Tag Archives: live-in childcare

Au Pair in America & Wading River Duck Pond Day

Cindy Garruba Local Community Counselor 631-428-7052 cgarruba@aupairinamerica.com

Au Pair in America had a great day at Duck Pond Day in Wading River!  It was a beautiful day to spend with neighbors in this charming Suffolk County, Long Island village.  Music, food and lots of families had tons of fun.

3 Au Pairs helped out with kids coloring pictures of ducks on the pond and applying APIA tattoos.  The tattoos were a big hit with all the kids!

Nadine from South Africa applies APIA tattoos to a lot of kids

Former APIA Au Pair Jana stopped by with her husband and little girl to see her Community Counselor Cindy Garruba

Camilla from Colombia helps with the duck coloring pages

Marie from Germany and Camilla from Colombia helped out

Swan swimming on the Duck Pond

 

Au Pairs learn Water & Summer Safety

The Suffolk County Au Pair in America cluster of Au Pairs gathered at Community Counselor, Cindy Garruba’s home to learn about Water & Summer Safety.

Every quarter the au pairs learn safety or childcare.  This time it was about being safe with their host children around water.  The main conversation was about preventing drowning.  Living on Long Island, every au pair will be at the beach or a pool this summer.  Learning to swim is the first step in water safety.  Most of the au pairs in the group are experienced swimmers.

Au pairs also learned about identifying poison ivy, how to avoid it and what to do if their host child or they come in contact with it or develop the rash.  We discussed ticks and the diseases they carry.  Using sunscreen, when to apply, how to avoid sunburn and ways to treat it were also covered. 

We celebrated the au pairs who are nearing the end of their year.  They earned education certificates for completing the education requirement of the program.

2 German Au Pairs also earned Global Awareness certificates for teaching lessons on their country in their host children’s classrooms.  They both volunteered regularly during their year and were awarded with volunteer certificates.  Vanessa volunteered in her host child’s classroom teaching German board games at lunch time.  Kristina volunteered in a local animal shelter.

After lessons and awards, each au pair shared something about themselves, including their plans for when they return home.  Cindy served local strawberries since it is strawberry season here on the North Fork of Long Island.  The au pairs loved the strawberries and cream shortcake.

They had fun on the beach and visiting with each other on the beautiful sunny Sunday.

APIA Creates Chalk Drawing for Riverhead Festival

Memorial Day weekend festivities included an art chalk drawing festival in Riverhead.  The Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America had a lot of fun participating!

Juliana from Columbia designed the square. Sonia from Mexico and Community Counselor Cindy Garruba colored helped create and color the design. 

Sonia and Juliana working on the chalk drawing,

Juliana included the words she feels Au Pair in America means to her:

DREAM – BELIEVE – EXPLORE – LEARN

We had a great location right in front of to Suffolk Theater!

Halloween Safety Tips

halloween pic

Ghouls and goblins will take over the night. But even scary creatures need to be safe and celebrate Halloween right. Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions. The Red Cross wantsyour family to have a safe Halloween so we’re providing these tips,

the Lucky 13:

  1. Map out the route that you plan to roam, so adults are assured you will find your way home!
  2. From the bravest of superheroes to the noblest of knights, everyone should remember to bring their flashlights!
  3. If you visit a house where a stranger resides, accept treats at the door and, please, don’t go inside.
  4. When you get ready to put on your disguise, use face paint instead of masks, which will cover your eyes.
  5. Always remember, before you embark, to wear light-colored clothing  to be seen in the dark! (And remember to use reflective tape, even on bikes, and brooms and the edges of your cape!)
  6. Whether you walk, slither or sneak, do it on the sidewalks and not in the street.
  7. As you roam through the neighborhood collecting your treats, please look both ways before crossing the street! (And speaking of streets, the corners are the place for trick or treaters to cross no matter their pace.)
  8. Wigs, capes and costumes are flammable attire, so avoid open flames to prevent a fire!
  9. Use a glow stick instead of a candle so your jack-o-lantern isn’t a  safety gamble!
  10. You may fly on a broom or a space ship from Mars, but please be on the lookout for drivers in cars! (Between parked cars is no  to hide, be sure that you’re seen whether you’re a clown or a bride.)
  11. Monsters and zombies should stay off the lawn, and only visit homes with their porch lights turned on!
  12. You may be dressed as a werewolf, a cat or a frog, but be cautious around strange animals, especially dogs.
  13. For additional information on how you and your family can be prepared for emergencies on Halloween or on any day of the year, please visit www.RedCross.org

February Cluster Meeting

DSCN0384Last weekend’s snow storm pushed our celebration of Chinese New Year a week later, but we enjoyed learning all about it and how to make Chinese Dumplings from Yujue, an au pair from China!  She taught us about the Chinese Zodiac, how the new year is celebrated in China.  Then she taught us how to make Chinese dumplings, which were delicious.DSCN0399DSCN0395

