What should we do all day?

The other day a new au pair asked me for suggestions of what she could do with the kids all day. Now, the answer varies with the family of course and host families might have very different ideas on what they would like you to do with their children. Yet the truth is if you are an au pair who has no toddlers or babies in your midst than chances are you already have plenty to do all day. You help with homework and school projects, you attend sporting events and drop off and pick up from after school activities. You ferry children to and from play dates and sleepovers and take them on outings to pools and museums.

Still, if you have infants and toddlers the day can seem less full of structure and more like mayhem. The fact is, if you want the day to go by with fun & learning & few tantrums structure can be your friend. Here are some ideas for things to do and traditions to create with your host kids.

1.  Have music/dance time every day. It is exercise and it is a fun way to show kids the moves from your country and expose them to folk music, classical, rock, etc…

2.  Crafts are essential. Children need craft time to explore their creative side and also to develop small motor skills. Depending on the age of the child, and with your host families permission, get the glue, paper, clay, paints, etc… out. There are so many occasions, themes and holidays you can base crafts on. Are you going to the zoo this weekend? Well, do some zoo animal crafts to prepare them for what they will see there.

3. Observe naptime or quiet time. Everyone needs some down time. Even after kids grow out of their naps they need a bit of time to chill out every day. It is healthy for you and them to have this break. For small kids the time might be 20 minutes but for school age children a half an hour to an hour for reading in their rooms might work. It can take awhile to establish this, and of course you should always be available to them at this time but it will add a rhythm to the day and a sense of peace once it is established. FYI, TV is not quiet time. Speaking as a parent I can attest that every minute they spend in front of a TV not moving their body results in double the energy output once the TV is switched off.

4. Check out your community. Are there playgrounds you can explore? Walking paths? Is there a library story hour for kids? A summer reading program? Your local town websites and newspapers and library bulletin boards are packed with this information. Getting each kid a chance once or twice a week to participate in community activities will let them work on building social skills while having fun and it will get you all out of the house!

5. Get some social on! Even toddlers have play dates nowadays. Invite their friends or your fellow au pairs with their kids over once in awhile (with your host families permission of course) for a play party. Ask them to bring a beverage and you prepare a snack. Come up with a theme. Dress up? Cowboy? Art day? Its up to your imagination there.

6. Chances are you already speak to them in your native tongue sometimes, but even so having a word a day really helps kids become aware that they are learning a new language. Have the child post the word on an index card on their bedroom door or in the kitchen. Ask them to use the word a few times that day and share it with siblings and parents. Talk about your words at the dinner table and help everyone in the family know and appreciate your beautiful language!

7. Ask your host parents for suggestions. Maybe they have an old scrapbooking kit they have been meaning to drag out. Or a bike path they want to share with you. Also, keep them posted on the things you’ve done with the kids that day. Nothing makes a mom and dad happier at the dinner table than hearing about their children’s activities and fun that day. As a bonus, It will remind them that they have made the right choice in choosing you as their au pair!