Play Post Office: Preschool and young elementary age children will love to create their own post office at home. You need envelopes (you can use new ones or save the return envelopes from junk mail), a rubber stamp and inkpad, stickers and some paper. Children can write a note or draw a picture to put in the envelope. They can use the stickers as stamps and the rubber stamp to make the “postmark.” They can deliver the mail to bedrooms or you can create mailboxes by stacking a few empty shoeboxes on their sides.

Play School Young children love to play school. You can take turns being the teacher. Read a book out loud in front of the ‘class.’ Children who can’t yet read the words still like to ‘read’ to others. If you have a small chalkboard or white board, you can put assignments or lessons on the board. Paper and pencils are important for the work that needs to be done, but don’t forget to have recess!

Treasure Hunt Pretend you are all on a desert island looking for treasure. Make a map or place clues around the house leading the children through the hunt. This can be done with pictures for non-readers – draw a picture of the television, then at the television place a picture of the stove. At the stove place a picture of a bed, and so on to the end. The “treasure” can be a treat to eat, or a new game to play.   Read books about pirates to add to the fun.

Greenhouse Visit a Greenhouse today.  Plant a flower or vegetable in an indoor pot and watch it grow.  Let the plants and flowers brighten your day.

Be sure to tell me where you are going to school this semester and which course you are taking.  Please give me  proof of the courses you have already taken.  All proof of education must state your name, ID number, school attended, course title, and number of credits/hours earned. If I do not have proof that your education requirement has been completed, you will forfeit the opportunity to extend.

The following documents are acceptable proof of your education completed

~Letter from the school on letterhead

~Completion certificate from the school

~School transcript

Art Day
Make today an art day – try drawing, painting, creating with glue or clay.

Make a necklace today– use a licorice “shoelace” (the really long thin ones) and cereal for young children and then they can eat the whole thing.  For something less sticky, use string instead of the licorice.

Puzzle Day Do a puzzle or make one of your own. Find a fun picture in a magazine and glue it to lightweight cardboard. Cut into shapes.

Make a Pie: Pies are popular every day and are easy to make if you buy a prepared crust.   Try this easy recipe:

Chocolate Pie:  Purchase pre-made pie shell and Jell-O instant chocolate pudding.  Prepare the chocolate pudding, pour into pie shell, let set for an hour and voila! Top with some whipped cream and  dessert is served!

Pet Rocks:  Make an imaginative pet using a smooth stone. Draw a face with marker or paint. Decorate with feathers, sequins, yarn, buttons, or whatever else you can find.

Indoor Gardening:  Children love to watch things grow! Take a root vegetable (potato, carrot, turnip or beet) and cut off the top 1-2 centimeters. Hollow out the inside. Tie a string around the vegetable and fill it with water. Hang it in a window and watch what happens! Don’t forget to add water as needed.

Make your own snowstorm:  Find a clear glass jar, any size, with a tight fitting lid and no label. Cut a piece of aluminum foil into teeny, tiny pieces. The easiest way is to first cut strips then cut across the strips into little pieces. The smaller the pieces, the more it will look like real snow. It takes a lot of flakes (and patience) to make a good snowfall.  Don’t stop until you have enough to at least completely cover the bottom of the jar. Cut a small evergreen branch for your tree. Fill the jar with water, add the tree and one drop of dishwashing liquid and put the lid on. Turn the jar over, give it a shake and put it down right side up. Watch the snow fall!

Driving– winter driving may present challenges for au pairs.  Whether it is snow and ice, or heavy rain and fog,   give yourself  plenty of time to get to your destination, so you will not have to rush:   http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/driving.asp>

Education– most local college and universities begin their Spring term this month.  Norwalk Community College is currently registering students  for their Spring 2013 term, which will begin January 25th.   Fairfield University registration for au pairs is Jan. 17th at 9:30 a.m in the Kelly Center.

