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Camp Au Pair – Under the Sea

Next week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Under the Sea.

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to creatures who live under the sea can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Under the Sea pinboard.

Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Get permission from your host parents before any outings. Check the websites before you go to be sure you understand the hours, costs, and whether advance tickets/reservations are required. Search online to see if your area has any of the following:

  • Pet or outdoor store (Bass Pro Shop) with fish tanks
  • Aquarium
  • Zoo
  • Nature Center

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – NOAA has a lot of fun, interactive and educational activities on their website. They focus on whales, sharks, sea turtles, sea lions and more.

  • Virtual Underwater Dive
  • Online Games
  • Puzzle, Activity & Coloring Sheets

Webcams – You can do a google search for aquariums and zoos across the country (and the world) with webcams that allow you to observe sea creatures. Here are a few to get you started.

Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about sea creatures. There’s more to see than Baby Shark. Movies like Finding Nemo, Dolphin Tale, and The Little Mermaid also go well with this theme.

Books – Stop by your local library and look for books on sea creatures. The Rainbow Fish is a classic children’s book, your kids may already own. If not, you can find videos like this of it being read aloud.

Movies – There are lots of movies with under the sea themes.

  • A Dolphin Tale 
  • Finding Dory
  • Finding Nemo
  • Little Mermaid
  • Moana
  • Moana 2
  • Shark Tale 
  • Song of the Sea

Television – There are some episodes of children’s television shows that talk about life under the sea.

The Magic School Bus is a television series that follows Ms. Frizzle and her class as they set off on field trips. Most episodes can be found on YouTube. Here are some episodes that fit this week’s theme.

Bill Nye the Science Guy has episodes on Fish, Marine Animals and more on YouTube.

The Discovery Channel has an annual Shark Week coming up on July 20. Check out 15 JAW-some Activities for Shark Week with lots of fun ideas for kids in grades 5 and up, but a few for younger kids too.

Photo: mimisdollhouse.com

Welcome to Camp Au Pair in America!

When kids are out of school for the summer, it doesn’t take long for them to become bored and sometimes that leads to sibling squabbles and mischief. Even though they don’t realize it, they are usually missing routine and predictability in their daily schedule. One solution is to make fun plans to keep them busy!

Each week this summer we will share a different Camp Au Pair theme. These weekly themes are designed to give you ideas to keep your host kids occupied and engaged all summer long. They will also be learning. (But shhhh, don’t tell them that part.) Check back each Friday, for the next week’s theme. This gives you a chance to make plans and gather materials for the next week. For each theme there will be crafts, games, snacks and activities. You can just use these ideas or add your own and customize the themes to fit the ages and interests of your host children.

Here are the themes you can look forward to:

  • Under the Sea
  • Outer Space
  • Nature Exploration
  • Dinosaurs
  • Cars and Trucks
  • Bugs & Butterflies
  • Science (STEM)
  • Backyard Safari
  • Art Experiences

Check out Summer Fun & Summer Holidays pin boards for even more ideas.

If you get some great pictures doing these activities with your host kids, please send those to your community counselor. We love to share your accomplishments and inspire other au pairs!

Let’s make this an amazing summer!

Welcome to Camp Au Pair in America!

When kids are out of school for the summer, it doesn’t take long for them to become bored and sometimes that leads to sibling squabbles and mischief. Even though they don’t realize it, they are usually missing routine and predictability in their daily schedule. One solution is to make fun plans to keep them busy! 

Each week this summer we will share a different Camp Au Pair theme. These weekly themes are designed to give you ideas to keep your host kids occupied and engaged all summer long. They will also be learning. (But shhhh, don’t tell them that part.) Check back each Friday, for the next week’s theme. This gives you a chance to make plans and gather materials for the next week. For each theme there will be crafts, games, snacks and activities. You can just use these ideas or add your own and customize the themes to fit the ages and interests of your host children.

Here are the themes you can look forward to:

  • Nature Exploration
  • Art Experiences
  • Under the Sea
  • Science (STEM)
  • Bugs & Butterflies
  • Cars and Trucks
  • Backyard Safari
  • Dinosaurs
  • Explore the World
  • Outer Space
  • Pirate Adventures
  • Princesses & Knights

Check out Summer Fun & Summer Holidays pin boards for even more ideas.

If you get some great pictures doing these activities with your host kids, please send those to your community counselor. We love to share your accomplishments and inspire other au pairs!

Let’s make this an amazing summer!

