Monthly Archives: July 2013

Pool Party July cluster meeting

For our July cluster meeting we met at my home in Braintree for a Pool party since the weather was sunny and hot.

Our agenda this time was water safety for kids which is an important topic to know during the summer. Every 3 month we are required to have one safety meeting.

We also chatted with new aupair who just arrived this week in the US and said good bye to many who came for their last cluster meeting. Nobody could believe how fast this time ran by. Either just one year or even two if the aupair extended for a second year like Janika from Germany. They all promised to visit again since Boston became their home, they experienced so much, have seen so many places in the US,  made so many friends and also became part of their host families daily live.

Going back means also starting over in a new/old culture and that they will experience almost the same culture shock as when they arrived here in the US.

From left: Theresa and Lara who almost finished their year as Educare aupair with Lara's sister who is visiting her

From left: Theresa and Lara who almost finished their year as Educare aupair with Lara's sister who is visiting her

Talking about water safety while cooling of with the feet in the pool

Talking about water safety while cooling of with the feet in the pool

Andrea from Mexico was one of many who finished her required education and received her certificate of completion at our meeting

Andrea from Mexico was one of many who finished her required education and received her certificate of completion at our meeting

Eating ice cream as dessert was part of the lunch we had

Eating ice cream as dessert was part of the lunch we had

Jennifer from Germany also received her certificate of completion for her 6 credits

Jennifer from Germany also received her certificate of completion for her 6 credits

Lynn from Germany also won our picture contest where she had to have the Au Pair in America t-shirt on together with something of Boston. Her prize was an "I LOVE BOSTON" shirt

Lynn from Germany also won with this picture our summer picture contest where she had to have the Au Pair in America t-shirt on together with something of Boston. Her prize was an "I LOVE BOSTON" shirt. See below 🙂

DSC_1000 - Copy - Copy

Group picture at the Sunset Lake

Group picture at the Sunset Lake

For all pictures please go to Pool Party July Cluster meeting 2013

Coffee meeting with aupairs who just arrived in the USA

4 aupairs just arrived yesterday from orientation to their hostfamilies in the Boston/Brookline area. Janika from Germany who will finish her two years as an aupair this summer helped to explain a lot of great resources and information to the new aupairs together with Emily from the UK who is also knows her way around after being in Brookline for over one month already.

From left: Emily from the UK, Pia from Chile, Janika and Rebekka from Germany, Aom from Thailand and Kate from Austria

From left: Emily from the UK, Pia from Chile, Janika and Rebekka from Germany, Aom from Thailand and Kate from Austria

Is it good or bad to eat watermelon?

pic5Watermelon, a fruit that many people love to eat, specially during the summer months!  This fruit is fat free and it is a good source of vitamins A, B6, and C.  It contains potassium, beneficial natural plant chemicals such as lycopene and citrulline, as well as antioxidants that help reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases.

However, can eating too much watermelon be more harmful than good?  According to research, consuming large amounts of this fruit, potentially can result in adverse effects, including digestive problems, cardiovascular and nerve disorders.

So what do we make of it?  – Well, you can read a full explanation by following the link bellow:  http://www.livestrong.com/article/410054-side-effects-of-eating-too-much-watermelon/

Lightning safety during a thunderstorm

You observe and/or hear lightning and thunder, or a Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect. What should you do?

At Home

If you are at home, protect yourself and your family by following the safety tips below:

  • Follow weather reports. Make sure a battery-powered radio is nearby.
  • Do not turn on the television. Listen to a battery-powered radio for the most current information.
  • Lightning can cause power surges. Unplug all appliances before the storm hits.
  • Avoid using the phone. Telephone lines can conduct electricity.
  • Metal pipes also conduct electricity. Stay away from faucets, sinks, and bathtubs.
  • Close the blinds and shades of your window, then keep away from them.
  • Keep pets on a leash or in a carrier.

Away From Home

There are times when storms come up suddenly.
If you are away from home, protect yourself and your family by taking cover in the best shelter you can find. If you are in or near the water, go to land immediately and find shelter.

  • If choosing between a building or a car, choose the building.
  • If choosing between a hard-top and a convertible, choose the hard-top.
    If you’re in a car, keep the windows closed.
  • If there is no shelter, find a low-lying, open place that is a safe distance from trees, poles, or metal objects that can conduct electricity. Make sure it is not likely to flood.
  • Assume a tucked position: Squat low to the ground. Place your hands on your knees with your head tucked between them. Try to touch as little of your body to the ground as possible.
  • Do not lie flat on the ground, as your fully-extended body will provide a larger surface to conduct electricity. Stay in a tuck position well after the storm passes.
  • Watch for local flooding; you may have to move if water begins to accumulate.
  • If you feel your hair stand on end in a storm, drop into the tuck position immediately. This sensation means electric charges are already rushing up your body from the ground toward an electrically charged cloud. Minimize your contact with the ground to minimize your injury.

Information from http://www.weather.com

Heat Safety Tips for Children

Children are more susceptible to heat stress than adults for a number of reasons:

  • Children don’t have as much ability to sweat, to dispel heat
  • Children begin sweating only when their body reaches a higher temperature
  • Sunlight hits children more than adults, proportionately: Children have larger heads in proportion to their bodies, and more surface area in proportion to body mass.
  • Children don’t know or understand the symptoms of heat stress, and will play to the point of exhaustion
  • Thirst is not an accurate measure of how much fluid a person needs, and children rarely know how much fluids they need

To avoid dehydration and other effects of the heat, experts recommend:

  • Have them drink a glass of water one to two hours before going out, and another glass 10 to 15 minutes before going outside to play
  • Encourage children to drink regularly, every 20 to 30 minutes; have them drink until they’re not thirsty, and then another half glass (for kids under 10 years old) to full glass (for kids 10 and older)
  • Limit outdoors playtime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is at its peak
  • Protect children with SPF 15 or higher sunblock, and reapply often
  • Dress children in loose-fitting, light-colored clothing made from natural fibers, which “breathe” better than synthetic fibers

Danger in Cars

While heat stress can take its toll on children playing outside, the most dangerous place for children is in a car. More than 30 children died in the summer of 1999 when they were left in vehicles.

NEVER leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down. When it’s 83 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car with the windows rolled down two inches can rise to 109 degrees in just 15 minutes.

If your child is locked in a car, call 911 immediately!

Also, touch the car seat before you put a child in it, to make sure the surface isn’t so hot that it could hurt. A child can be severely burned in just one second. The following chart from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign shows how hot a vehicle’s interior can get when the outside temperature is 79 degrees.

Interior Color Potential Temperature
White 135 degrees
Red 154 degrees
Blue/Green 165 degrees
Black 192 degrees

Happy Fourth of July

Known  as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.

And for the children, visit this link for fun coloring pages, craft ideas, puzzles and games to celebrate the 4th of July holiday.

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/fourth-of-july/

Wishing you all a very happy and safe holiday

Boston Celebrations click here !

with important information on restrictions on what is allowed to bring to the esplanade.