Summertime means lazy days, backyard cookouts, visits to the beach and a well-deserved break from school for the kids. But if you're a working parent, the unstructured days of summer also mean that you scramble to find seasonal childcare. Summer childcare choices range from day camps, to teenage babysitters, to favors from family. And more often than not, parents must piece together a patchwork of these solutions to guarantee care for your children all summer. Most families in Buffalo face this childcare dilemma every year. But this year, many families are hosting an au pair, and for them, it is such a relief knowing they don't need to worry about childcare this summer.

For many families, hosting an au pair is a way to bridge the gap between children's soccer camps, Grandma's house and play dates. Instead of bouncing back and forth between childcare options, hosting an au pair gives us the comfort of knowing that the kids are always with someone families know and trust, with the convenience of having someone to get them from one activity to the next.

Au pairs are between the ages of 18 and 26 and come from Poland, Germany, Austria, China, Sweden, Columbia among other countries. An au pair provides up to 45 hours of childcare per week in exchange for a weekly stipend, and the opportunity to experience American culture by living with a local family. Cultural Care Au Pair works with the U.S. Department of State to authorize these qualified au pairs from abroad to reside in the United States on a Visa, allowing them to live with families for up to 12 months.

In addition to the flexibility of an au pair provides, the benefits of cultural exchange influence families to choose the au pair program over summer daycare or nannies. Au Pairs open children's eyes to the world beyond their reach—often, host children learn to sing Brazilian songs or know German children's games. Although children are out of school and having fun during the summer, they are still learning about a different language, music and culture, and the lessons they learn from an Au Pair can last a lifetime.
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Karen Place is a local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair in Buffalo, NY. She loves connecting Western New York host families with Au Pairs from around the world, helping families find flexible and affordable childcare. Karen welcomes your questions about the Au Pair program and can be reached at 716-639-7305 or Karen.place@lcc.culturalcare.com or visit www.kplace.aupairnews.com