Fun Activities To Do In The Spring

 

Photo by Sean Roy on Unsplash

Wondering about the different day excursions you could go on with fellow au pairs or with your host children? With Spring comes warmer weather and lots of outdoor options for fun and entertaining activities.

Here are some fun options you can try out this Spring.

  • Attend baseball games (local or national)
  • Picnic at the beach or at parks
  • Dine al fresco
  • Go hiking
  • Fly a kite
  • Camp in the backyard
  • Join a sightseeing tour in New York City (there are superhero tours, architecture tours, movie tours, etc.)
  • Borrow or rent a bicycle and find a local trail to ride on. If you’re feeling really adventurous,  you can also rent a Citibike in NYC and bike along the Hudson.
  • Sign up for a tough mudder race, a 5K run, or a steeple chase. This is a great way to get some exercise outdoors.
  • Google search local carnivals or go to this link to find fairs and festivals that are happening nearby  https://www.fairsandfestivals.net/events/search_results/
  • Check out amusement parks: Six Flags, Rye Playland, Quassy, and Lake Compounce.
  • Scoop up the kids and go to local Easter egg hunts.

We are fortunate to live in New England where many fun venues, beaches, and amusement parks are close in proximity. Take advantage and make this your best Spring yet!

Get Outside In the Fall!

There is so much to love about the fall. Apple cider, the smell of burning leaves, the crisp air, the beautiful array of colors among the treetops, savory warm meals, and no longer having to feel like you’re constantly perspiring. In addition to these wonderful things to appreciate about autumn, is the abundance of outdoor activities for kids, families, and pretty much everyone!

There are several local farms in southern Connecticut that offer pick your own options,  we also have several beautiful hiking trails, and it’s the perfect time to mosey into your backyard to light up the fire pit and roast some s’mores.

Local Farms

Children get so excited for the start of Halloween season! Picking and carving a pumpkin is just one of the many traditions Americans love to celebrate in the month of October. Silverman’s Farm,  Jones Family Farm, Blue Jay Orchards, Castle Hill, and Plasko’s are some of the local farms that offer a few or all of the following: hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin picking, apple picking, and a bake shop with a little treat called apple cider donuts. Definitely go to each website to see specifically what each farm offers and what times they are open.

Hiking Trails

Connecticut is a stunning area to go hiking in during peak fall foliage. People from around the country travel to New England (CT is included in that) to see the gorgeous colors on the hills and mountains. A few decent hiking trails to check out with the family are Devil’s Den Preserve, Southport Park, Aspetuck Land Trust, Lake Mohegan Trail/Cascades and Fairfield Audubon Society.

Backyard Fun

Some days are crispier than others in terms of how cold a fall day can be. If it’s too cold to venture out for a hike or go to a pick-your-own farm, just stay close to home in your very own backyard. Make a grocery store run and pick up the essentials for s’more making: medium or large marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate bars, and graham crackers. Be sure to pick up roasting sticks too either around the yard if you really feel like being outdoorsy or at the store for some metal ones. Grab some hot cocoa mix too and you’re on your way to a fun activity outside with the kiddos.

If it’s not too wet, you can rake the leaves into a large pile and have the kids run and jump into the pile. If there is a small trampoline available, ask your host parents if you can use it  to have the kids jump from it into the pile of leaves. This was a hit at our house last year!

Living on the East coast definitely has its perks in terms of outdoor activities and much to do that is close in proximity. I hope you take advantage of the local outdoor gems Connecticut has to offer this fall with your families!

5 Tips: Summer Activities With Kids

After a long winter, everyone is eager to be outside soaking up the sun and getting all that pent up energy out. Sometimes the winter is so long that it feels like you’re out of practice with things to do outside with the kids. Now that you’ve become well-versed with what to do inside, you need to get up to speed on what to do outside. Have no fear, there are plenty options. Here are five tips on outdoor activities to help kick off your summer with the kids right.

Outdoor Artistry

There is one thing almost all kids love –art. What goes hand in hand with making art? Making messes. It’s the perfect time of year to make a mess outside. It’s so much easier to clean up when it’s on the sidewalk, driveway, patio, or grass. An easy activity is chalking the driveway. Almost all local convenience stores, grocery stores, or pharmacies sell chalk kits.  Finger painting is perfect for outdoor entertainment also. Set up an easel out on the front lawn or even in back on the patio and put a smock on the kids and let them go to town with all the colors. Clean up is easy if you keep a hose nearby so you can clean off the paint. Be sure to wash everyone’s hands thoroughly or head right to the bath afterward!