DSCN0410Cindy Garruba and Nancy Picart combined their clusters at Cindy’s house for the meeting.  Cindy led the group in filling out their tax forms, reviewing some school information for classes au pairs can take, safe driving tips from the DMV, childcare activities for fun on days when you have to stay inside, and then we learned some heart idioms in celebration of Valentine’s Day. Nancy Picart made a Valentine dessert for everyone, we handed out candy kisses to all the au pairs. DSCN0402

DSCN0407It was the last cluster meeting for Juliana from Brazil! She will be traveling around the USA for her bonus travel month, then returning to Brazil.  Cindy presented her with a certificate, a good bye gift and all the au pairs cheered her accomplishments.  Juliana has been an au pair for 2 years!  We look forward to hearing more about her trip and her success in years to come!DSCN0383

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New Years’s Eve in Time’s Square!

Over one million people celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square. Getting a good view of the Ball Drop and staying comfortable during the long wait for midnight’s arrival will be easier with these helpful tips.

1. Arrive Early For the Best View of the Ball Drop

Folks begin arriving in the early afternoon on December 31. Some of the prime viewing spots will be filled by mid-afternoon. Be aware that you won’t be able to return to “your spot” if you need to leave to eat, use a bathroom, or move for any other reason.

2. Hit the Bathroom First

Go to the bathroom in Penn Station and do not drink anything else until after the ball drops!

Port Authority bus terminal, while crowded, is a good place to stop before you begin your wait in Times Square. There are public bathrooms inside of the Port Authority, as well as places to buy food and drinks.

3. Prepare for the Long Wait

Once you’ve staked out your spot in Times Square, be prepared to stick it out until midnight. It’s a good idea to have a nice big lunch before settling in. Unless you want to lose your spot, this means being dressed for the weather, with extra layers to add as it gets later and colder. You should also be prepared with snacks, drinks (no alcoholic beverages are permitted), and diversions. If you arrive in Times Square at 4 p.m., there are still 8 long hours until the ball drops at midnight. Bags/backpacks are not allowed, so wearing a coat with plenty of pockets is a good idea.

4. Be Ready for Crowds

Approximately one million people spend New Year’s Eve in Times Square. This means that if you are within view of the ball, you will frequently be tightly packed in, quite possibly for hours before the actual ball drops. The police will periodically “force” different areas to crowd in, but the crowding will typically lessen (a bit) shortly after.

5. Be Patient and Have a Sense of Humor

Your feet will get stomped on. People will block your view. Someone is bound to bump into you. Keep your cool and you (& those around you) will enjoy the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop.

6. Celebrate New Year’s Around the World

There is a mini-celebration every hour in Times Square, as different countries ring in the New Year around the world.

7. Consider the Weather

The weather in New York City on New Year’s Eve can vary widely. If it’s going to rain or be bitterly cold, you must dress accordingly!

Au Pairs Go To Broadway Show

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Patty and PriscillaThe Long Island Clusters of APIA saw Priscilla Queen of the Desert this past Sunday!

The show is so much fun and filled with songs we all knew!  Kristina Heinze from Germany said this on Facebook “Woop woop funnnnnnnnnn day!!! My 4th broadway show…Priscilla Queen of the Desert – I have to say, best musical i’ve seen so far! amazing! love it! yummy dinner at planet hollywood on times square and BEST company anyway!”  Patty Minetto from Brazil said “Amazing show! One of the best musicals I’ve seen so far! So much fun!”IMAG0077

 

Wall Street Journal Article on Switching to Au Pair in America

WSJ babyWall Street Journal writer, John J. Edwards III writes a blog called “The Juggle” for families who work at balancing family life and work.  His latest blog entry is about why he and his wife have decided to switch from a full time babysitter to an au pair.   

Click on the link below for the article:

http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2012/02/02/switching-to-an-au-pair/

John Edwards will be continuing to post entries as the au pair selection process and the experience of using an au pair.

International Au Pair in America Holiday Party

 

AP Christmas Party 2011 017AP Christmas Party 2011 007Sunday, December 11 was the International Holiday Party for the Suffolk County Cluster of Au Pair in America.  Each au pair brought a dish from their country for the International Feast.  There were dishes from Germany, Thailand, France, Poland, Slovakia, Bolivia, Croatia, Peru and the USA.  AP Christmas Party 2011 008

AP Christmas Party 2011 011AP Christmas Party 2011 012AP Christmas Party 2011 013Each au pair brought a wrapped gift for the gift exchange.  The gifts were placed under the tree as the au pairs arrived.  After our wonderful feast, we gathered around the tree for the exchange, numbers drawn from a basket determined who, went 1, 2, 3 and so on.  Everyone enjoyed their gifts.

AP Christmas Party 2011 003Cindy Garruba, Suffolk Community Counselor, handed out her gifts to each au pair.  A snow scraper, knit gloves, an ornament to remember their holiday in the USA and some candy kisses.  AP Christmas Party 2011 015

Pictures around the tree, holiday music and lively conversation was enjoyed by everyone.  Happy Holidays!!