Category Archives: emergency preparedness

Camp Au Pair – Under the Sea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In honor of Shark Week (see below), next week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Under the Sea.

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to creatures who live under the sea can all be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Under the Sea pinboard.

Webcams – You can do a google search for aquariums and zoos across the country (and the world) with webcams that allow you to observe sea creatures. Here is one to get you started.

Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Get permission from your host parents before any outings and be sure to take all social distancing precautions. Search online to see if your area has any of the following:

  • Any pet store with fish tanks
  • Aquarium
  • Zoo
  • Nature Center

Television – The Discovery Channel has an annual Shark Week. This year it will be July 11-18, 2021. Much of the programming will be too scary for younger kids, but for nature-loving tweens and teens, it could be a great way to get them interested in sharks and other ocean animals. Check out 15 JAW-some Activities for Shark Week with lots of fun ideas for kids in grades 5 and up, but a few for younger kids too.

Online Games – NOAA has fun interactive games that help kids learn about sea turtle survival.

Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about sea creatures. There’s more to see than Baby Shark. Movies like Finding Nemo, Dolphin Tale, and the Little Mermaid also go well with this theme.

Books – Stop by your local library and look for books on sea creatures. The Rainbow Fish is a classic children’s book, your kids may already own. If not, you can find videos like this of it being read aloud.

Photo: mimisdollhouse.com

Flu Shot Reminder

With the weather turning cold and winter fast approaching,  many host parents will ask you to get a Flu Shot to protect you from becoming ill with influenza. The news is reporting that this winter is expected to be a very bad flu season.
While I agree that taking more medicine than is necessary is not a good idea, I am also a strong believer in Flu shots.  My family and I got our Flu shots for the year in September, as we have every year for the past 10 years.
Having the shot will help keep you healthy, but mainly it’s about not exposing the children you care for.  Unfortunately thousands of people in the U.S. still die from the flu every year – usually small children and the elderly. So lets make sure we don’t accidentally infect our little ones!
Unfortunately, your medical insurance doesn’t cover the cost of a flu shot, but most Host Parents are willing to pay the $40 or so that it costs at the local drug store ($20 at Costco if your host family has a membership).  The LA County Public Library offers free flu shots at different locations each week from now through the fall.  And the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website has lots of information about Flu Shots, including low-cost Flu Clinics.