There was a time when the phrase “spring break” evoked a feeling of freedom, fun and relaxation. Unfortunately, for most parents those days came to an end with the commencement address. Now for many parents “spring break” means one week off from school for children and the need to find additional childcare.
One may consider hiring a babysitter or nanny, but in choosing this option parents are left at the mercy of the babysitter’s availability. If they get sick or suddenly become unavailable then parents will be left in a last minute predicament. Hiring a babysitter or nanny also puts the burden of carrying out background checks and verifying employment eligibility on the shoulders of the parents. Often this ends up being the most expensive option for families.
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Asking a close relative or family friend to care for the kids is an appealing option. While it may initially seem like the best of both worlds – hiring a trustworthy person at an economical price – in the long run there could be road bumps. The reason being, that it is often harder to set and maintain boundaries when working with a relative or close friend.
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The question then becomes, is there a childcare option that can meet parents needs year-round, including spring break? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Cultural Care Au Pair offers families a unique childcare option that will not only be beneficial to the children but to the family as a whole, especially when parents need extra care during spring break. Each Cultural Care Au Pair family experiences the benefit of having the following:
(1) Time
Families get up to 45 hours/week and 10 hours/day of childcare coverage for up to two years. Therefore, parents can rest assured that during spring break their children will be receiving the individualized attention that they need.
(2) Flexibility
An au pair provides the flexibility to customize childcare hours to the parents’ desired schedule, which is ideal for spring break when children will be out of school for an extended period of time and a family’s schedule is somewhat unpredictable.
(3) Financial Stability
The average weekly cost of an au pair is just $360 (per family, not per child), as opposed to childcare providers such as babysitters or daycare facilities which typically charge a fee per child, potentially making spring break a financially taxing time for a family.
(4) Household/Domestic Help
An au pair also helps with household duties related to children (including laundry, room cleaning and meal preparation). This type of additional help is something that most busy parents would love to have all year around, but it is sure to be especially appreciated during spring break when normal day-to-day activities are already in flux.
(5) Exposure to New Cultures
Having an au pair provides a family with the opportunity to learn a second language and have exposure to another country’s games, songs and cuisine. Spring break affords children a greater amount of free-time during the day for cultural activities with their au pair such as trips to museums and learning about the traditions of their au pair’s native country.
This spring break host families will once again experience the feeling of ease that they once felt during this time of year. To learn more about how you can host an au pair by next year’s spring break, visit www.culturalcareaupair.com for more information.
