Monthly Archives: March 2017

Helping Young Children Learn Language

Being an au pair is an important role in a child’s life. When you are caring for a young child up to 45 hours per week, there are lots of opportunities to help them learn language. Many host parents are eager for their children to be exposed to foreign language. If this is true of your host parents, you can try the suggestions below, in both English and your native language.

Below are a few tips to start with, for more ideas, check out Ready at Five.

  • Read – Read to them daily, point out pictures and ask questions. Even if they can’t answer the questions, this is still modeling conversation.
  • Talk – Point out objects around them, names of their body parts, explain what you are doing and places you are going. Long before babies can speak, they benefit greatly from being spoken to.
  • Sing – You can sing childhood classics or make up your own silly songs. If you are looking for song ideas, HERE is a great website with lists of songs, lyrics and links to YouTube videos* of the songs.  Children’s music is also available at the public library and even on iTunes.
  • Words – As children move from toddlers to preschoolers begin to point out written language.
  • Writing – Toddlers and preschoolers can begin to learn pre-writing skills by drawing with crayons or doing finger paints.

*The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for babies under 18 months of age. For children 18 months to 5 years they recommend no more than 1 hour of high quality content. You can play the songs on youtube for the audio and not necessarily show the screen to the child.

Photo: Quinn Dombrowski (Flickr)

Daylight Savings Time

During Daylight Savings Time, clocks are turned forward an hour, effectively moving an hour of daylight from the morning to the evening. Today, approximately 70 countries worldwide utilize Daylight Savings Time in at least some portion of the country.  If you don’t come from one of those countries, I am guessing that the idea may seem strange. Before you go to bed on March 13, be sure to set the clocks forward one hour.

Travel Safety Tips

By Christine Connally

As warmer weather comes our way and Spring Break approaches, many of you may have vacation plans. Please consider these tips:  Always leave a number with your host family where you can be reached. If you haven’t made photocopies of your most important documents (passport and visas), remember to do so before you take those documents on a trip. In case of loss or theft, the photocopies cannot substitute for originals, but they may help you get replacement papers sooner.

  • Always have the APIA 24 hour emergency number with you 1 800 928 7247
  • Travel with other au pairs or friends as there is safety in numbers
  • If traveling outside the US get your DS-2019 Travel Validation Form signed
  • Call the consulate of the country you are visiting in case you need a tourist visa
  • Let your counselor know you will be traveling, especially if going outside the US
  • Stay alert
  • Never leave your luggage unattended
  • Don’t put any valuables in luggage that you check
  • Keep your travel tickets, passport and visa in a safe closed bag or pocket, not sticking out of an outer pocket
  • Never carry a large amount of cash
  • Carry your cash separate from your wallet. Keep both in an inner or front pocket
  • Carry handbags and cameras close to you, not hanging by a long strap
  • Don’t put valuables in an easy-to-reach backpack
  • If you are bumped or distracted by a stranger, be aware that a pickpocket may be targeting you.
  • Call 911 for police assistance.Family with Sandy Feet