Au Pair Info
These are common issues/concerns that some au pairs have and suggestions on how to avoid them
Awesome Au Pairs
My name is Susan Brostowin. I have been a counselor since 1994. My service area includes the North Shore of Massachusetts, over to Billerica and the seacoast of New Hampshire. Enjoy my blog!
Beat the Post Holiday and Winter Blues Tips for Au Pairs!
Posted by Susan Brostowin on Jan 2, 2012
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After the decorations are put away, the celebrations are over, the New Year has begun: and the post holiday winter blues are starting to hit you and your host family. What can you do to get through the long cold winter months happily?
- Get outside every day with the kids, bundle up and play outside. Go to the park, take a walk, ride bikes; we have been having an unusually warm winter, so enjoy it! If it snows, build a snowman, go sledding, have fun outside!
- Stay on routine with the kids; get up on time, have breakfast, get to the bus stop on time. Make sure homework is done and everyone gets to their activities on time. Bedtime routines are important, make sure everyone gets enough sleep and that includes YOU!
- Register for your classes, and get ready to start learning something new!
- Call a friend and meet for coffee and conversation if you feel housebound.
- Set up a play date with another au pair and her host children (similar ages) and enjoy a day together!
- Join a gym with another au pair!
- Use the library in your town. Sign the kids up for free programs (talk to host parents about the programs!) Join the English conversation group, improve your English and meet people!
- Prepare a Global Awareness presentation for one of your host kids’ classes, ask me for help!
- Volunteer at a local hospital, school, animal shelter, food bank if you have extra time on your hands and need to do something! Doing for others is always an answer for the blues!!
- Come to our meeting on Monday, January 9th and meet the SunTrek representative who will have wonderful trip ideas for your vacation and travel months! Come see the SunTrek slide show with all the beautiful places in the USA to visit!!
Share on: Facebook, DiggChildcare focus – Summer Safety Topics
Posted by Susan Brostowin on Jul 7, 2011
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Dehydration The little ones, especially, forget to drink or to tell you that they need to drink. If you find the children not looking well and/or getting cranky toward the afternoon, it might be because they’re tired, or it might be because they’re dehydrated. Remember: By the time a person feels thirsty, he’s already partly dehydrated, so drink to prevent thirst, not to quench it. Common symptoms of dehydration are crankiness, headaches, aches in the joints and weariness. And don’t allow your child to fill up on juice or soft drinks; these are dehydrators. Water or child-appropriate hydrating drinks are best.
However, if you or your child has severe dehydration (dry mouth, sunken eyes, reluctant to drink, unable to pee or cry, high fever, lethargy), call for emergency help and have your child sip an electrolyte-replacement fluid (such as Pedialyte).
Hot Cars: Don’t EVER leave children alone in the car — not even for a moment. Besides the danger of abduction, the temperature in a car can skyrocket in minutes. And, if you see an unattended young child in a vehicle, please call 911, the police or other emergency personnel. Your call could save the child’s life.
Drowning: Always actively supervise children in and around water. Infants and children can drown in bathtubs, swimming pools, ponds or almost any other water. Toddlers aren’t strong enough to lift themselves back out of a toilet, bucket, container or wading pool.
Sun Protection: Children’s skin and eyes are more sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Babies should be protected from direct sun entirely. Toddlers, preschoolers and older children should be covered well in sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) at least one half hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should be reapplied every hour or so, and it should be reapplied after the child has been in water. Don’t forget ears, hands, feet, lips and under the eyes. Also, make sure your child wears a hat and sunglasses when out in the sun for any length of time.
Dates to Remember in November
Posted by Susan Brostowin on Nov 2, 2010
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Election Day
Would you like to know more about the American political system? Check out http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ for a simple presentation of information about the US government including elections. Talk to the children about what you learned and create an Election Day theme at home: decorate in red, white and blue (how about colored napkins on the table?) Put out an American flag, and serve red, white and blue snacks. Blue and white corn chips with red salsa, vanilla ice cream with strawberries and blueberries or layers of colored Jell-o served with whipped cream.
Daylight Savings Time Ends
Move your clocks back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night and enjoy the extra hour of sleep…
Veteran’s Day
A day to honor American veterans of all wars, Veteran’s Day is a federal holiday. You can find some suggestions of activities to do with children at www.va.gov/KIDS/.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving dates back to the first European settlers in North America. After hardship, illness and hard work, the Pilgrims celebrated a successful harvest that they shared with their Native American friends. This national holiday is a day to feast and give thanks. Visit this site to compare Thanksgiving to other harvest festivals: www.familyculture.com/holidays/thanksgiving.htm.
Black Friday
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving and is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees take the day off, which increases the number of potential shoppers. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer door buster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Merchants and the media use the term Black Friday to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).
Civil War re-enactors in Lawrence, Mass 9/18 – 9/19
Posted by Susan Brostowin on Sep 16, 2010
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There will be a Civil War Encampment (people dress and act like they did during our Civil War) –a live history lesson. 
The program will run from Saturday to Sunday and feature camp life, cannon firing demonstrations every hour, blacksmiths, military drills, people walking around in period clothes, games for children and even a Saturday night pig roast. The weekend program begins 9am on Saturday and 9:30am Sunday. With programs lasting into the evening both days.
Location: Campagnone Common in Lawrence, Mass. Events are open to the public for free.
Trails and Sails Weekends – 2010
Posted by Susan Brostowin on Sep 1, 2010
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JOIN US on September 17-19 and 24-26 http://www.essexheritage.org/ts/
TRAILS & SAILS 2010. FREE fun and adventure abound as you explore historic, cultural and natural treasures over two weekends, at more than 100 partner sites within the Essex National Heritage Area.
Search through an exciting line-up of FREE hikes, sails, walks, paddles, special interest tours and one-of-a-kind adventures that will inform and entertain.
Take advantage of some interesting activities, most of them are free and open to the public. It would be a good idea to plan ahead; look over the site and make a plan to enjoy the activities. You can use www.mapquest.com to figure out how far from your house the activity is. Most of them are located in our cluster area in Massachusetts or the towns next door.
Getting Ready for School
Posted by Susan Brostowin on Aug 22, 2010
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It is that time of year again when students of all ages get ready for the first day of school. Here are some tips to assist with the “back to school” transition and hopefully great start to the new school year.
MAKING THE FIRST DAY EASIER
- Remind your child that she is not the only student who is a bit uneasy about the first day of school. Teachers know that students are anxious and will make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
- Point out the positive aspects of starting school: It will be fun. She’ll see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh her positive memories about previous years, when she may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because she had a good time.
- Find another child in the neighborhood with whom your youngster can walk to school or ride with on the bus.
- If you feel it is appropriate, drive your child (or walk with her) to school and pick her up on the first day.
BACKPACK SAFETY
- Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.
- Pack light. Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier items closest to the center of the back. The backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of the your child’s body weight.
- Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can strain muscles.
- Consider a rolling backpack. This type of backpack may be a good choice for students who must tote a heavy load. Remember that rolling backpacks still must be carried up stairs, and they may be difficult to roll in snow.
Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
