Au pairs from Westport, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Greenwich and New Canaan gathered together at Levitt Pavilion in Westport 
Thursday July 19th to learn a Brazilian dance and listen to the music of Quarteto Olinda Riverswing. Forro music originated in the northeast province of Brazil. The music is lively, accordion driven and danceable music for all people. A good time was had by all.
Yearly Archives: 2012
Fish Fun
Fun With Fish!
Fishing is a great summer activity! Watch out for little fish when you are at the pond, lake or beach with the kids this summer. Also visiting an Aquarium or even looking at the fish in a pet store can be fun.
~At the library!
Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni
A Fish Out of Water by Helen Palmer
The Fish Who Could Wish by John Bush – use this to encourage children to think up their own “wishes” – draw them on big sheets of paper.
How Many Fish? By Caron Lee Cohen
McElligot’s Pool by Dr. Seuss – Read this and then create your own way-out fish to add to the collection. Use lots of different craft supplies and have lots of fun.
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Swimmy by Leo Lionni – Use this book to start a conversation about safety rules.
~Crafts
Fish Curls
You will need colored paper strips, a stapler, glue and a pencil.
- Cut 2 1”x12” strips from the same colored paper. Staple the strips together to make the fish head and tail.
- Curl the strips of the tail around a pencil.
- Choose several different colored strips for curling to fill in the inside of the fish shape. Wind each one around a pencil to make the curls.
- Lay the fish outline on a table and arrange the paper curls inside the outline. Glue in place
- You can use string or yarn to hang these fish.
~Snacks
Make an Edible Aquarium
What You Need:
¾ cup boiling water
1 pkg. (3 oz.) JELL-O Berry Blue Flavor Gelatin
Ice cubes
½ cup cold water
½ cup chopped strawberries
4 bite-size fish-shaped chewy fruit snacks
Make It:
ADD boiling water to gelatin mix in medium bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved. Add enough ice cubes to cold water to measure 1-1/4 cups. Add to gelatin; stir until slightly thickened. Remove any unmelted ice. If gelatin is still thin, refrigerate until slightly thickened.
PLACE berries in 4 clear plastic cups; cover with gelatin. Press fruit snacks into gelatin until completely submerged.
REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.
Recipe from http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/aquarium-cups-51476.aspx
Fish Jokes to Share!
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• What part of a fish weighs the most? The scales!
• What kind of fish is good on toast? A jellyfish!
• What’s the difference between a piano and fish? You can’t tuna fish!
• Why are some fish at the bottom of the ocean? Because they dropped out of a school!
• Where does a fish keep its money? In a river bank!
• How do you keep a fish from smelling? Cut off its nose!
• What do you call a fish without an eye? A fsh!
Summer Activities for Children:
Plan lots of fun activities to keep the kids occupied and prevent them from being bored. Use these ideas:
~ Teddy Bear Picnic – Host a picnic for your kids and their favorite stuffed animal friends. Spread a blanket in the back yard or on the floor in the house. You can’t go wrong with a teddy bear picnic.
~ String Painting – Get string and cut it into various lengths. Dip the string lengths into bowls of paint and get creative.
~ Make a Nature Collage – Go for a walk and collect things from nature – flowers, acorns, leaves, grass, etc. Once you’ve collected everything, glue them onto paper or cardboard to make a collage.
~ Food Jewelry – String macaroni, Cheerios, noodles, or straws on string. You can make necklaces, bracelets, anklets or even belts!
~ Make a Playhouse – Get a large appliance box like a refrigerator. Paint and decorate the box – preferably outside in the back yard. Cut out a door and windows, and voila, you have a play house!
~Bubbles – Blowing bubbles is always lots of fun.
~ Play I Spy – To play this game simply choose an object within eyeshot and state the color of the object “I spy with my little eye, something yellow ” Each person takes turns guessing what object you spied. Whoever guesses the object gets to go next. For emergent readers you can also use the first letter of the object as the clue, “I spy with my little eye, something that starts with ‘n’”.
~ Play Hide It – Hide an object in an obvious place. For example, place your cell phone on top of the television. The first person to find it gets to pick the next object and hide it. The only rule is that the object cannot actually be “hidden”; it must be in a visible place.
~ Water! -On a hot day nothing is more refreshing than water, for both drinking and playing. Children of all ages love running through a sprinkler. School age children enjoy water squirters and water balloons. For children up to about age six, a large paintbrush and a pail of water can keep them happy and busy as they ‘repaint’ the house.
Fun Local July Activities for Your Host Children and You
Tuesday July 3 – Fireworks off Compo Beach
Monday, July 9 through Monday, July 16 – Meditation Vacation Station
Toquet Hall will be hosting a series of free meditation workshops for students. Taught by Westporter Laura Meisels, no experience is needed, and students can drop in. Come learn some techniques for becoming more relaxed and balanced.
Where: Toquet Hall, WestportWhen: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PMWho: Contact Kevin Godburn (Toquet Hall Director) at 203-341-1155 or at toquethall@hotmail.comHow: Just drop in!Cost: FreeWednesday, July 11 – The Magic of Lyn
Regarded as a pioneer in her field, Lyn Dillies ignites each show with her stunning array of astounding illusions, laced with suspense and excitement. This performance takes place indoors due to technical requirements that cannot be fulfilled at our current temporary stage.Where: Saugatuck Elementary School Auditorium, 170 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT 06880When: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (get there early)Who: Levittpavilion.comHow: The Levitt Pavilion provides 50+ FREE nights of entertainment every summer.Cost: FreeFor more info: call 203-221-2153Sponsored by the Westport Young Woman’s League
Saturday, July 14 – Family Fun on the Farm
Bring the kids for an afternoon of good old-fashioned fun and games, local food trucks, pie-making, ice cream, musicians, animals and prizes.There will be a kids’ auction with opportunities to win classes, workshops, and lots of other exciting items that your children will love!
