Dawn Popp, Local Childcare Consultant, Cultural Care Au Pair

Dawn Popp, Local Childcare Consultant, Cultural Care Au Pair I'm a former host mom and became an LCC because I truly believe in this program! Choosing childcare is no easy decision.

I help build global families by sharing info about au pair childcare with families across the U.S., and by providing year-round support to local families and au pairs. Because as parents, we don’t ever want to compromise on quality, flexibility and trust when finding care for the most important people in the world. Hosting a Cultural Care au pair gives thousands of families across the country those very important benefits. I invite you to learn more about who our au pairs are, what they do, and why more families than ever are joining our program. For over 25 years, Cultural Care Au Pair has helped host families across the country secure childcare that provides flexibility, trust and cultural exchange. Our families love welcoming au pairs year after year. Cultural Care au pairs are carefully screened young adults from over 25 countries worldwide who have childcare experience, CPR and First Aid certification and an interest in joining an American family for a year. FLEXIBILITY
An au pair can provide up to 45 hours per week of childcare (up to 10 hours per day) on a schedule you decide, including early morning, evening and weekend coverage. Au pairs can also care for your children when they are sick, out from school on snow days and during school vacations. Families with busy schedules love hosting au pairs! TRUST
Because an au pair lives with you as a member of your family, your relationship with her develops quickly and mutual trust happens much faster than with a daycare provider or live-out nanny. After an initial period of adjustment, our host parents describe feeling a deep sense of comfort knowing their children are cared for by someone they know and respect. CULTURE
Au pairs come from many countries all over the world and can expose your entire family to their language and culture. Your children will learn words in your au pair’s native tongue and well as songs and games from her home country. Au pairs also help children gain a renewed appreciation for their own environment and a desire to see more of the world. PROTECTION
Cultural Care Au Pair is a government-regulated program, meaning there are guidelines in place designed to protect both families and au pairs during the exchange year. It also means that au pairs travel to the U.S. on a legal J-1 visa, allowing them to stay in the country (and with your family) for up to two years.

This looks like a good one to save!
08/29/2026

This looks like a good one to save!

As every parent knows, messes will happen no matter how hard you try to prevent them—here is how you can fix them!

🎡 Host Family & Au Pair Meetup at the Howard County Fair - Sunday! 🎡I'm excited to see some of my au pairs and host fami...
08/08/2026

🎡 Host Family & Au Pair Meetup at the Howard County Fair - Sunday! 🎡

I'm excited to see some of my au pairs and host families, and to meet other host families and au pairs in the area (and their LCCs!). Going to a county fair is such a classic piece of Americana, and sharing that experience together is exactly what this program is all about. 🌽🎠

This meetup is open to everyone in the local au pair community — you don't need to be with Cultural Care to come hang out! And if you're a family who's curious about hosting an au pair and wants to learn more about the program, you're very welcome too.

If you'd like to join us, please send me a message to RSVP so we know who to look for. Can't wait to see everyone there! 🎪🐄🎡

🍦 STEM Saturday just got delicious! Who says science can't be sweet? The kids will love making ice cream in a bag — a cl...
08/08/2026

🍦 STEM Saturday just got delicious! Who says science can't be sweet? The kids will love making ice cream in a bag — a classic activity that's equal parts yummy and educational.

Here's the science: mixing salt with ice lowers the freezing point, making it colder than plain ice alone. That extra-cold environment is what turns simple cream, sugar, and vanilla into scoopable ice cream — all through a little chemistry and a lot of shaking! 🧊🧪

What you'll need:
* 1/2 cup half-and-half or heavy cream
* 1 tbsp sugar
* 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
* Ice (about 4 cups)
* 1/2 cup salt
* 1 small ziplock bag + 1 large ziplock bag
* oven mitts or kitchen towel to protect hands from the cold

Basic method:
Mix the cream, sugar, and vanilla in the small bag and seal tightly. Place it inside the large bag filled with ice and rock salt, seal again, then shake, shake, shake for about 5–10 minutes. Kids will be amazed as it transforms right before their eyes! 🎉

This is the perfect mix of hands-on science and a treat everyone can enjoy afterward. Have your kids try guessing why the ice needs salt before you start — little scientists love a good prediction! For more detailed instructions, and a second part of the experiment to show kids why the salt matters: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/ice-cream-bag

This looks like such a fun idea! I recommend counting the pom-poms before setting the kids loose with them so you know h...
08/07/2026

This looks like such a fun idea! I recommend counting the pom-poms before setting the kids loose with them so you know how many to look for when it's time to clean up! (You can make that part of the activity - who can find the most? Who can find all of the green ones? There's one more missing, where could it be?)

Something fun to do with empty toilet paper rolls!

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! I'm a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies (who isn't?) and they've become my...
08/04/2026

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! I'm a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies (who isn't?) and they've become my "go to" for pot-lucks and bake sales since a friend shared this recipe with me! The title doesn't lie - it truly is the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever! **I make two minor modifications when I bake these - I use half semisweet or dark chocolate chips and half milk chocolate chips (the GOOD chocolate chips - like Ghirardelli), and before baking, I sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of each cookie.**

Try this recipe, I guarantee you'll love it! Let me know what you think!

