day taking care of the baby and you get the peace of mind that you can monitor your child's safety as well as checking in to see what your little one is up to, right from the comforts of your office!
Has anyone used a nanny cam? What was your experience? Did you feel okay about it, and more importantly, was your au pair aware that you were videotaping her?
Please send in your comments so readers can benefit from your experience - Nanny Cams, Right or Wrong??
Do you have the right to install a nanny cam and record her during the day? What are your rights, as parents? What privacy rights does your au pair have not to be recorded without her knowledge and approval?
It is legal, in all fifty states, to use a hidden camera in your home. However, it is illegal to record someone's conversation via the camera without their consent in the following fifteen states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennyslvania, and Washington.
If the prospect of video taping your au pair conflicts with your sense of ethics, be upfront and during the interview, ask her if she would mind being monitored while taking care of your infant. You can tell your au pair that you would like to be able to see your baby while you are at work, and discuss the camera as a way to connect with your child(ren) during the day. This explanation presents the nanny cam as a positive experience for the family, rather than a looming doubt on your part about her ability to care for your children.
Keep in mind, most au pairs would bristle at the thought of being taped without their knowledge! It is a matter of trust vs a feeling of deception.
Caregiver surveillance is more common nowadays and is an integral part of any good daycare. Some daycare centers now provide parents with the ability to check in and watch their child from their office - so it is not much of a stretch to consider installing a nanny cam in your own home. The public in general are becoming more comfortable with camera surveillance and we know we might be on video shopping, going to the bank, entering apartment and office buildings, etc. So, why not use nanny cams to protect children?
If you are considering installing such a device (and have the okay from your au pair), make sure you are not violating her rights by placing the camera in inappropriate areas of your home (her room, the bathrooms, etc.) where she does expect privacy. Nanny cams are usually placed in rooms where the baby spends most of her day: kitchen, her bedroom, the family room.
There are many type of nanny cams available on the market and most are small and wireless so they can be tucked away without being noticed. Just place the camera in a discreet location within the recommended transmission signal range. Plug the receiver into your computer and it will lock onto the camera’s transmission signal. Video is then recorded onto the hard drive of your computer. You can also set it up with software programs that enable you to watch the video live on the internet while you’re at work.
After a while, the au pair will not even think about the camera and just get on with her busy day taking care of the baby and you get the peace of mind that you can monitor your child's safety as well as checking in to see what your little one is up to, right from the comforts of your office!
Has anyone used a nanny cam? What was your experience? Did you feel okay about it, and more importantly, was your au pair aware that you were videotaping her?
Please send in your comments so readers can benefit from your experience - Nanny Cams, Right or Wrong??
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