Au Pair Chatter

Due to the severe weather from Hurricane Irene that is anticipated on Saturday, the event will be be canceled.

If you created a time capsule to take part, please contact me (contact info. below) to arrange to receive your goody bag.

In honor of the 25^th Anniversary of Au Pair in America, we are sponsoring a time capsule fair. Families are invited to create a family time capsule and participate. Guests are also welcome to come see the time capsules on display, vote for their favorite and participate in the other family activities.

This will be a Fun Family Event featuring…

• Time Capsule Fair
• Story Times
• Back to School Organization Tips for Parents
• Temporary Tattoos
• Coloring & Crafts
• Door Prize Drawings

A Time Capsule is a container that includes items and information that share what it was like to live in a particular period of time. After the time capsule fair, you can seal up your capsule and mark it “Not to be opened until 2036.” It could be buried or just tucked away in your attic. It will be a lot of fun looking back at the items 25 years from now!

Download a Complete Time Capsule Activity Plan HERE

Time Capsule Fair Rules:

• Register HERE online (preferred) or the day of the event.
• You may use any container and include whatever items you choose.
• You may work together as a family to create one family time capsule or each child may create and enter their own.
• Each entry will have a 2’ x 2 1/2’ table space to display their time capsule and it’s contents.
• Backboards are allowed, but not required.
• Each family who enters the time capsule will receive a gift bag.
• Time capsules should be checked in and set-up between 1:00 and 2:00 PM to be included.
• Judging will take place at 2:30 PM.
• Award presentations and prize drawings will be held at 2:45 PM.
• If you want to take your time capsule home, it needs to be picked up by 3:30 PM.

For more information, please call Christine Connally at 301-860-1314 or email at cicaupair @ gmail.com (without the spaces.)

Here is another fun website with ideas to go along with this week’s Outer Space theme.

Get Crafty: Space Mobile

Make your own star mobile!

What you need:

• - Yellow construction paper
• - String or yarn
• - 2 plastic straws
• - Hole puncher
• - Scissors
• - Pencil
• - Eraser
• - Stapler

Steps:

1. Draw 6-8 stars on the yellow construction paper. Each one should be a different shape or size.
2. When you’re finished, ask a parent to help you cut out the shapes. Cut around the outside of the lines and then use an eraser to remove the pencil marks.
3. Parent Alert: Using the hole puncher, pierce a hole at the top of each star.
4. Cut a piece of string for each of the stars and tie it around the hole. Tip: Vary the length of the string to help your mobile come to life.
5. Parent Alert: Pick up two straws and make the shape of the letter “X” with them. Staple the straws together where the two meet.
6. Cut and tie a long piece of string to where the staple is and then tie the rest of the strings to one of the four limbs of the X.
7. Hang your mobile by the long string in the middle and in your room from the ceiling or in a favorite corner somewhere around the house. Now, you can look at the stars anytime you want!

Craft from Funschool.com

Also: Printable Space Word Jumble & Shuttle Shuffle

Our cluster is one of the select number of communities offering EduCare in America. Au Pair in America is the only agency offering the EduCare program.

Sarah from Germany ~ 19 years old

What is EduCare in America? – This cost-effective program is the choice for families with full-time school-age children who require care primarily during the early morning and after school hours, with some weekend and evening hours. 30 hours of child care for approximately $271 per family, per week.

EduCare Summer 2011* Arrival Dates
July 5       July 25       August 1       August 15

We still have a large pool of EduCare applicants looking for placement this summer.

• View a sampling of Educare companion profiles HERE.
• Want to view full applications, apply HERE.
• Want to find out more? Email me at cicaupair @ aol.com.

*There is also one winter EduCare arrival date for 2011 – December 5.

Now that the weather is getting nice, it is likely you will be spending more time outdoors with the children. Playing in the back yard, at the playground or walking on nature trails are great ways to get fresh air and exercise.

What are ticks? – Ticks are small mites that attach themselves to skin and suck blood. Click HERE to see examples of ticks.

