Cutting paper snowflakes is a fun and simple indoor winter activity. Here is a great video showing you how to cut some of your own. For younger kids is is best to keep the designs simple to avoid frustration if they cut away too much and it tears.
If you want to make virtual snowflakes, check out this great website: Make-a-Flake Website
Is it risky to do winter sports without the sports insurance?
Yes. If you have to pay your own hospital bills for a broken bone, you might be shocked at how much that would cost. I checked this website for some cost estimates.
Here are a couple examples:
I wanted to make sure everyone understands how the medical coverage works for sports related injuries. There is a list of “high-risk sports/activities” that are not covered with the basic or upgrade medical insurance plans. Those activities are only covered with the Sports Insurance Package (also known as Option A.)
The Sports Insurance Package was available pre-departure and may also be purchased at any time during your year. It takes effect within 48 hours of your enrollment and it is good for 12 months. The cost will be the same ($85) whether you have a month left or your whole year ahead of you. I recommend you pay for it early on, if you didn’t already purchase it. You never know when an opportunity might present itself and you don’t want to miss out on an adventure. You also don’t want to take a risk on getting injured and being responsible for the bill on your own.
Below is a partial list of sports that are only covered with the sports insurance package:
Football, Rugby, Scuba diving, Ski-doo, Wakeboarding, Skydiving, Parachuting, Rock climbing, Zip line, Skate boarding, Rollerblading, Roller skating, Ice Skating, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiles & Snowshoeing. View the full list on page 3 of the insurance brochure HERE(2015 arrival au pairs) & HERE for (2016 arrival au pairs)
Note: Injuries sustained while partaking in these sports are covered with purchase of the Sports Insurance ONLY.
How to register for the Sports Insurance
Contact Lisa or Christine to get a copy of the Sports Insurance Enrollment Form. It takes a few days for your coverage to begin. If you think you will be doing any of these sports, you should get it now.
Here is a simple snow day game plan…
Stay warm & have fun!
Photo credit: Tony Crider (flickr)
Our APIA website is packed with ideas for au pairs to help them find fun things to do with the children. You can search for activities by age group, season of the year and indoor or outdoor activities.
http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/activities/index.asp
Here are some creative winter activities!
https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/winter-fun/
With Valentine’s Day coming up, making cards, pizza hearts, Valentines cookies or handmade gifts are great ways to spend a snow day!
https://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/valentine-s-day/
Au pairs are required to complete 6 credits or 8 CEUs or 72 or more hours.
EduCare Companions are required to complete 12 credits or 16 CEUs or 144 or more hours.
You may take credit or non-credit classes from an accredited college. Look on the right side of this page under “Education Options” for accredited schools in our cluster area. If you want to take a class at a school not listed here on my blog, please check with me first to make sure it is accredited. Otherwise, it would not count toward your education requirement.
Your host family will pay an education allowance to assist you in completing your education requirement. Au Pairs education allowance – $500, EduCare education allowance – $1000
There are ways to get your credits for just your education allowance, but it will not give you a lot of choices. Normally au pairs will contribute some of their own money ($200+) towards their education.
The APIA Advantage UCLA Course is the only State Dept. approved class with an online component. No other online classes are accepted.
Note: Au pairs should only take one weekend course for their education requirement. Using only weekend courses to meet your education requirement could result in the denial of your extension application (should you decide to extend.)
This question comes up from time to time and with the tax deadline approaching, I thought I would post a link with a great step by step tutorial. Click on the image of a check below to go to the tutorial on About.com.
Remember: Use pen and don’t leave extra blank space where someone can make changes.
If you don’t have a checking account and need to make a payment by check, you have two other options: money order or cashier’s check (bank check.) Money orders are available for purchase at your bank, the post office or the customer service desk of some retail stores (CVS, Safeway, WalMart.) You will be charged a small fee, $1.50-$5. Money orders need to be paid for with cash (not credit cards.) You will fill out the money order similarly to a check and keep your receipt portion for your records.
If you are paying your taxes:
This is another common question, since the way people address mail around the world varies. Here is an image of where to put the information when you are sending mail in the United States.
How to Address a Letter from the US Postal Service
Here is the address to mail your tax return to:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 1303
Charlotte, NC 28201–1303
U.S.A.
Au pairs are required to complete 6 credits or 8 CEUs or 72 or more hours.
EduCare Companions are required to complete 12 credits or 16 CEUs or 144 or more hours.
You may take credit or non-credit classes from an accredited college. Look on the right side of this page under “Education Options” for accredited schools in our cluster area. If you want to take a class at a school not listed here on my blog, please check with me first to make sure it is accredited. Otherwise, it would not count toward your education requirement.
Your host family will pay an education allowance to assist you in completing your education requirement. Au Pairs education allowance – $500, EduCare education allowance – $1000
There are ways to get your credits for just your education allowance, but it will not give you a lot of choices. Normally au pairs will contribute some of their own money ($200+) towards their education.
The APIA Advantage UCLA Course is the only State Dept. approved class with an online component. No other online classes are accepted.
Note: Au pairs should only take one weekend course for their education requirement. Using only weekend courses to meet your education requirement could result in the denial of your extension application (should you decide to extend.)
Au pairs representing over 35 different countries will provide: children’s activities, performances, visual displays, face painting and a cultural parade. This event is open to the public. Anyone interested in learning about other cultures and the Au Pair in America program are invited.
We have host families from a wide variety of backgrounds and faiths. Some celebrate Christmas, some Chanukkah, some Kwanzaa and some celebrate more than one of those or none of the above. That is something that makes America special, we can all be different, but still one united together.
I wanted to give a brief overview of Chanukkah and some of the customs you might observe. Something important to note is that Chanukkah is not the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. From a religious standpoint, it is a relatively minor holiday. So, the amount of emphasis put on Chanukkah and how it is celebrated will vary from one family to the next.
You may see Chanukkah spelled in a variety of ways: Chanuka, Hanukkah, Hanukka and more. Part of the reason for this confusion may be due to the fact there is no exact English translation of the Hebrew word for Chanukkah.
If your host family celebrates Chanukkah and you don’t, I would encourage you to take part and experience the customs of another religion. This can be a great opportunity for culture sharing. The same is true, if you are a host family and your au pair celebrates a different holiday than you.
Here is a simple explanation from Judaism 101:
Chanukkah is the festival of lights, commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a successful revolt against the Seleucid Greeks. As part of the rededication, the victorious Jews needed to light the Temple’s menorah (candelabrum), but they had only enough oil to last one day and it would take eight days to prepare more oil. Miraculously, the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days. The miracle of the oil is commemorated with this eight-day candle lighting holiday.
Chanukkah begins between Thanksgiving and Christmas. About half of the time, it overlaps with Christmas, but there are many years when Chanukkah ends long before Christmas. In 2002, for example, Chanukkah began on Thanksgiving and ended in the first week of December, but that is unusual.
Almost all Jews light candles with their families for at least some nights of the holiday, so people like to be at home during this holiday. Although almost nobody takes off from work or school for this holiday, many may not want to work nights or travel during the holiday so they can light candles with the family, and accommodations should be made for this.
Here are some links for more info and children’s activities:
