Gail's Au Pair in America Cluster Blog

It is never too early to start reading to children. Children of all ages enjoy having stories read to them. Reading, cuddling up on a couch or reading before a child takes a nap or goes to sleep at night, is comforting for the child. This special time together builds a bond, take the time to read to the children in your life.

•Read slowly, this gives children time to think about what you are reading.
•Change your voice for different characters, or read in a softer voice from some characters, louder for others. A sing song voice is fun for young children.
•Share a picture book with a child and have them tell you a story from the pictures!
•Read every day!
•Children have favorites, so don’t worry if they want the same story every day, but add a few others so they can develop new favorites.
•Talk about the story, ask the children what was their favorite part. Let them share the story back to you or their parents!
•Do arts and crafts about the story. Have them draw you a picture about the story.
•If the children are old enough to read themselves, have them read you a story. Alternate, you read, they read. This will encourage them to read more!
•Have fun, read stories about subjects you and the children enjoy!
•Turn off the TV and computer and read!

AAA recommends the following winter driving tips:

• Avoid driving while you’re tired. Get the proper amount of rest!!
• Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
• Make certain your tires are properly inflated.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
• If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand).
• Always look and steer where you want to go.
• Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.
• Watch weather reports and do NOT drive in bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don’t try to walk in a severe storm.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.

Tips for driving in the snow:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry. And take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.
• Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate: If you don’t have somewhere you have to be, watch the snow from indoors.

Keep in your car for safety during the winter:

• An ice scraper and brush –
• Spray de-icer
• Cat litter – for getting out of a rut, for traction in the snow
• Collapsible show shovel
• Blanket
• Cell phone – know who to call in an emergency
• Flash light

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
– Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream Quote

Photo credit: Spin Cycle

The Martin Luther King Day federal holiday is Monday, Jan. 16 this year

I love cultural exchange.  I love meeting people from all over the world who are brave enough to take the step to come to a new country filled with new ideas.  Every day presents something new:  a tidbit of information, a discussion of a “big” concept ( our ‘peace’ competition), politics, values, ways of life.  Each of us learns to understand the others and the values they hold dear.  We learn not to judge based on pre-conceived notions or what we think about a situation.  We learn to listen, to explore, to compromise.  Oh, if only a cultural exchange experience was a requirement for the world’s leaders!

Check out the Crayola website http://www.crayola.com/  It’s got wonderful crafts and activites to do with the kids on a long winter day. 

You can also find coloring pages for the holidays; something the kids can make for their parents. 

Holiday Party!  This year we’ll meet for chocolate fondue and dishes from around the world.  We’ll share stories of holiday celebrations from Brazil, Thailand, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, and of course, the U.S.

Stay-tuned for photos from the fun evening!

Tips for Staying Cool This Summer

Memorial Day is a U.S. federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (May 30 in 2011). This holiday  honors Americans who have died in all wars. 

Many towns honor their veterans with parades.  Watch your local papers for an announcement of a Memorial Day Parade and definitely join in-it’s a slice of America!

Memorial Day is often viewed as the beginning of summer!

Au Pair in America’s 25th Anniversary Cultural Fair

 When: May 15th, 2011. 12:00 to 3:00 pm 

Where: Discovery Museum 
               4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT (exit 47 off the Merritt)

Join the Fairfield and New Haven County au pairs and community counselors for a culture fair in which au pairs from around the world will highlight their countries and cultures.   Come meet your ‘Global Neighbor!’

Host families, friends, au pairs,and anyone interested in learning more about the world are invited.   The first 400 entrants to the museum are free, thereafter, standard museum entrance fees apply.

What’s better than spring? The snow has melted, coats stay in the closet, boots, mittens, hats-poof!! As the weather gets warmer, adults and children alike can’t wait to get out in the sunshine. However, Ms Spring is slow arriving some years so we need to have a treasure trove of activities to keep the kids busy. Check out this website for some really fun activities http://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/index.htm

Reminder:  Safety first!!  When the kids start riding their bikes, using roller blades and skateboards, helmets are a must!!  Check with parents to see if  knee and elbow pads are also a requirement.  Have fun and stay safe!!

Who doesn’t like Valentine’s Day?  Chocolates, flowers, romantic cards and dinners!  What a great day-Our cluster enjoyed hot chocolate and skinny lattes on Valentine’s Day while snacking on chocolates and candy hearts that exclaim, “love me!”  In addition, we had fun with English “heart” idioms-not many languages talk about “wearing your heart on your sleeve,” though Germany does share other “heart” idioms-”A broken heart,” seems to be universal as is “having a big heart.” There were lots of laughs over some of our English expressions.