Hiking

Chances are you live near a forest preserve, a land trust, or a nature center.This makes for the perfect outdoor adventure that will not only get all of you moving, but allow for the kids to get some energy out. All you need is a backpack with some SPF, bug spray, bottles of water, light snacks, wet wipes and you’re good to go.

Unorganized Sports

Sometimes getting everyone out the door is as easy as saying, “Grab the soccer ball and meet me in the backyard!” Within a few minutes, everyone is breaking a nice sweat. This also applies with a bat and ball, a frisbee, volleyball, field hockey, basketball, or even just playing simple catch with a ball. Keep these things easily accessible in the summer months. A plastic bin outside or in the garage  is a good spot to store them in so they are easy to find and play with on the fly.

Playgrounds/Parks

One of the simplest ways to urge the kids to get up and go is to offer to take them to their favorite playground – or better yet- research a really stellar one and tell them you’re surprising them. There are so many good ones in our neck of the woods here in Connecticut. Here are just a few:

  1. Compo Beach Playground in Westport ($)
  2. Sandcastle playground at Jennings Beach in Fairfield 
  3. Earthplace playground in Westport
  4. Stamford Nature Center Playground ($)
  5. Devon’s Place in Norwalk
  6. Cherry Lawn Park in Darien
  7. Vicki Soto playground in Stratford
  8. Owen Fish playground in Fairfield
  9. Stillmeadow School playground in Stamford

There is also a splash pad at Lake Mohegan in Fairfield and in Trumbull at Indian Ledge. Be sure to bring cash as there may be a charge.   Remember that the beach playgrounds require you to have a beach sticker for that town after Memorial Day. If you don’t have a beach sticker for that town, they will ask you to pay a hefty parking fee at the gate ranging from $20-$80 in some instances.

Excursions

There is much to do in our family friendly area-especially over the summer. You can do something as elaborate as a day trip or as simple as a picnic. Here are some ideas for excursions in the area.

Venture on a picnic at one of our Fairfield beaches, a nearby park, or at the picnic tables along the scenic Mill River on the corner of Brookside and Mill Plain Rd.

Check out Captain’s Cove Seaport located in Bridgeport where you can pick up free scavenger hunt maps for the kids and spend a good 2-3 hours visiting the shops to complete your hunt and having lunch on the water. There is also a play area that is ideal for kids ages 2-7.

Most children love to be able to get up close to animals and touch them. We are fortunate to have two petting zoos in the area: Silverman’s Family Farm in Easton and The Stamford Nature Center. Be sure to bring quarters so that you can feed the animals.  On the topic of animals, we are right in the vicinity of the Beardsley Zoo which is a popular destination for families over the summer. There are also playgrounds nearby the zoo (along the parking path) that you can visit as well.

Picking fruit at a local farm is a great way to spend the day. Strawberries are about ready to be picked and Jones Family Farm in Shelton is open for picking in a few weeks!

Lastly, a good website to check for activities and events nearby is www.mommypoppins.com. Be sure to select CT as your state.

Hopefully these five outdoor play tips for this summer in  Fairfield County area help you to get started on the right foot. You will likely find that there are so many activities right at your fingertips. Enjoy the sunshine and all of your fun activities ahead.

Discovery Museum in Bridgeport-STEM is the Future

As an au pair here in America, if you are caring for school aged children, you may have heard of the term STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics literacy). Schools are starting STEM programs to get kids interested and engaged in these subjects because not only is it a big part of life now, they will be a huge part of the future in America. We are lucky enough to live in Fairfield County where the Discovery Museum, a huge proponent of STEM,  is at our fingertips.

What is the Discovery Museum?

Three floors of mentally stimulating, hands-on exhibits for children is what you can anticipate when gaining admission. A planetarium, an indoor and outdoor ropes course, a moon base discovery area, earthquake vibration simulation, laws of physics with basketball, and a revolving planet earth showing Facebook’s usage all over the world, are just a few of the many features to explore on its premises. It’s not limited to school aged children; toddlers can enjoy themselves as well in the upstairs play area and throughout various exhibits. Check out the exhibits currently on display here.

Tell Me About STEM at the Museum

The Discovery Museum believes in the importance of providing hands on STEM learning experiences that resonate with children’s natural curiosity to foster a lifelong love of learning.There is an upcoming STEMtacular event taking place on 4/28 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the museum that will include hands-on activities, planetarium shows, Science on a Sphere demos, and more. Panel discussion topics include: young STEM entrepreneurs, STEM gateways, and higher STEM.

