Monthly Archives: October 2013

Happy Halloween Stay safe in our famous town where the Red Sox won the World Championship 2013

Gianin and Jessica H from Germany getting ready for Halloween

Gianin and Jessica H from Germany getting ready for Halloween

Going trick-or-treating?

Below are tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters

Alphabet letter S Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
Alphabet letter A Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
Alphabet letter F Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
Alphabet letter E Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
Alphabet letter H Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don’t run from house to house.
Alphabet letter A Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
Alphabet letter L Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
Alphabet letter L Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
Alphabet letter O Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
Alphabet letter W Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
Alphabet letter E Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
Alphabet letter E Enter homes only if you’re with a trusted adult.
Alphabet letter N Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

Coffee meetings with aupairs

In between cluster meetings I meet my aupairs occasionally for coffee meetings at different places to discuss education opportunities, extension guidelines and to chat with each other.

Linda and Lisa, me and Regina from Germany with Lea from France

Linda and Lisa, me and Regina from Germany with Lea from France

Lynn, Pia from Germany, Elina from Russia and Linda and Violetta from Germany

Lynn, Pia from Germany, Elina from Russia and Linda and Violetta from Germany

Stacey from South Africa with her hostchild. We celebrated Stacey's first prize for winning in the aupair bucket list competition today as well.

Stacey from South Africa with her hostchild. We celebrated Stacey's first prize for winning in the aupair bucket list competition today as well.

Jessica, Katja, Sophie, Angelique and Veronika from Germany, Christina from Denmark with Diana from Spain who just arrived yesterday in Brookline to start her aupair year in the US.

Jessica, Katja, Sophie, Angelique and Veronika from Germany, Christina from Denmark with Diana from Spain who just arrived yesterday in Brookline to start her aupair year in the US.

Some more pictures you can see here: Coffee meeting

Congratulations to the Red Sox for winning the World Series in our hometown Boston

Proud to live in this amazing city of Boston

Proud to live in this amazing city of Boston

Boston Strong for the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park

Boston Strong for the Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park

With au pairs from all over the world, I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about something that is very exciting to the American culture and not very popular in other areas of the world:  BASEBALL, which is also called the “National Pastime” of the United States because it is so popular. There are thirty teams spread across the country, and many people have their own favorite “home team.” http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/baseball.asp

So, will the Red Sox make it again?  We shall see, but I sure hope so!    Go Red Sox tonight !!!!!

Petra from Croatia with our ducklings in the Boston Garden who are in the spirit of the World series

Petra from Croatia with our ducklings in the Boston Garden who are in the spirit of the World series

Flu shots for aupairs

Flu_shot : stop flu road sign illustration design over a white background Stock Photo

Many au pairs and host families are looking for places to get flu shots this time of year. Au Pair insurance does not cover immunizations, but there are lots of places to get flu shots for $30 or less. If the host family is insisting that an au pair get a seasonal flu shot and she agrees to get it, the host family would be responsible for the expense.

If you are planning to get the seasonal flu vaccine, it is recommended that you get it as early as possible.

Many area pharmacies and grocery stores are offering walk-in flu shots this year including: Walgreens, CVS, Target and Stop&Shop.

Columbus Day

USA holiday, Happy Columbus Day, for the second Monday in October celebration Save the Date calendar with a red paper boat and stars and strips flags and ribbons decorations  Stock Photo - 21723903

Columbus Day, which is observed annually on the second Monday of October, remembers Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas on October 12, 1492.

Americans are often invited to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities. In some towns and cities, special church services, parades and large events are held. Most celebrations are concentrated around the Italian-American community. The celebrations in New York and San Francisco are particularly noteworthy. In Hawaii Columbus Day is also known as Landing Day or Discoverer’s Day.  Not all parts of the United States celebrate Columbus Day. It is not a public holiday in California, Nevada and Hawaii.

For more information about this holiday go to:  http://www.history.com/topics/columbus-day

For activities for children including arts and crafts, word searches, puzzles and more facts and history go to  http://www.theholidayzone.com/columbus/

Education matters

Education MattersWe are very proud of the ongoing training we offer our au pairs which provides further educational guidance on a wide range of topics. Our orientation trainers take great care to research and prepare the topics presented via Webinars to our au pairs once placed in the home of a host family.   Here is the list of what we have coming up:

October 15

8 pm               Nutrition. Good eating for you and your kids

9 pm               It’s Up to You. Making the most of your Au Pair year

10 pm             Activities to do with Preschoolers

October 29

11 am             Language Development: Birth and beyond

12 noon         Tantrums are no fun for anyone. Help, my kids are fighting again!

