Melli's Au Pair in America Blog

Pressing leaves with a weight is the simplest method of saving fall leaves:

1. Choose leaves that are relatively flat and thin, with a low moisture content.
2. Sandwich leaves between newspaper or waxed paper.
3. To keep the leaves from curling select some of your heaviest books. Place the paper with the leaves inside a heavy book. You can also place more books, a weight or rock on top of the book, for more weight.
4. Keep the book in a dry location and check after about 1 week. Make sure the leaves are drying and not rotting. You will probably need to leave the leaves inside the book for another 1-2 weeks before they are completely dry and ready to use.

Preserving Leaves between waxed paper:

1. Choose thin leaves with a low moisture content, that haven’t begun to curl.
2. Sandwich your leaves between 2 sheets of waxed paper.
3. Cover your ironing board with an old cloth rag, so you don’t get wax on the board.
4. Place the sandwich on top of the rag.
5. Place another old cloth rag on top of the sandwich.
6. Heat the iron to high, but NO STEAM.
7. Slowly run the iron back and forth over the cloth rag. Don’t press too hard to begin with, or the leaves will shift. Once the paper has begun to seal, use the full weight of the iron and hold it for about 4-5 seconds on each spot.
8. Lift the rag to see if the waxed paper as melted and sealed. The leaves will be much clearer when the wax has melted.
9. Allow the sandwich to cool, then cut out individual leaves. Leave a small margin around the leaves so the waxed paper stays sealed.

These leaves will last for months.

Now that the school year is well under way, your host children may have even more homework than before. Below are some helpful tips how to help your host children with their homework:

• Agree on a quiet place to do homework.
• Check with Host Parents if the television, music or computer can be on while the child is doing homework.
• Agree on a reasonable homework schedule. Should homework be done after school or after dinner or after a short break before dinner?
• Should home privileges be taken away form a child that doesn’t complete homework or puts it off?
• Can the child use the computer, talk on the phone or get together with friends before homework is done?
• Try to determine how long the child can keep concentrating on work. It may be best to build breaks into the homework schedule.
• Avoid getting into a power struggle over homework.
• Ask your host parents for ideas if you are having a problem.
• Helping with homework can be frustrating for everyone involved. Do not get angry, try to remain patient.
• Let your host parents know if you think the amount of homework is overwhelming the child.
• Never do the homework for the child.
• Be enthusiastic and positive when the child makes a good effort.

Do you have a child with homework and a younger child who has none? Sometimes younger siblings wish for “homework.” If this is the case you can give the younger child an “assignment” while the older child does homework. Coloring a picture or cutting pictures out of a magazine are activities that may help a younger child to feel like he or she is also doing homework.

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