Sunscreen is the key to a safe summer!

Summer is upon us! And that means time to find the sunscreen.

For those of us in the Midwest summer is about taking advantage of the long sunny days.  

1. Infants between 0 and 6 months should not be exposed to the sun at all. They should always be covered from the strong rays of the sun, as their extra sensitive skin cannot yet handle most sunscreens and does not have sufficient melanin to provide protection to them naturally

2. Always wear sunscreen! A sunscreen of SPF 30 or above should always be applied at least 30 minutes before going out in the sun or into the water. When beach or poolside, sunscreen needs to be applied every 2 hours, even when the sunscreen is said to be waterproof. With water and sweat, some sunscreen will still be lost over time, and needs to be reapplied in order to provide effective protection. A sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium oxide is less likely to cause an allergic reaction, and can easily be found alongside other sunscreens in store.

3. Extra sensitive areas, and thus those more prone to sun burn, are the nose, cheeks, ears, shoulders and the tops of feet when out at the beach without footwear. These areas should have sunblock reapplied often and with a high SPF protection.

4. The top of little heads are often forgotten. The skin may be covered by some hair, but those harmful rays can skill cause sun burns to our scalps. It is important to remember to always wear a hat when outside playing or swimming in the sun. You can take extra precaution by selecting a wide brimmed hat and a hat made of a special fabric that is said to block a high percentage of UV rays.

5. Be aware of the UV index, which provides an indication of how strong the suns rays are. This information can easily be found for your location on the internet, using an app for a smart phone and by avoiding peak times outdoors. The UV index is highest around midday, between 11 am and 2 pm, take extra precaution be avoiding the direct sun between 10 am and 4 pm.

6. UVA and UVB radiation from the sun can both damage vision in the long run, and lead to headaches and be bothersome in the short run. It is important for everyone to wear the proper eyewear to protect our eyes by choosing sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays.

By following these simple tips, your family’s skin from the negative effects of UVA and UVB rays, and decrease the risk of burns and melanomas. Enjoy the sun safely!

Should I or shouldn’t I? (Host an Au Pair) Part 1

While I believe that hosting an Au Pair is truly a rewarding experience, there are some pitfalls that need to be considered before jumping into this unique cultural exchange program.

Remember that not all families are a good fit an au pair program.  You are really hosting an au pair.  It is very different than hiring a local college student to baby-sit or hiring a nanny.  With a Nanny you are her employer  – with an Au Pair you are her Host Mom/Dad.  Au pairs are young women (or young men) between the ages of 18-26 who come to this country to truly be a part of your family.  They will be taking college courses that you will pay for.  They will live with your family and take care of your children like an older sister.

Things to think about:

Do you need more than 45 hours of childcare a week? If you are going to need more than 8-10 hours of childcare a day, everyday, an au pair might not be your best option  Let’s face it – taking care of young children is a hard job.  One that requires a lot of patience and life skills. The majority of au pairs are young, in the 18-20 year-old age group.  While they have all happily – even enthusiastically- agreed to take on childcare as a condition of their exchange visa, they are still at heart young adults who may lack the stamina to take care of children, especially younger children, for long, extended periods of time.  If overworked, they can become tired, irritable and their judgment can deteriorate quickly.  For this reason, the United States government has made working au pairs over 45 hours a week illegal. For all of the reasons stated above, the US State Dept. is adamant that au pair not be overworked.

Do you need someone to watch your children overnight?:  If you work the night shift or are gone for lots of late evenings you should not be relying on an au pair to be your only childcare option.  This basically refers back to the 45/10 hour rules.  If an au pair is alone with your children she is working, even if they are sleeping.  Period.

Do you have room in your home for an extra person?: An au pair must have her own bedroom.  A space to call her own with a bed, a dresser and closet- maybe a chair and desk for her computer. It should have door that locks and have at least one window.  It cannot be the “sewing room” in the basement.  Your LAR will check to make sure that is a suitable space.  If you cannot provide this for your au pair, then you should be looking for another childcare option.

Are you are uncomfortable having a stranger living in your home?: While an au pair is meant to truly become a member of your family, they do not start off that way.  The introduction period maybe be a little rocky for everyone, but your au pair should always feel welcome.  If you don’t like sharing your space and family time with an extra person, or have issues with different cultures or languages -an au pair should not be your choice of childcare.

Do you have an extra car, or live near reliable public transportation?: Au pairs are not only in this country to care for children. Remember that this program is a cultural exchange.  Au pairs are required to attend classes and cluster events. They will want to explore the area, hang out with their new friends and have some fun.  They will need some way to get around and it is the Host Family’s responsibility to provide that either with access to a car, public transportation or driving her yourself.  If you do not live near a train or bus stop with great schedules or are unwilling to share your car or drive her to class or cluster events, you should really think about a different childcare option.

Are you looking for a maid or personal assistant?: An au pair can help with the care and cleaning that come with looking after children.  Doing their laundry, making their lunches, cleaning up after an arts and craft session… Those would all be within the job description of an au pair.  Deep cleaning your home, picking up your dry cleaning, grocery shopping, running errands etc…  are not.

Read Part 2  – The bright side of hosting an au pair

goAUPAIR featured at AuPairClearingHouse

Au Pair ClearingHouse is featuring goAUPAIR this month on their website.

Here are a few snippets…

“Located in Murray, Utah and founded in 1989, this smaller agency is growing.  They have several programs, including Au Pair Plus, Educare and Premiere Au Pairs.  goAUPAIR now recruits au pairs from China, a new trend in hosting au pairs.  Tanna Wilson, Managing Director of goAUPAIR, discusses Chinese au pairs with the Clearinghouse in our exclusive interview.  This agency has added more resources on their newly upgraded website and continue to receive solid ratings on our Agency Surveys.  Award Winning Agency:  Recipient of the IAPA’s Au Pair of the Year Award for 2004 and 2005.

We expect to see great things from this expanding program!”

…..

“What are some of goAUPAIR’s Strengths?

Competitive Pricing – goAUPAIR’s pricing is very straight forward. They offer many discounts and don’t have extra fees like some other agencies.

Great Customer Service – Host Families and Au Pairs always speak with a live, friendly representative in the corporate offices. In addition to the staff at the corporate offices, goAUPAIR’s Local Area Representatives are no exception to the great customer service. Many Local Area Representatives either have been Au Pairs or have extensive experience abroad, giving Au Pairs and Host Families an extra special perspective of the Au Pair program. Host Families consistently refer their friends and family to goAUPAIR because of the outstanding customer service.

AuPairClearinghouse rate their phone service as “good-very good.”

Read the rest of the article here