Where: Wakeman Town FarmWhen: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PMWho: Westport Parks and RecreationCost: Free admissionFor more info: visit wakemantownfarm.orgSunday, July 15 – Point to Point Compo Beach Swim
Westport Weston Family Y’s 34th annual Point-to-Point Compo Beach Swim is one of Westport’s longest-running annual sports events. The event last year drew more than 120 participants. This year’s event will also include a “Kids’ Swim,” a fun, shallow-water event.Where: Cannons at Compo Beach, Westport, CTWhen: 9:30 AM (registration starts at 8)Who: Westport Weston Family Y, call for more info at 203-226-8981How: Register online at www.westporty.org or in person at the Family Y’s Member Services Desk through July 13.Cost: The advance registration fee is $35, Kids’ Swim is $15. All proceeds help support the Family Y’s annual fundraising effort, the Strong Kids Campaign.For more info: Non-resident registered swimmers and spectators will be allowed into the park free of charge for the duration of the race.
This Weekend
Saturday, June 30 – Great Duck Race
$10,000 raffle supporting local charities. 3,000 rubber ducks launched into Saugatuck River, and the first 10 ducks across finish line win a prize. Fun includes bouncy castle, games, music, arts and crafts, food and drink, magician.
Where: Saugatuck River at Parker Harding Plaza, WestportWhen: 10:30 AM – 2:00 PMWho: Sponsored by the Westport Sunrise RotaryHow: $20 Raffle tickets available at Fairfield County Bank, TD Bank, Black Duck, and The Russell AgencyCost: free admissionFor more info: visit www.thegreatduckrace.org
Child Summer Safety Tips
At the pool – Always actively supervise children in and around water – do not take your eyes off them. Infants and children can drown in bathtubs, swimming pools, ponds or almost any other place where water collects.
Sun Safety at the park – Children’s skin and eyes are more sensitive to ultraviolet rays. Babies should be protected from direct sun entirely. Toddlers, preschoolers and older children should be covered well in sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) at least one half hour before going out in the sun. Sunscreen should be reapplied every hour, especially if they are in the water. Don’t forget ears, hands, feet, lips and under the eyes. Also, make sure your child wears a hat and sunglasses when out in the sun for any length of time.
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Healthy Eating – Staying hydrated The little ones, especially, forget to drink or to tell you that they need to drink. If you find the children getting cranky toward the afternoon, it might be because they’re tired, or it might be because they’re dehydrated. Common symptoms of dehydration are crankiness and headaches. Offer water throughout the day. And don’t forget to drink water yourself.
Driving – Hot Cars: Don’t EVER leave children alone in the car — not even for a moment – the temperature in a car can skyrocket in minutes. And, if you see an unattended young child in a vehicle, please call 911, the police or other emergency personnel. Your call could save the child’s life.
Summer Safety and Ice Cream Social
Fond farewells to Vroni, Katja, and Milenka, and a warm welcome to our new members of our cluster Diana, Johanna, Cheryl and Alexia! Our June cluster meeting was an ice cream social at my house, where we discussed 
Summer Safety and fun activities to do with your host children.
Child Care Focus
Ask your host parents how much time they think it should take your host kids to complete a certain tasks that you and your host kids struggle with. Then set the timer and have a race against the clock to get things done before the timer beeps. There is no reward, just a high five and a challenge to do it faster the next day. This makes it fun and exciting! Once the behavior has changed and the struggle is over, you will not need the timer as the expectation has been set and met.
Use a timer for things like
- getting dressed
- room cleaning–set the timer for five or ten minutes and challenge your host kids to clean as much of the toys room as possible before the timer beeps
- playtime before doing homework or chores
Children should eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Many children prefer the crunch of raw food – especially popular are apples, pears, carrots, broccoli, celery and cucumbers. Use your imagination to serve cut up vegetables in an interesting way– for example, make a figure with carrot stick arms and legs, a celery body and a round of cucumber for a head.
June 6 – National Applesauce Cake Day
Here’s a recipe for a healthy and delicious snack to make with the children
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 cup flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cups applesauce
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
Mix first sugar and shortening, then add flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix in applesauce and raisins/cranberries. Place in a greased and floured 9 x 13 inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Visit Earthplace, ( the Westport Nature Center), the Stamford Nature Center, Beardsley Zoo or Maritime Aquarium or set up a pretend zoo with play animals and blocks. Invite the host parents to visit your pretend zoo. Read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish or If I Ran the Zoo, both by Dr. Seuss. Encourage the children to make up their own animals and draw them. Think of all the animal sounds you can and play a game guessing what animal you are. You may find that the same animal says one thing in America and something quite different in your own country!
Compo Beach Cluster Meeting
Westport Au pairs gathered together at Compo Beach Playground to say good bye to some friends and to meet some new ones. Host children who were there 
had an opportunity to make some Father’s Day cards.
May 2012 Calendar
May 1 May Day – Similar to Labor Day, it is a spring festival celebrating the renewal of nature. It was popular in England during medieval times, with children dancing around the Maypole.
May 5 Cinco de Mayo -Cinco de mayo commemorates the May 5, 1862 Battle of Puebla (Batalla de Puebla) in which Mexican troops defeated Napoleon’s French forces. Cinco de mayo is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico.
May 8 – 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 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 11 Annual Castles in the Sand – Raise money 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 203-226-3426 ext. 11 or www.ihawestport.com to reserve your sand sculpting lot or obtain further information.
May 28 Memorial Day Parade – Parade begins at 9 a.m at Saugatuck Elementary School and travels up Riverside Avenue over the Post Road and on to Town Hall. Stand on the Post Road near Main Street and join the fun. 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.