Monthly Archives: February 2015

Host Families and Au Pairs form Lasting Bonds

One of the wonderful benefits of the Au Pair in America programs is the relationships formed by host families and their au pairs.  Au Pairs truly become part of the family.  Often they return for visits with their former families.  Some families even go and visit their former au pairs in their countries.  Recently the Diana Melick, a host mom from Setauket, Long Island, New York traveled to Germany with her twin daughters.  While there they visited with their former au pair, Helena Gottschalk.

helena and melick kids

Happy Chinese New Year

chinese new year 2015We wish you a year full of Good Fortune, Good Luck & Good Health

Today starts the first day of the chinese new year, 2015 is the year of the goat/sheep! Chinese astrology says that each year is associated with an animal sign, occuring in a 12 year cycle. This is similar to the zodiac signs you may be familiar with that occur about every month or so, except these represent specific years. 
How is the holiday celebrated? In brief, the Chinese New Year celebration or “Spring Festival” lasts for about a week long. Fireworks are set off, dragon dances, ancestor worship, and traditional performances. Red is the main color of the festival and all types of decorations in this color will be seen. A popular practice is the giving of red envelopes (usually containing money) to youth and retired seniors.
Family and Friends are very important during this time and generally China is extremely busy, as people are racing home to see their loved ones! There are so many cultures in the world that it’s always interested to find out what people are doing elsewhere.
Lucky Numbers- 2 & 7

Lucky Colors – Brown, Red, Purple
LuckyFlowers- Carnations & Primroses
Lucky Months- August & November

Presidents Week – Some Presidential Trivia

Here are some fun facts for President’s Week!

Click on the blue underlined words for more info on the fun fact!

  • At his inauguration, George Washington only had one tooth. Contrary to popular belief, he never wore false wooden teeth. However, at various times he did wear dentures made of human teeth, animal teeth, ivory and lead.
  • Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were the only two presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence. They also both died on the same day—July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the signing.
  • At 5 feet 4 inches, James Madison was the shortest president.
  • Before he was president, Andrew Jackson was wounded in a duel at the age of 39. The bullet remained lodged in his heart until the day he died.
  • Zachary Taylor let his old Army horse, Whitey, graze on the White House lawn. Visitors took horse hairs as souvenirs.
  • James Buchanan is the only president to remain a bachelor his entire life.
  • While he was president, Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for riding his horse too fast and fined $20.
  • James K. Polk’s wife did not allow card playing, dancing, or drinking in the White House.
  • James A. Garfield could write with both hands. To entertain people he would write in Greek with one hand and Latin with the other.
  • Benjamin Harrison was terrified of electric lights. He would ask White House staff to turn them on and off for him.
  • Rutherford B. Hayes was the first U.S. president to use a phone at the White House. Alexander Graham Bell personally showed him how to use it and his phone number was 1.
  • Calvin Coolidge liked having his head massaged with Vaseline during breakfast in bed. He also rode his own mechanical bull and played “ding-dong ditch’em”—he would ring the White House doorbell and then run and hide.
  • Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, was present at the assassinations of three presidents: his father’s, President Garfield’s and President McKinley’s.
  • All presidents receive code names from the Secret Service.  Ronald Reagan was “Rawhide,” George H. W. Bush was “Timberwolf,” Bill Clinton was “Eagle,” George W. Bush was “Trailblazer” and Barack Obama is “Renegade.”
  • Abraham Lincoln was a licensed bartender. He was co-owner of Berry and Lincoln, a saloon in Springfield, IL.

presidents_2009_2

Valentine’s Day

Globe Heart

Valentine’s Day is February 14th!

Au Pairs give loving care to their host families every day.  Au Pair in America has provided 27 years as the world’s most experienced intercultural  childcare program.

Au pairs become full-fledged family members, sharing a cultural exchange experience that often leads to a lasting relationship with the host family.

Au Pairs come to the USA for cultural exchange and to provide childcare to busy families.  They stay for one year and then have the option to extend for a second year.  Au Pairs are 18 to 26 years old when they arrive in the USA.  Please check out www.aupairinamerica.com for more information!

 

Au Pairs will be making Valentine cards with their host children.  Here’s how:

What you’ll need:

  • 8.5 x 11 construction paper or card stock in various colors and/or patterns easy-homemade-valentines-kaboose-craft-photo-350-fs-IMG_9049_rdax_65
  • Valentine and/or heart stickers
  • Scissors
  • Pinking shears (optional)
  • Glue stick or white craft or school glue
  • Glitter (pink, red, white)

How to make it:

  1. Begin by cutting a piece of construction paper or card stock into four equal pieces.
  2. Fold quartered paper in half to make a card.
  3. For the easiest version, appropriate for preschoolers, use stickers to decorate or cut out hearts from a different color of construction paper or card stock to glue onto your cards. Experiment with different patterns, florals look great contrasted with stripes on a solid background.
  4. Younger children love glitter! Use a bottle of glue to “draw” on a heart or phrase (such as “Be Mine”). Sprinkle glue generously with pink, red or white glitter and let dry over night. Tap off excess glitter when completely dry.
  5. For the older set, let them use pinking sheers to cut out heart shapes and glue onto cards. Again, use contrasting patterns and colors to create a charming design.
  6. Once glue is dry, cards may curl up a little. Place cards between the pages of a heavy cookbook or phone book and leave over night.

Valentine's Day

 

 

 

ABC’s of Winter Fun!

abcfun_logo A is for Art – try drawing, painting or gluing

B is for Baking – bake a dessert together for dinner

C is for Clay – Use non-hardening clay or play dough to shape and mold

D is for Dance – put on a lively tape

E is for Exercise – be sure to get some everyday

F is for Friends – invite some over

G is for Greenhouse – find a local greenhouse to visit to enjoy the sights and smells

H is for House – make a playhouse from a large appliance box

I is for Ice skating – take the children to a local rink

J is for Jigsaw puzzle – be sure to pick one that isn’t too difficult

K is for Kitchen science – try a safe experiment

L is for Library – borrow some new books

M is for Movie – make one with a video camera, or watch one

N is for Necklace – make one out of cereal or macaroni

O is for Origami – learn to make simple paper creations

P is for Puppets – socks make easy and fun puppets – put on a show!

Q is for Quiet Time – everyone needs some of this

R is for Reading aloud – choose a good book and a comfortable place to sit

S is for Seeds and Suet – put out food for the birds and watch them eat

T is for Tent – make one from old blankets and chairs

U is for Unplugged – do a day with no TV

V is for Variety – try something new everyday

W is for Walk – take one in any weather (be sure to dress appropriately)

X is for Xylophone – make your own with glasses, water and a metal spoon

Y is for Year – make a calendar or scrapbook to remember the year

Z is for Zoo – visit the animals https://blogs.aupairinamerica.com/cha/files/2012/07/snowman.jpg