Category Archives: Au Pair Tips

Don’t Get the End-of-Summer Blues!

SummerFunNow that back to school sales are in full swing, it is easy to think that summer is over and the kids will be back in school soon – and in some parts of the country, they are! But, many of us are still trying to find ways to keep our kids entertained and occupied for just a few more weeks. Whether your children are with parents orau pair, in camp or home with you- having a toolbox of fun activities can make the summer feel like a vacation for all! Check out the below links to help you master the end of summer like a pro.

http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/activities/school_age_children.asp

http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/activities/toddlers.asp

http://www.pinterest.com/ftbco/camp-crafts/

http://fun.familyeducation.com/play/outdoor-activities/33394.html

Enjoy the sunny days to come!

by Jean Quinn

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IS FUN!

language-launchersBy Guest Bloggers Kimberly Nertney M.S.,CCC-SLP
Pamela Talbot M.Ed, CCC-SLP, LSLS-Cert AVT of Language Launchers Inc.®

Summer fun lends itself to incredible opportunities to stretch language skills to higher levels. Did you ever stop to think about the specific words or length of sentences you use with your child during a simple playful interaction? Often, after a child has a base of vocabulary and simple conversation ability parents stop consciously thinking about the actual type of words or sentence length they use with their children. Whether the child is a new language learner or an accomplished linguist there are ALWAYS opportunities to provide a little stretch. Here are some basic ideas to get you thinking, but don’t stop here. The best learning tends to grow out of the small moments when you slow down enough to observe and follow the child’s attention to create meaningful spontaneous conversational topics.

“Have a ball”: Who knew a blow up ball could provide so many vocabulary words through the various ages and stages?
Baby: up/down, go, me, you, more/again, big, throw, catch, roll, bounce, hands.
Preschooler: kick, near/far/by, under/over, high/low, forward/backward.
Elementary age: inflate/deflate, soccer, contest, dribble, pass, shoot, toss, opponent

A sand castle: For a young toddler the interaction should focus more on the concepts used in the actual process of building. For example: filling, scooping, dumping the bucket, full/empty, big/small or basic prepositions such as in/on/under. At that stage there is lots of repetition of the concept words and enhanced intonation patterns to keep attracting the child’s ear to your voice. As the child can manage more casual conversation the topics might involve more planning before the castle construction begins. This level would use more of the language of possibility with words such as “could, would, will, should, might, may, wouldn’t, couldn’t”. For the more experienced castle builders the construction is just an avenue to the world of imagination. In this case the end product might end up to be a mermaid school or restaurant. Sometimes just adding a new object, tool or idea can sweep a child into a new dreamscape filled with entertaining conversations or storytelling……true language development in process!

Bubbles: From the simple fun of “blow and pop” with a bubble wand to the art of gigantic bubble creation there are hundreds of language lessons to be unfolded in the process. Maybe it’s a baby learning to use the power of his/her voice to make the request for more bubbles. Possibly it’s following directions to “blow bubbles from the bubble bucket with a spatula from the kitchen drawer on the left side of the sink”.

Regardless of the activity, children learn new words by hearing them in different situations and in different sentence formulations. Reviewing the events of the day at a later time the same day, making photo albums to capture the moments for conversations another day, or simple retelling the event to another family member are all ways to repeat the words and help the child store them into their auditory word bank for future use. Remember, it doesn’t need to be a big or planned event to carry the most linguistic value. Just take the time and make the effort to use new words, stretch a child’s attention to listen to longer sentences or explanations and encourage conversational turn taking……and of course don’t forget to read, read, and then read some more! Happy Stretching!

Language Launchers Inc.® has a FaceBook Page and Pinterest Boards to Inspire You
to Take Your Child’s Language to New Heights®

by Jean Quinn

First Aid? There’s an App for That!

American Red Cross First Aid App – Recommendation for families and au pairs.First Aid

APIA is pleased to recommend the The Official American Red Cross First Aid app, which puts expert advice for everyday emergencies in your hand. Available for iPhone and Android devices, the official American Red Cross First Aid app gives you instant access to the information you need to know to handle the most common first aid emergencies. With videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid.

http://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/first-aid-app

Au Pair in America is proud to have partnered with the American Red Cross for almost 20 years. Our partnership means au pairs get first rate training at orientation and in their host community. Our multi-pronged approach ensures au pairs are getting the right information about first aid, health and safety and CPR training and is unique within the Au Pair industry. Every au pairs goes through training at orientation with certified American Red Cross trainers, and is able to get CPR certified in their community. For more information on our Red Cross Scholarship program, contact your community counselor.

Photo: Cyron (Flickr)

by Jean Quinn

MEMORIAL DAY

Memorial DayMemorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states then others followed. It is now celebrated on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays).

Americans honor those who have lost their lives for their country by visiting cemeteries, placing flags and flowers on graves, flying the U.S. flag at half-staff until noon and attending parades. Children can be a part of Memorial Day too. Here are some links to children’s activities:

Wordsearch Crossword PuzzleIt

Handling Expenses

ExpensesWith thanks to Chris Connally

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 this kind of expenses. Here 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 and cluster meetings
  • 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.

    Bicycle Safety

    Thanks to Terry Bellus

    May is Bike Safety Month. Bicycling is fun, it helps us keep fit, and it gives us mobility. It also helps kids develop judgment and self-confidence, safe practices and lifelong skills. The most important part of having fun cycling is to learn to do it safely. Here are some basic safety rules for all kids and au pairs to follow.  Remember: you are a role model, and since your host children must wear a helmet (CT law requires bicycle helmets for everyone under 16), so should you!

    The basic set of rules for beginning bicyclist are:
    1. No playing in the road.
    2. No riding on busy streets.
    3. Stop and look before entering a roadway to cross or for any other reason.
    4. Bicycle ride in the same direction as the traffic regardless of whether it is on the road, on the shoulder or on a sidewalk. [In situations where the infrastructure or other factors force you to ride toward traffic, adjacent to it, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you approach every intersection (road, alley, driveway, parking lot access, etc) with extreme caution and be prepared to stop instantly.]
    5. Stop for all stop signs and obey all other traffic signs and signals.
    6. Make your own decisions (don’t do something just because a friend does)Bicycle.
    7. Keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times — two is better.
    8. No riding at night — even in broad daylight bright cloths are good.
    9. Even though you are over 16, it is a good idea to wear a bicycle helmet. Bicycle gloves are a second good piece of personal protective equipment.

    10. Bicycles are not permitted on sidewalks in the town of New Canaan.

    TODAY IS EARTH DAY!

    Today is Earth Day!  The goal of the day is to “increase awareness, responsibility and action towards a clean, healthy future for all living things.”   Take some time today to do your part to help the earth: go to a park or other public space with your host family and pick up trash, ensure your host children are recycling everything they can, or plant a tree.

    Here are some activities you can do with your children that will help raise awareness!  😀

    EarthDay

    Antique Car Show in New Canaan

    If you are an early riser and like looking at antique cars, stop by Pine Street (from Walgreens to Zumbachs coffee shop) on Sunday morning. There will be a free, outdoor car show, and lots of people walking around to see them:

    Caffeine & Carburetors

    Sunday, April 6th, from 8:00 – 11:00am

    Caffeine & Carburetors is a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. We meet at Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee in New Canaan, CT about 6 times year to enjoy our rides and share them with like-minded gear heads

    CarShowin and around Connecticut and New York. New for 2014 Cars will be displayed on Pine and Elm Street!

    We have a tendency to lean toward foreign sports cars, with the occasional Model A or 1920’s Rolls Royce.