Healthy eating-Your orientation trainer probably spoke of the 5 kilos au pairs typically gain during the year.  If you feel your jeans getting too tight, try these simple tips

• Eat breakfast – it’s the best way to start the day.
• Drink water – 4 glasses or more a day, more when it is hot or when you are active.
• Downsize your portions – how much you eat is as important as what you eat. Use a smaller plate to help you.

Many au pairs join Fitness Edge on the Post Road in the Bed and Bath/Carters/movie theatre shopping center or have a host family membership at the Westport YMCA

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Healthy Eating-try one or all of these fruits and veggies-

• Tangerines
• Dried Cranberries
• Sun Dried Tomatoes
• Raisins
• Yucca Root
• Jicama
• Sunchoke
• Taro Root
• Water Chestnut

Internet use-don’t let the grey skies keep you inside tied to the internet.  Remember no talking, texting, typing, or tweeting during work hours

Tea Party Day:  Mix up some warm cocoa or milk and invite the dolls or stuffed animals for a tea party

Treasure Hunt!:  Pretend you are all on a desert island looking for treasure. Make a map or place clues around the house leading the children through the hunt. This can be done with pictures for non-readers – draw a picture of the television, then at the television place a picture of the stove. At the stove place a picture of a bed, and so on to the end. The “treasure” can be a treat to eat, or a new game to play.   Read books about pirates to add to the fun.

Build a playhouse today:  Find a box from a large appliance and turn it into a playhouse to use indoors. Cut windows and a door. Furnish it and decorate it as you wish.

Make a fort today:  Use blankets and couch cushions to make a fort and play inside.  Don’t forge to put everything away!

Make a picture frame :  Glue 4 Popsicle sticks (available in craft departments) in a square to make a frame. Decorate the frame with glitter, lace, yarn, feathers, stickers, confetti or whatever you have on hand. Mount a picture from the back and be sure to date it! You can also glue a magnet on from the back so that the picture can hang on the refrigerator. (This activity is suitable for children 3 and older)

November 22nd is Thanksgiving, and many people consider it to be the beginning of the holiday season.

Driving – Traffic tends to be heavier around the Holidays.  My best advice is to leave earlier than normal and take your time.  Be the “bigger person” and allow that one last car to slip in ahead of you.  It may avoid an accident.  Remember au pairs can be asked to pay up to $500 of the deductible for an accident.

Healthy eating – It is the season for tempting baked goods and delicious desserts.  You are here for a cultural exchange, so try some of the traditional sweets your host family is offering and introduce them to some of your holiday favorites, but it is a good idea to downsize your portions – how much you eat is as important as what you eat.

Education – Please be sure to give me your education letters and certificates as soon as you receive them.  For those seeking an approved on line class,  the next UCLA course will run from January 14 – May 20, 2013 Registration is already open at www.uclaextension.edu/aupairs

American Football season kicks off this month

The first game is September 5^th ~ Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants

Visit http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/football.asp for the full rules of American Football.

American Football Simplified

A football field is 100 yards long. There is a Goal Post at each end of the field, in the End Zone, one for each team.  Each team has an Offense and a Defense. If the Offense has the ball and tries to score by getting it across the Goal Line – the line where the playing field and the End Zone meet, the Defense tries to stop them. The Offense gets four tries to move the ball 10 yards toward their own goal post. These are called Downs. If they make the 10 yards or more, they get another four tries to move the ball another 10 yards. If they don’t move the ball 10 yards in four tries, the ball goes to the other team, or the team “loses the ball.”   A Football Game is made up of 60 minutes of play time. The 60 minutes is divided into four Quarters of 15 minutes each. At the end of two Quarters, there is a break called Half Time. On the Scoreboard you can see the minutes and seconds running out. The team with the most points at the end of four Quarters wins.

The Super Bowl is the final game of the Football season when two teams play each other for the championship. The game takes place in late January or early February. For some people the TV commercials are the best part of the Super Bowl.

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