Monthly Archives: April 2011

Tips for a Good Year

Hints for success –

Many of you have been here for several months, don’t; let yourself get into a routine of not doing your best.  Take initiative – don’t wait to be asked, anticipate children’s needs, offer to help when you are sharing “family time.”

 

Internet use-Don’t use the internet to vent.  Remember anything you post on Facebook or other social networking sites can be seem by millions of people.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that a post in your native language won’t be understood!  If you are having a bad day, call me or a friend.

 

Drinking Age: It’s the Law!
As you know, it is illegal to buy or drink alcohol, beer and wine in the United States if you are under 21 years of age. If someone buys alcohol for others who are under 21, it is the person who is buying the alcohol who will be in trouble with the law. It is not a chance worth taking. Do not put your friends in an embarrassing or dangerous position by asking them to buy alcohol for you if you are under 21!

 

Flowers

The saying goes that April showers bring May flowers.  Start your own flowers indoors.  Marigolds and Morning Glories grow quickly from seed and can be planted outdoors in the garden after they are a few inches tall.  Use a flower pot or even an old yogurt container, follow the directions on the seed packet and don’t forget to water the pot! 

 

Pen Friends 

Do you have any friends or relatives in your home country with children close to the age of your school-age children?  You can encourage them to exchange letters (or emails).  Simple notes or even pictures arriving by overseas mail are very exciting for children (and au pairs).

May Calendar

May 1 – May Day is a spring festival celebrating the renewal of nature.   It was especially popular in England during medieval times, with children dancing around the Maypole.  May Day is a holiday similar to Labor Day in the U.S.

May 2 – Minuteman 5 K Road Race – This event begins and finishes at Compo Beach.  For further information, please contact 203-222-7447

May 2-8 Children’s Book Week –Every day is a good day to read to the children. Click on this website for more literacy ideas to make reading even more fun! http://www.bookweekonline.com/about  Or, visit the Westport Library, a great place to take the children!

May 3 – Teacher Appreciation Day – Today is a day to honor teachers – if your child is in school he or she might want to make a card for the teacher.  Preschool age children 3-5 love playing school.  Let the child be the teacher and read you a story or give you homework.  You might want to invite some dolls or stuffed animals into the classroom as well.

 

 May 5 – Cinco de mayo commemorates the May 5, 1862 Battle of Puebla in which Mexican troops defeated Napoleon’s French forces.

May 8- Mother’s Day -Today is a day to celebrate and pamper Mom.  Help the children make cards or gifts or plan a special meal or other surprise for Mom. 

 

May 8 – International Red Cross Day  – The Red Cross offers a wide range of health and disaster relief services all over the world. School age children can learn more about their work at http://www.redcross.org/. Au Pairs can register for CPR and first aid classes by calling me or the Red Cross. Today is a good day to check your first aid supplies in the house. Young children might want to play doctor with their dolls or stuffed animals

May 15 – 9th Annual Castles in the Sand – Celebrate an afternoon of family, friends and fun as the community raises funds to support the homeless and other neighbors in need.  The build-a-thon will be held at Compo Beach from noon to 4 p.m.  Call Interfaith Housing at 203-226-3426 ext. 11 if you would like to reserve a sand-sculpting lot or obtain further information.

APIA Culture Fair at the Discovery Museum 4450 Park Avenue in Bridgeport from noon to 3 p.m. Meet other au pairs and see other cultures. 

May 30- Memorial Day  _ Memorial Day started in 1868 after the Civil War ended.  Dead soldiers from both the north and the south were honored as a way to try to heal the nation.  Now all past soldiers are honored.  It is also a day that is considered to be the start of the summer season.  Many people celebrate with a cook-out or even a trip to the beach.  Westport’s Memorial Day parade will be Monday May 31st.  It will begin at 9 a.m. at Saugatuck Elementary School, travel up Riverside Avenue, over the Post Road and on to Town Hall. 

Childcare focus – Cleaning Up Made Easy

Is it hard to get cooperation at clean-up time?
Turn clean-up time into a game. Try throwing a die, if it lands on one, the person who threw the die must clean-up one thing, if the die lands on four, he or she must pick up four things, and so on. Everyone plays (even the au pair)!

April Calendar

April 1- April Fools Day – Today is generally observed by tricking someone. Think of a silly and harmless trick to play. Work with the children to write a silly story to read to the parents. Try serving breakfast foods for dinner or some other harmless way to trick the children.

April 7 – World Health Day – This is a good day for children to learn about how their body works, and to discuss good health habits. Remind them about the importance of covering their mouth when they cough or sneeze and to always wash their hands before they eat.

April 19 Passover-Passover, also known as Pesach or Pesah, is a Holy Day, observed by several religions, begins today and lasts seven or eight days, depending on your beliefs.  It commemorates the exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Egypt.  It is also observed by some Christians to commemorate the deliverance from sin by the sacrifice of Jesus.

April 24- Easter is an annual festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is always celebrated on a Sunday.