{"id":1235,"date":"2015-06-15T09:04:04","date_gmt":"2015-06-15T13:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/boston1\/?p=1235"},"modified":"2015-06-15T10:14:14","modified_gmt":"2015-06-15T14:14:14","slug":"1235","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.aupairinamerica.com\/boston1\/2015\/06\/15\/1235\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Activities-to-Keep-Your-Kids-Busy-This-Summer-1\"<\/a>Top Ten – How to Manage Longer Days with Children \u2013 When School is out and
\nAPs should always check with their host parents to seek approval for any childcare activities.<\/p>\n

10. Start A Summer Scrapbook!<\/p>\n

Include drawings, pictures, and journal entries of activities from the summer. It will be special because children and their au pair created it together. This could be a hard version, a computer generated one, a movie of daily clips set to music…..they could even make 2 copies \u2013 one for her and one for them to keep!<\/p>\n

9. Have a picnic!<\/p>\n

Spread the planning and preparation across a few days to get them excited!
\nFirst, decide on a location, and have a few choices from which the children can pick. For example, their backyard, a town park or near a pond. Include a rain plan – will they choose an alternate in door solution or go on another date? Create ballots and let them vote!<\/p>\n

Make the picnic \u2018basket\u2019 —- use a plain box and let the children decorate it!
\nThen, decide on a menu — look up recipes and shop for the ingredients together….prepare anything that can be done ahead of time — and then when it is \u201cthe day,\u201d finish the picnic packing and go!<\/p>\n

8. Switch It UP<\/p>\n

Have dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner! Plan the menu and prepare together!
\nWho doesn\u2019t like pancakes for dinner???? (If your host parents don\u2019t, then ignore this one!)<\/p>\n

7. Have a Pajama Day!<\/p>\n

Plan an indoor PJ day. Choose books to read, cookies to make, a movie to watch, indoor tent with blankets and go! Think of it as a snow day (on a rainy day) in the summer!<\/p>\n

6. Two websites with nifty ideas!
\nScavenger Hunt<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Bubble Mania<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Park it!<\/p>\n

Make a list of area parks. After each visit, have the children critique it….what was good, what did they like about it….what didn\u2019t they like? Create a chart with applicable headings including a rating system. At the end of their comparison, their chart will show them where they like to go for what activities, etc. This is a great hand down tool as well for subsequent au pairs or the parents themselves!<\/p>\n

4. Taste Test Day!<\/p>\n

Buy several brands of vanilla \u2013 and try one bite of each and see what they like best! Or do flavors \u2013 let the children choose! Different versions….yogurt tasting, cheese\/crackers, salsas or red vs. green grapes!<\/p>\n

3. Make a Diorama!<\/p>\n

Have children re-create a scene from their favorite book, zoo or outing.<\/p>\n

Make a Diorama<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Have a home book club!<\/p>\n

Everyone read the same book \u2013 and compare your thoughts on it.
\nHere are some ideas: http:\/\/www.scholastic.com\/ups\/campaigns\/src- 2015<\/p>\n

1. AP Day!<\/p>\n

Once a week — have a Day dedicated to the AP\u2019s country! Eat some foods from her country…and have share typical summer activities you did growing up. You can read the children a book in your native language as well as teach them how to sing and count! As the children get the hang of it \u2013 they can make a list of things they would like you to teach or tell them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Top Ten – How to Manage Longer Days with Children \u2013 When School is out and APs should always check with their host parents to seek approval for any childcare activities. 10. Start A Summer Scrapbook! Include drawings, pictures, and journal entries of activities from the summer. It will be special because children and Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[12,14,24,36,48,57,61,112,173,174,189],"class_list":["post-1235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-au-pair-tips","category-child-care","tag-activities","tag-acton","tag-au-pair-in-america","tag-boston","tag-childcare","tag-concord","tag-craft","tag-lexington","tag-sudbury","tag-summer","tag-winchester"],"yoast_head":"\n- Best Of Boston<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"- Best Of Boston\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Top Ten – How to Manage Longer Days with Children \u2013 When School is out and APs should always check with their host parents to seek approval for any childcare activities. 10. 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