Spending time with the Host Kids 

Spending time with the Host Kids is the main activity an Au Pair will have to do during her experience. Spending good quality time with the Host Kids is the most rewarding part of this cultural exchange. You may have already read our blogs about seasonal Christmas activities, fun music sessions, energetic sports games, or cozy storytime activities. They are all offering wonderful suggestions for creating moments of bonding and learning with the Host Kids. 

In this blog, we want to suggest something that requires the use of the hands, something that can be a calming down activity but also a stimulating one, which can train the creativity of everyone’s minds. We are speaking of arts and crafts! 

Arts and crafts 

Arts and crafts develop imagination, fine motor skills, independence, and self-expression. They’re enjoyable for nearly every age group, so every Au Pair can choose an activity from the list below based on their own Host Kids’ ages.

Below you can find easy, affordable, and mess-friendly ideas you can try with your Host Kids. Every idea also suggests some modifications that can be done in order to adapt the activity to the age of the kids. 

Creating a Vision Board 

Vision boards are a great idea to let people express and represent who they are. It is a perfect activity to get to know your Host Kids better and also to show yourself with your hobbies and desires to the kids. The vision boards will remain a good memory of this moment together and also of your stay as an Au Pair. 

How to do it: 

Collect magazines, newspapers, stickers, colored paper, photos, ribbons, dried flowers, or any other materials you have at home. You will also need some scissors and some glue. Let the kids cut or tear out images, shapes, and words that represent their interests, dreams, or favorite things. They can glue them onto a large sheet of paper or cardboard.

For the youngest, instead of cutting, you can suggest simply drawing on the board what they like to eat, which is their favourite sport or animal, and so on. 

Pasta Jewelry 

This is an idea for creating some bracelets and necklaces, but also some decorations for the house or their own bedroom. A Christmas version is also possible!

How to do it: 

You just need some dry pasta in different shapes (wheels, penne, farfalle, etc), some normal paint or food coloring, and strings.

A nice idea that can transform this moment into a bonding activity with your Host Kids could be proposing that they create some “friendship bracelets”, which will also remain a symbol of this beautiful experience with you. 

Homemade Play Dough 

Homemade play-dough is easy to prepare, cheap, and perfect for a sensory activity to do with the youngest. 

How to do it: 

To make the play-dough, you will have to mix flour, salt, water, and a little oil. You can also add some food coloring if you want to have the coloured version. Once the dough is ready, the kids can create shapes, animals, food items, or even letters. You can leave the shapes created to dry in a dark place, and eventually paint and decorate them with some glitter. 

!Christmas version! You can make a small hole in the play-dough shapes, and once decorated, you can hang them with a string to the Christmas tree! 

Cooking Biscuits (Christmas or Any Time Edition) 

Cooking biscuits is a perfect Christmas, but also any time of the year activity to do together.
The dough is easy to make with flour, milk, eggs, sugar and some yeast. It is perfect for all ages, as everyone can have fun shaping the biscuits and then, once cooked, decorating them with some food decorations or melting chocolate. 

!A special recipe! If you mix oat flakes, honey, and some brown sugar, you obtain a really sweet dough that is easy to shape by the youngest kids! They can have fun while creating small sculptures, and they will also learn a healthy recipe full of good nutrients for their growth. 

Origami

Origami is considered to be a high-quality game for developing concentration, accuracy, and fine motor skills. Based on the age of your Host Kids, you can start with watching some YouTube tutorials and begin with the easiest figures like boats, dogs, and hearts.
No need to say that you will just need a lot of patience and some papers! 

Pick up one idea and have fun! 

Finding a good activity to do with the Host Kids is not always that easy, but this blog will help you and your fantasy! 
Remember that all these ideas can also be suggested as an activity to do together with the Host Family: arts and crafts can strengthen the connection among everyone and can leave really good memories and skills to the Host Kids, as a sign of your precious job during your stay.