Children

If you will be serving as the Faculty-in-Residence (FiR) with children, we are excited to welcome your entire family here!  Children play a special role and bring a great amount of joy and vibrancy to the community. We often find that the lives of students are enriched by the interactions with the FiR children, as it provides a home-like environment.

A word of caution: the balance between children being a cherished part of the community and an annoyance is often razor thin and can change in a moment. As with all things in life, too much of a good thing is no longer good. We ask that parents be attentive and error on the side of caution, recognizing that this experience is primarily for the university students. It can be useful to consider:

  • How are my children impacting the experience of the students?

  • Is there too much interaction time, so the students are not left to their own activities? Am I supervising them so that the time with students is appreciated and not resented?

  • Are my children hanging on, climbing on, chasing, etc. students much of the time? What if students do not feel comfortable telling you they do not want these interactions?

  • Are my children under my surveillance at all times? Are my children being left to "hang-out" with students for extended periods of time, to where the students begin feeling the burden of being responsible for them?

  • Are my children in student spaces that are not intended for them or appropriate for them, such as student residential floors?

Please take note of the below information:

1. Special furniture: the Switzerland Program has a "Pack-N-Play" (with sheets) and a booster seat for the dining room table if you would like to use them.

2. Babysitting: sometimes the FiR would like someone to babysit his/her child/children.  Due to the power dynamic inherent in the professor-student relationship, students can sometimes feel pressure to volunteer, to not ask for payment, etc., and are thus unintentionally taken advantage of.  If you choose to ask students, it is critical that you match the student worker rate (20 CHF / hour), that you let students know the rate up-front, and that you avoid making requests during busy academic seasons (in particularly, during midterms and finals).

3. Parks: there are numerous parks in the Lausanne area.  We suggest the following:

  • Parc de Milan: just 10 minutes below the Pepperdine house, this spacious park boasts of a huge soccer field, massive fountain, play spaces, and even a botanical garden! [map]

  • Parc Mon Repos: this beautiful sprawling park from the 19th century has playspaces, a cafe, and an aviary. As a point of historical interest, Voltaire presented some of his pieces in the theater located in this park! [map] For a map of more playgrounds, visit here.

  • Sauvebelin Park and Lake: this [map]

  • Vallee de la Jeunesse: this kilometer long sloping valley is an excellent place to ride bikes, climb rocks and trees, slide down the tube tunnels, or walk through the rose garden. When you are finished, you can just jump on Bus 6 and you will be deposited back on our front steps! [map]

  • Vidy beach: this long stretch along the lakefront of Lac Lèman is perfect for families! Lots of sand, gentle entry into the lake, acres of green grass, and a nearby buvette at which you can get drinks or ice cream. [map]

4. Supplies: if you need to purchase supplies for your child, we suggest the following:

  • Coop City: this large, multi-level store has diapers, food, and toys at probably the best prices in town. [map]

  • Orchestra Baby Store: for more specific baby needs. [map]

  • C&A Kids' Store: for toddler and children's clothing. [map]

5. Children and public transit: children under 6 ride for free on all Swiss public transport (trains, metros, and buses).  Children 6-16 can ride with a "junior card", which can be purchased at the train station.  The junior card allows children from 6-16 to ride on any Swiss public transit for 30 CHF per year. For reference, a regular child's bus ticket costs 2.40 CHF for a short in-town ride, so the junior card is the best value for money.

6. Daycare and schooling: if your child/ren are of the age that they would need to enroll in a daycare program or local French-speaking school, please speak with the Director immediately because there will be considerations that need to be addressed immediately. The closest programs are as follows:

  • Daycare: one program for children under 5 that has been used by staff and faculty is Le Microcosme.

  • Primary school: the primary school for children in this neighborhood is Montriond, which is a 15 minute walk from the house.

  • Middle school: children of middle school age would most likely attend Belvedere, a school which is across the street from the Pepperdine facility.