This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Wondering Who Can Care for Your School-Age Child?

As summer vacation officially comes to a close, children across the country are returning to school.  While some have been back in the classroom for a few weeks already, many kids in New York and Washington, DC are returning this week.  Whether the school year is already in full swing, or just beginning, now is a great time to think about your childcare needs for your school-aged children.

Helping to fill those childcare needs is CHI Au Pair USA’s specialty.  We are thrilled to offer families a variety of childcare options, each designed with modern families in mind.  In addition to our Traditional Au Pair Program, we also offer our unique EduCare Program, an affordable au pair alternative for families with older children who only need part-time childcare. EduCare is reasonably priced, with an average cost of only $295 a week for a year-long program.  This includes program fees, a weekly stipend and education costs.

One family in particular that has found EduCare just right for them is Jennifer Cafarella’s family.  Jennifer is a single mom living in Phoenix, Arizona with her nine-year-old twin daughters, Emma and Zoe.  The family is currently hosting EduCare Au Pair Chaylene from South Africa.  Jennifer decided that this was the right program for her because her girls are in school during the day, so she really needed extra help in the afternoon and evenings.  Jennifer needed an au pair who could help pick Emma and Zoe up from school and get them to their extracurricular activities, including ballet, gymnastics and music lessons.

Find out what's happening in Catonsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While Jennifer finishes up her busy work day, she knows that her children will be able to participate in the activities they love and enjoy a cultural exchange with their au pair. In the evenings Jennifer appreciates having an au pair available to help with homework, making dinner and getting the kids ready for bed.  Jennifer’s girls gain so much from each au pair the family welcomes into its home.  Jennifer notes, “Our au pairs instantly become one of the family and even now, the twins still get birthday and holiday presents from all of the past au pairs”.

Jennifer is very fond of the Au Pair Program.  She has had 3 Traditional Au Pairs and is now on her second EduCare Au Pair. She loves having live-in childcare from someone who loves her children as much as she does.  Jennifer appreciates that each au pair brings something different to her family, sharing their individual background, games they like to play and food with the family.

Find out what's happening in Catonsvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Having experience with both of CHI’s Au Pair Programs, Jennifer is very pleased with the EduCare program.  Her current au pair Chaylene is available for 30 hours a week to help with the girls and when she is not providing childcare, she is taking extra classes at the local college.  It’s an arrangement that benefits everyone.

If you have children who are at least 5 years old, the EduCare program may be right for you.  Learn more about the program and start browsing our available EduCare au pairs today


We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?