The best chocolate chip cookie recipe ever! No weird ingredients, no chilling, etc. Just an easy, straightforward, amazingly delicious, doughy yet still fully cooked, chocolate chip cookies!

🔍✍️ STEM Saturday Mystery Alert! Ever wanted to send a secret message like a real spy? You can make invisible ink using ...
08/01/2026

🔍✍️ STEM Saturday Mystery Alert! Ever wanted to send a secret message like a real spy? You can make invisible ink using ingredients you probably already have in the house, and unlike the lemon juice version, no candles or flames needed for this one!

Here's how it works: baking soda mixed with water creates an invisible "paint" kids can use to write secret messages, draw treasure maps, or leave clues on plain paper. Once it dries, the message disappears completely! To reveal it, mix rubbing alcohol with a little turmeric and paint it over the paper — like magic, the hidden message appears in a deep red against a bright yellow background. 🟡🔴

The real science? It's all about pH! Baking soda is alkaline, and turmeric acts as a natural pH indicator, changing color when it touches an alkaline substance. Sneaky and educational all at once. 🧪

What you'll need:
🥛 Two cups or jars
🥄 One tbsp baking soda dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water (the "ink")
🧴 One tsp turmeric dissolved in 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol (the "developer")
🖌️ Q-tips and paintbrush
📄 White paper

Write your message with a Q-tip dipped in the baking soda mixture, let it dry completely (use a hairdryer if impatient), then paint over it with the turmeric solution to reveal the secret message! This is a great one to turn into a backyard scavenger hunt — hide clues around the yard and let the kids "decode" their way to a prize. 🏆

Have your kids try guessing what will happen before the reveal — that prediction step is real scientific thinking in action!

As a parent, it's hard to imagine anyone else caring for your kids the way you do. But for the Harvey family, their au p...
07/31/2026

As a parent, it's hard to imagine anyone else caring for your kids the way you do. But for the Harvey family, their au pair Evelina has proven that fear wrong. She loves their boys like family — and they love her right back. 🩷

Their 3-year-old put it best. When asked why he loves Evelina, he said, "Because she makes me happy even when I don't feel good." 🥹
Could the au pair program be the right fit for your family? Reach out to learn more! https://culturalcare.com/lcc/dpopp

This looks like a great free event for nature lovers and budding gardeners! (Sorry, the pun was too tempting to resist! ...
07/30/2026

This looks like a great free event for nature lovers and budding gardeners! (Sorry, the pun was too tempting to resist! 🤣)

Join us for our FREE Saturdays in the Children's Garden program (this Saturday, Aug. 1) any time from 10-11:30am. Robinson Nature Center volunteers will guide families through garden-related explorations, crafts, and more!

Heads up, Maryland Families - this looks like a fun event!🎉 **FREE Family Fun Day at MPT — Watch + Play 2026!** 🎉Marylan...
07/27/2026

Heads up, Maryland Families - this looks like a fun event!

🎉 **FREE Family Fun Day at MPT — Watch + Play 2026!** 🎉

Maryland Public Television (11767 Owings Mills Blvd., Owings Mills, MD) is hosting a free open-house celebration of America's 250th birthday on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 9am–3pm!

The event celebrates PBS KIDS favorites like Carl the Collector, Alma's Way, Rosie's Rules, and the brand-new docuseries America's Awesome Kids!

**What's happening:**
🎨 Arts & crafts for all ages and abilities
🎬 A screening room to catch an episode of America's Awesome Kids and share why you're awesome
🎮 Games, prizes, and dancing
📘 An event "passport" to complete for a special prize
📚 Family resources from MPT
🧘 A sensory-friendly space to relax and recharge

Come dressed in your coolest red, white, or blue. It's an open house event, so drop by anytime between 9am and 3pm.

✅ 100% FREE, but advance registration is required.
👉 Register here: https://mptevents.regfox.com/watch-play-2026

Testimonials like this are why I do what I do!"Mimi has a rare emotional intelligence. Our two oldest boys are neurodive...
07/26/2026

Testimonials like this are why I do what I do!

"Mimi has a rare emotional intelligence. Our two oldest boys are neurodiverse and need patience and sensory support, and Mimi creates a safe, steady space where they can be fully themselves. She brings calm to the everyday, especially at family meals, and she kept our home running during months when I traveled often.

We have also loved the cultural exchange, celebrating Passover and Thanksgiving together and embracing her Brazilian roots, from Pão de Queijo to Brigadeiros. When we look at our family photos now, it feels incomplete if she is not in them. Mimi is part of our story."

Curious about hosting an au pair? Let’s connect! https://culturalcare.com/lcc/dpopp

Address

Elkridge, MD

Telephone

(443) 285-1109

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dawn Popp, Local Childcare Consultant, Cultural Care Au Pair posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Dawn Popp, Local Childcare Consultant, Cultural Care Au Pair:

Shortcuts

Share

Category