September 28-Rosh Hashanah – Happy New Year to all our host families, au pairs and friends. Rosh Hashanah starts at sundown and is a solemn celebration of the beginning of the Jewish year. Synagogue services are held on Rosh Hashanah. During the services, the shofar, a ram’s horn, is sounded. During Rosh Hashanah special dishes are prepared. Many of the dishes contain honey which symbolizes the desire for a sweet year. The round-shaped bread served represents the fullness of the year. If you would like some more information about this holiday please visit http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/rosh-hashana.
Yearly Archives: 2011
Baby Safety Month
photo by craftycars
There are many safety tips on the Au Pair in America website http://aupairinamerica.com/. In honor of Baby Safety Month, here are some more specific baby tips:
- Check condition and sturdiness of toys. Discard any with sharp edges or are broken or falling apart.
- Check children’s clothing for loose buttons and strings.
- Is baby’s pacifier still in good condition? If not, toss it. Never use strings to attach the pacifier to baby’s clothes or crib.
- Where do you set baby’s carrier when she’s in it? Not on the counter, or any high surface. Babies can wiggle and tip themselves over.
- Walkers can be dangerous (especially old ones that don’t meet today’s safety standards), they allow baby to move very quickly and reach things they normally can’t. Never use around stairs.
- Stroller check. If your stroller is collapsible, be sure latches are secure before putting baby in. Always check that your child’s arms are out of the way when reversing handle directions so they won’t get pinched. Be sure to use that safety strap. Don’t hang overloaded or heavy bags on the handle of the stroller; this may cause it to tip over.
- Can you name the 12 most common choking foods for kids under five? Popcorn, hot dogs, chunks of meat, raisins, ice cubes, chunky peanut butter, nuts of any kind, hard candy, grapes, raw carrots, potato chips and corn chips. Don’t leave toddlers alone while eating; if they begin to choke you need to be nearby to assist.
- Get a piggy bank: this is a great place to put coins so they don’t end up on the floor, in the couch cushions and then baby’s mouth.
- Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub. If the phone rings, let the machine get it.
Remembering 9/11
Twin Towers by pingnews.com
September 11th:
Take a moment to day to remember victims of the 2001 September 11 attacks, often referred to as 9/11 (pronounced nine-eleven) On this day, hijackers intentionally crashed two airplanes in to the World Trade Center in New York City causing them to collapse. Hijackers crashed a third airliner into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. The fourth plane crashed into a field in rural Pennsylvania, after some of its passengers and flight crew attempted to retake control of the plane.
Football season kicks off this month
Photo by Kevygee
American Football Simplified:
A football field is 100 yards long. There is a Goal Post at each end of the field, in the End Zone, one for each team. A Football Game is made up of 60 minutes of play time. The 60 minutes is divided into four Quarters of 15 minutes each. At the end of two Quarters, there is a break called Half Time. On the Scoreboard you can see the minutes and seconds running out. The team with the most points at the end of four Quarters wins. Each team has an Offense and a Defense. If the Offense has the ball and tries to score by getting it across the Goal Line – the line where the playing field and the End Zone meet. The Defense tries to stop them. The Offense gets four tries to move the ball 10 yards toward their own goal post. These are called Downs. If they make the 10 yards or more, they get another four tries to move the ball another 10 yards. If they don’t move the ball 10 yards in four tries, the ball goes to the other team, or the team “loses the ball.” The Super Bowl is the final game of the Football season when two teams play each other for the championship. The game takes place in late January or early February. For some people the TV commercials are the best part of the Super Bowl. For the full rules of American Football visit: http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/football.asp
Better Breakfast Month
With the start of school it’s easy to rush out the door and forget to eat a healthy and nutritious breakfast. Remember that children need a balanced diet including milk, meat, vegetables, fruit and grain. Breakfast should include at least three of those groups.
Ice Cream in downtown Annapolis after Hurricane Irene
Despite Hurricane Irene the Annapolis cluster met in downtown Annapolis for ice cream. The weather was beautiful and so many people enjoyed the outside after being cooped up in their homes from the storm over the weekend.
Earthquakes for Kids
Given the recent earthquake that our area experienced yesterday it may be a wonderful opportunity to teach our children the science behind what happens. This site 
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/) offers some great suggestions on cool earthquake facts, puzzles, science fair project ideas, learning links and photos of recent earthquakes. Enjoy spending time with your children while you learn something new as well!
School is Opening for Many Host Children!
Some of our aupairs have kids in school right now; for others, school will be opening very soon. Here is a Back to School list!
If your child/children take the school bus to and from school, make sure you know how the bus system works
Be careful of bus lines if you drop off/pick up the children.
Pack healthy lunches. Make sure you seek the advise of your host family as to what to pack each day.
Have a place where all notes, papers etc sent to and from the school go in the home. Make sure your host family sees all paperwork.
Can you help with homework? Talk to your host family about your ability to supervise homework.
Time Capsule Fair Has Been Canceled
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 25th 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.)
Canoe Trip down the Shenandoah River in VA
On Sunday, July 25th, over 100 au pairs went canoeing down the Shenandoah River in VA. It was hard work but everyone was rewarded with watermellon and ice cream!