How Can I Interest My Children in STEM Programs?

Whether you’re a parent or an au pair, if the kids tend to say they are uninterested in science or math, you can spark their interest by using different tactics to help make science and math feel fun. There are DIY at home science experiments as suggested by the Discovery Museum, that include coding, and engineering projects. You can find the links by clicking here.

As mentioned by Sarah Tropp-Pacelli, on the Trevor and Jill talk STEM discussion on Facebook, engaging your children in the idea of science can be as simple as walking them around an exhibit and asking them what their observations are. When approached by a student that said he felt he wasn’t a good scientist, Sarah did just this. You can start to teach the basics of science in just this way-through observation and discussion.

Fun Facts & Tips About STEM

1.) STEM is the future for our as it relates to the job market. An average wage for a STEM job is $38.00/hr versus $19.30/hr for a non-STEM job.

2.) Only 36% of high school students will graduate and be prepared to take college level STEM sciences classes.

3.) You can begin to get your children engaged in science and math by sharing shows like Bill Nye the Science Guy, Odd Squad, and Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey with them.

The Discovery Museum is located at 4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT. Definitely add it to your list of to-do’s with the kids this Spring and Summer!

 

5 Ways to Show Appreciation Toward Your Au Pair

It’s easy to get caught up in the hectic work week and forget to mention that impressive thing your au pair did that made your heart soar. It’s also easy to miss the wonderful job they’re doing if you’re not in the home to witness the bonding and amazing caregiving taking place. Do your children speak fondly of or have an amazing connection with her? If yes, she’s doing an excellent job and the non-verbal cues from your children are worth a thousand words. Any one person has tasks, responsibilities, deadlines, and relationships to manage. If you’re a parent or a caregiver, you are also responsible for shaping and caring for a young life -sometimes multiple lives if there are siblings involved. During the fast paced age we live in, it is so important to take the time to acknowledge and show appreciation for the people that make a difference in our day to day.

Appreciation can often be just the fuel someone needs to go that extra mile, continue doing their best, or simply feel some extra joy after a long day.

Here are 5 easy ways to show appreciation to your au pair.

  1. Give them a heartfelt card. Store bought or hand made cards can speak volumes when trying to express how much you care about the hard work someone is doing for you or your family. Be sure to write a message that includes an example of something this person did that absolutely made your day or helped you. It will solidify for them that it was acknowledged and everyone likes when people take notice.
  2. Surprise them with a small, thoughtful gesture. Do they have a favorite coffee or tea? Leave it on the table with a thank you note for all that they do. Do they have a favorite candy or food? Make that for dinner one night or bring home a bag of their favorite kind of M&Ms. Call attention to the reason you want to do this for them, stress that it makes you happy to offer a token of your appreciation.
  3. Make eye-contact and genuinely thank them for something you recently noticed. “I noticed you made monster repellent spray for the kids the other day and sprayed it under their beds. Thank you so much for all of that effort, they’re going to sleep better now and I appreciate you going the extra mile.”  Your au pair will love that you took notice and that you thought their idea was great.
  4. Publicly show your gratitude. While you’re in front of family or a group of friends, share what an awesome job your au pair is doing while they are also in the room. Oftentimes people feel a sense of accomplishment when others share how proud, happy, or grateful they are in a group setting.
  5. Plan a family or group activity that involves something your au pair loves. Does she love to knit, read, climb, do yoga, dance, craft, attend sporting events? Find out your au pair’s favorite activity and explain how you would like to acknowledge her hard work by spending the day doing her favorite thing.

By taking any one of these steps to show appreciation, you are saying to your au pair just how much you notice and how much her presence is welcome in your home. Showing gratitude will not only validate her effort, it will teach your children all about showing appreciation as well!

February’s Cluster Meeting- A Dance Class with the Au Pairs

With the never ending winter keeping us all indoors, it felt good to get out and get moving with the au pairs at a local dance class in Fairfield. Double Up Dance Studio in Fairfield offers dance classes for adults not only during the day, but in the evenings as well. In February, we took a Femology dance class and also had a write up including our picture in the Fairfield Citizen about this very fun cluster meeting! Read it here. We had a blast and enjoyed some appetizers afterward at the delicious Local which is located right in the Fairfield Sportsplex as well. A great time was had by all!