Category Archives: Fun Things to Do With Kids

Preventing Dehydration in Hot Weather

Dehydration means that the body lacks the necessary amount of fluid. Infants and small children are more likely to become dehydrated than older children or adults, because they can lose relatively more fluid quickly.

Here are some steps to take to make sure children remain hydrated in the summer months:

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water. On hot days, children should drink significantly more water than usual, as they are losing more due to the heat.
  • Do not wait until your child is thirsty to give him water. By the time they feel thirsty, they are already becoming dehydrated.
  • If your child is resistant to drinking enough water, have other liquids on hand for your child to drink throughout the day.
  • Be alert to changes in behavior. A child may act confused or more irritable when they are becoming dehydrated/overheated. Get them into cooler temperatures and drinking more fluids.
  • Dress your child in lightweight clothing in the summer months, particularly if she’ll be playing outdoors in warm weather. You may also consider clothes that are well ventilated as they do not trap heat close to the body.
  • When there are heat and/or air quality advisories because the weather is dangerously hot, you should avoid taking the children outdoors. Check with your host parents for further guidance on this topic.

Remember to follow these tips for yourself too, so you stay well hydrated.

Photo: Darwin Bell (Flickr)

Holiday & Vacation Reminders

“Rest and be thankful.” – William Wordsworth

Holidays and vacations are a great opportunity to rest, recharge and explore the U.S.

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer travel season. Here are some reminders about program rules regarding holidays and vacations.

Holidays

  • Host families are not required to give au pairs any specific holidays.
  • Each host family will make different arrangements on holidays, some au pairs will be off and others will be required to work.
  • Au pairs should not make plans for holidays without checking with your host family first.

Vacations

  • Au pairs earns 2 weeks of paid vacation during the course of her year.
  • Vacation time should be mutually agreed upon.
  • All vacation should be preplanned (at least 4 weeks in advance.)
  • All au pair’s friends and/or family visits/vacations should be pre-approved prior to purchasing tickets.
  • If an au pair travels with her host family, it should be discussed in advance whether this is the au pair’s vacation or if she is working.
  • If an au pair travels with the host family to work, the host family is required to pay for her transportation, lodging and meals.

Important: If an au pair is traveling outside of the U.S., she must have her DS2019 signed (travel validation) PRIOR to her departure from the US. More information about this may be found here on the Au Pair in America website.

Photo: torbakhopper (Flickr)

Handling Expenses

Host parents often ask for suggestions on how best to handle common expenses that occur as au pairs are caring for the children.

Miscellaneous Expenses

There are different ways to handle the little day to day expenses that come up.  Things like when an au pair takes the kids out for ice cream or picks up a gallon of milk.  Some families keep a cookie jar fund, a little cash that they set aside weekly or monthly for these types of expenses. Others give their au pair a prepaid debit card for this purpose. Below are some suggestions for avoiding problems with expenses.

Host Families

  • It’s important to be clear about how long this money should last and what types of expenses are approved.
  • Let the au pair know whether or not you expect receipts.

Au Pairs

  • Only spend the money on approved expenses.
  • If it is something you are not sure about, ask first.
  • Put your receipts in the cookie jar in place of the money to avoid any confusion.

Gas and Fare Cards 

Host families are responsible for the au pair’s transportation costs: to and from classes, cluster meetings and when driving the kids.

It is a good idea to figure out how much gas an au pair will use for these trips and either put gas in the car or give a gas allowance.   If your au pair is riding to classes or cluster meetings with another au pair, you should offer to share the cost of gas.

Au pairs are responsible for their own transportation at all other times.  You should replace the amount of gas used for personal use.

Photo: Andrea Travillian

Monday, February 20th, President’s Day, A National Holiday

School is closed on this day. President’s Day is a Federal holiday created to commemorate the births of former Presidents George Washington (Feb. 22) and Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12). Throughout America, Presidents’ Day is observed by big sales in the stores, closed schools and no mail delivery.

Things to do with children: The United States has had more than 40 presidents. How many can the children name? Who has been president during their lifetime? Take a look at American coins and bills; who are the Presidents pictured on each coin and bill.

Marizka enjoying a nice hike in Weston. Devil’s Den is an awesome place to take in some nature.

Here is Indra soaking in the sun! indra at devils denDevil Den is a great place to take a hike.  Check it out some time.devilsden

Come and Celebrate Au Pair in America’s 25th Birthday in Wilton!

            Yokrikit and apialogoYou are invited to celebrate Au Pair in America’s 25th birthday with a

 

Mommy and Me Breakfast.

 

Meet au pairs from all over the world who will assist your children in making a lovely craft and listen to a story.

 

Find out more about how hosting an au pair can expand your family’s world.

 

See some wonderful holiday outfits that can really “deck” out your children.

 

Monday, November 14th

9:30am

krik-it, 5 River Road, Wilton

November Hints for Success!

Use the upcoming American Holiday, Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 25th) to truly experience cultural exchange.  Now, is the time to share traditions from your home country. 

It is a wonderful, and one of the few, truly American holidays.  One fun thing to do is to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC.  You can go to the Parade or you can go the night before to see the balloons…both are events NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday Nov. 25th, 9:00 a.m. – noon: This is a fun parade, but you will have to get there early.  Another fun thing to do is to watch them inflate the big balloons the night before.  Here’s the information taken from the parade website. http://www.macys.com/campaign/parade/index.jsp?bhcp=1 

Parade Route:  The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® begins at 77th Street and Central Park West.  It proceeds to Columbus Circle and turns onto Broadway.  The Parade marches down Broadway and turns west on 34th Street, just past Macy’s Herald Square.  The parade finishes at 7th Avenue.

Viewing Locations:  From Central Park West: the west side of the street from 70th Street to Columbus Circle and on the east side of the street from 70th to 65th Street.  Columbus Circle: the west side of the street.  Broadway: Broadway between 58th and 38th Streets.  34th Street: the south side of the street between Broadway and 7th Avenue.  There is no public viewing or press access on Broadway from 34th to 38th Street.  To ensure a good viewing location, get there early.  People arrive as early as 6:30AM.

 

Balloon Blow-Up

Balloon Blow-Up on Wednesday evening, Nov. 24th starts around 3:00 p.m.  It takes place on 77th and 81st Streets between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue.  Many people prefer going to the balloon inflating over the parade.  It is a lot of fun and definitely worth going to!!!