If you Google, "cultural exchange", there are an amazing number of current news articles that come up.  Cultural exchange is important to parents in the United States and the news reflects that interest.  In fact, there is an entire bureau in the State Department titled the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

A prevalent reason many families choose an au pair for childcare is the cultural exchange.  Even if families first begin to think about an au pair because of the flexibility and affordability, they are often won over to the program because of the cultural influx into their household.  I have started many host family interviews with the question, "How important is cultural exchange to your family".  Often, the parents will look at one another, shrug their shoulders, and say, "Well, it is important".  I can tell they have not given it much thought.  As we progress in our discussion, I tend to give little examples of how an au pair has shared her culture with a current host family.

For example, I have a Serbian au pair that cooked Serbian food for her host family for a week to celebrate a holiday from her home country that we do not celebrate in the United States.  I have another au pair that makes little toys for her host children out of paper, similar to the toys she played with as a child.  There are many examples of au pairs sharing their culture.

As we continue with the host family interview, the host family realizes how excited they are to have another culture in their house.

Here are some ideas that you or your au pair can do with your children to increase the cultural exchange of having an au pair.

• Toys:  Choose toys and offer activities that reflect a variety of cultural backgrounds
• Language:  Talk about language.  Some languages have more than one word for what English speakers think of as a single entity.  Ask your au pair if there are any examples in her language.
• Body language:  For English speakers, nodding the head signifies "yes".  In some cultures, nodding means "no".  Ask your au pair what body language in her country is different from body language in the U.S.
• Folklore:  Each family has its own folklore, a set of beliefs, myths, tales, and practices.  Ask your au pair about their special holiday games or food from their childhood; whether they know any dances, songs or language from "the old days" and if they know of any special "family rules."  (For instance, one family sets the rule that you can only eat one piece of popcorn at a time out of the bowl.)
• Books:  Read books that feature other cultures.  For a great book lists organized by age groups, visit Kids Activities.
• Watch Foreign Films:  the Oscar Nominations for Foreign Language Films are out and although not appropriate for children, it is interesting as a host parent to see what foreign countries are nominated.  For foreign films that are appropriate for children, PBS has some suggestions.
• Music:  Ask your au pair about the music she or he listened to as a child.  See if you can download any of them for your children.  If not, the Putumayo Kids record label produces upbeat, culturally authentic music including folk, Celtic, reggae, Latin and African music.

The other day,  I was perusing Facebook on my iPad while breastfeeding ( as you do),  and one of my baby friends had posted an Oprah Show youtube clip.  I don’t usually click on these kinds of links – who has the time right?!  But since this pertained to babies,  it piqued my interest..

We are all well aware that babies communicate to us through crying,  and let’s face it, what parent hasn’t scratched their head in frustration at 2am saying “If only I knew what you were trying to tell me..”.  Researchers at Brown University have been studying this conundrum for years,  but now,  an Australian Researcher, Priscilla Dunstan,  says that babies do indeed have different types of cry depending on what is wrong.  By listening closely and learning the distinct sounds,  Dunstan claims that we  as parents  (and caregivers)  can learn what our babies are actually trying to tell us when they cry!

Dunstan has studied over one thousand babies worldwide,  and states that all babies regardless of country and race, speak the same basic language,  a combination of reflexes and  sound.  She states that  there are  5 basic but distinct sounds that newborn babies use to communicate their different needs:

1)      “Neh”:  Means “I’m hungry” (the tongue brushing the roof of the mouth in sucking reflex)

2)      “Owh” means “I’m tired” (the O shape our mouths make when we yawn)

3)      “Heh” Discomfort (similar to Neh, but look out for the ‘h’ sound)

4)      “Eair” Lower gas (a lower sound as if contracting the lower abdomen and breathing out)

5)      “Eh” Burp (a higher airy sound).

Dunstan claims that understanding your baby’s language  can protect your sanity as a new parent and also potentially protect babies from such as ‘Shaken Baby Syndrome’ - something that has had much press in recent years,  and oft reported as stemming from parental or caregiver frustration with infant crying.

For more information about this new baby research,  along with the DVD,  Dunstan Baby Language go to oprah.com