Where are ticks commonly found? – Ticks are normally found in areas with trees, bushes or tall grass. This includes back yards, parks, nature areas and most places you would be spending time with the children outdoors in the nice weather.

What needs to be done? - When you return home from areas where ticks might live, carefully check the children (their skin and scalp) for ticks.

Most ticks do not carry diseases, and most tick bites do not cause serious health problems. But it is important to remove a tick as soon as you find it. Removing the tick completely may help you avoid diseases such as Lyme Disease that the tick may pass on during feeding, or a skin infection where it bit you.

Click HERE for Instructions on Removing a tick from WebMD.com.

The Au Pair in America 25th Anniversary Cultural Fair was held at the Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park on April 9, 2011. At the cultural fair, I recorded clips of au pairs sharing greetings in their native languages. Here is that video.

My apologies to the ladies from Colombia, whom somehow I missed recording. Colombia was there and represented very well by Carolina & Alexandra from our cluster as well as several other au pairs.

It changes all of the time, but here is a word cloud showing the countries currently represented in our cluster.

I have been working on lots of things in preparation for our 25th Anniversary Cultural Fair (coming up this Saturday.)  I made this word cloud for a display board representing our cluster.

I know the kids have been home for many snow days this winter.  Believe me I know, since I have 4 kids of my own at home.  The key to keeping things manageable and fun is planning ahead and being proactive.  Don’t wait until the kids are fighting and getting into trouble to find things for them to do. Get them engaged in activities to prevent the boredom and arguing that can happen when everyone is in the house for too long.

I am putting together some blog posts with activity ideas in the following categories:

1. New Ideas for the Same Old Toys
2. Indoor Physical Activities
3. Activities for Older kids
4. Cooking Activities

Apply by August 15th & save $350

PLUS receive a $100 Marriott TravelCard!

Apply between Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 and Saturday, August 15th, 2009 and we will waive the $350 application fee. Plus, when you match with an au pair, you will receive a $100 Marriott TravelCard for use on all Marriott services.

You may choose to decline the $100 Marriott TravelCard and apply the $100 value towards your program fee.To qualify your au pair must arrive by December 31st, 2009. Learn more about this special offer for host families by contacting Alex Ramirez at (800) 928-7247 ext. 5161 or at aramirez@aifs.com.

Get started with your application today or request a free brochure.

An Additional Educare Arrival Date has been added, August 24!

Ines from Germany

If you are interested in a EduCare Companion for a summer arrival, there is still time to apply.

EduCare in America – 30 hours of child care for approximately $271 per family, per week. This cost-effective program is the choice for families with full-time school-age children who require care primarily during the early morning and after school hours, with some weekend and evening hours.

To consider EduCare:

• You must live in one of the designated EduCare Communities*
• You must have children in full-time school
• You must be able to work with 30 hours a week (year round)
• You must understand that their education allowance is $1000/yr
• You must be able to work with the EduCare arrival schedule

*If you do not see your community listed, I still encourage you to inquire.  We are looking to expand EduCare and your community might be a possibility if it is already served by the standard Au Pair in America program.

2009 EduCareArrival Dates

• Tuesday, July 7
• Monday, July 27
• Monday, August 3
• Monday, August 17
• Monday, August 24 (just added)
• Monday, December 7

Here are some profiles of EduCare Companions looking for summer arrivals.

Apply Now and Save $450!

If you have questions about EduCare, post them here in the comments section.

In today’s Wall Street Journal there is a great article about Au Pair in America.  It discusses the increase in Western European au pairs in the past year.

Origins of Au Pairs Becomes Barometer in Labor Market

“As job opportunities shrink in Europe, the minimum $132.64 per week, plus room, board and tuition reimbursement that the au pair program guarantees looks increasingly appealing. A desire for adventure and what some call the “Obama factor” also is a lure for young Europeans, says Ms. Ferry. In March, nearly half of all of Au Pair in America’s applications came from Western Europe, compared with about a third in the same period last year.”

The British au pair and her host family featured in the article are in a nearby cluster in Northern VA.