1 pm               American holidays: what they are, activities and getting through the holiday blues

November  11

8 pm               Managing play with more than one child

9 pm               Repatriation

10 pm             Feeling Sad or Stressed: Tips for gaining balance in your life

November 26

11 am             Help! My kids are fighting again

12 noon          Activities for School Age Kids

1 pm              Homesickness. Making it through

December 5

8 pm               Activities to do with Preschoolers

December 6

9 pm               Successfully communicating with your host family

December 9

10 am             Homework: Finding the right strategy for your child

December 15

9 pm               Homesickness. Making it through

10 pm             Toilet Training 101

December 17

8 pm               Tantrums are no fun for anyone

October cluster meeting: Making apple crisp together

Last Sunday we met at my house to do an apple crisp together. Many new aupairs arrived and they had a chance to make friends and get information on education and our Boston cluster in general.

Judith D from Austria, Emily from the UK, Clemence from France, Esther from Germany and Anna R from Austria

Judith D from Austria, Emily from the UK, Clemence from France, Esther from Germany and Anna K from Austria

Jessica W, Ramona, Rebecca and Anna R from Germany busy peeling apples

Jessica W, Ramona, Rebecca F and Anna R from Germany busy peeling apples

Clemence from France arrived  in our cluster and resides in Back Bay

Clemence from France arrived in our cluster and resides in Back Bay

Lea from France and Nora from Germany live in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood together

Lea from France and Nora from Germany live in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood together

Angelique from Germany, Anna from Austria, Rebekka and Marisa from Germany

Angelique from Germany, Anna K from Austria, Rebekka and Marisa from Germany

Esther from Germany, Korina from Croatia, Clemence from France are in the standart aupair program. Anna R and Ramona from Germany are in the Educare program

Esther from Germany, Korina from Croatia, Clemence from France are in the standart aupair program. Anna R and Ramona from Germany are in the Educare program

Judith H, Anna K and Kate T from Austria, Lea from France and Michaela and Nora from Germany

Judith H, Anna K and Kate T from Austria, Lea from France and Michaela and Nora from Germany

All aupairs in the standart aupair program and in the extraordinaire program need to get 6 credits during the first year as an aupair to fullfill the education part of the program. An Educare aupair will need to get 12 credits during this time.

In the Educare aupair program are: Ramona, Rebecca F,  and Anna R from Germany and Kate from Austria.

Korina from Croatia got her certificate for reaching the required 6 credits on the education part. She spend one whole year with a hostfamily in the South End in Boston and will go home this week. She gave information on her experience of being an aupair to all others.

Korina from Croatia got her certificate for reaching the required 6 credits on the education part. She spend one whole year with a hostfamily in the South End in Boston and will go back home this week. She gave information on her experience of being an aupair to all others.

Sophie and Laura G from Germany, Pieta from Finnland, Judith H from Germany, Christina from Denmark, Kristina and Jessica W from Germany and Emily from the UK. Judi

Sophie and Laura G from Germany, Pieta from Finnland, Judith H from Germany, Christina from Denmark, Kristina and Jessica W from Germany and Emily from the UK.

Laura G and Judith H from Germany, Anna K from Austria as well as Emily from the UK are in the Extraordinair aupair program which means they have a special qualification and experience in the field of childcare already before they started their year as an aupair.Being a preschool teacher, a midwife or a nurse would give them such a special qualification.

Linda from Germany was one of the winners in our fall competition to submit their bucket list on what they want to archive and experience during their aupair year. Congratulations to Linda from Germany who resides in Beason Hill in Boston.

Linda from Germany was one of the winners in our fall competition to submit their bucket list on what they want to archive and experience during their aupair year. Congratulations to Linda from Germany who resides in Beacon Hill in Boston.

DSC_0439 - Copy

View more pix at : October cluster meeting 2013

Apple Recipes – Making the Most of Apple Picking Adventures

Things to do with kids: Apple Recipes for Kids and Families - Making the Most of Apple Picking Adventures

What to do with all those apples…

Instructions for some favorite apple recipes follow. Kids can even help with some of them; just be careful with the sharp knives.

Apple Crisp
Serves 6
Prep: 15 minutes; Bake 40 minutes

Ingredients
4 green apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg
6 tablespoons butter

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 375. Grease bottom and sides of square, 8×8 pan.
  2. Arrange apples in pan. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl.
  3. Sprinkle over apples.
  4. Bake about 40 minutes, or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender.

More recipes you will find here: Recipes with apples