Tag Archives: long island au pair

It is National Parks Week!

From the White House blog:

Saturday, April 20th was the first day of National Park Week – an annual tradition celebrating, enjoying and giving back to our country’s great natural and cultural landscapes. For the next five days, parks across the country will waive their entrance fees to provide free access to thousands of miles of trails and coastlines, as well as battlefields, archeological sites and waterways. With spring now in full swing, National Park Week is a great opportunity to dust off your bicycle or sneakers, grab some healthy snacks and a water bottle and get moving outside.

You don’t have to be an outdoor expert or live near an iconic park to enjoy the broad network of national parks across the country. Some of the most treasured and well-used parks are located in and around America’s major cities, including San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, St. Louis, Miami, San Antonio, Baltimore – and right here in Washington, D.C.

If you don’t have a national park in your city or town, chances are the National Park Service has played a role in increasing access to outdoor recreational opportunities in your community. Through the Land & Water Conservation Fund, the National Park Service has funded recreational facilities, such as playgrounds and trails, in 99 percent of counties across America.

Take advantage of mild temperatures and loads of free activities and plan a national park experience with your family this week.

If you are interested in:

  • Recreation – Find a national park near you and pick your adventure – hit the trails with your family and seek out free, ranger-guided tours and activities.
  • Service – Roll up your sleeves and give back on Volunteer Day, April 27.
  • Education – Encourage your kids to explore and learn about their natural and cultural heritage. Throughout the week, many parks will offer free programming for National Junior Ranger Day. In certain parks, the Let’s Move Outside! Junior Ranger program boosts activity levels and promotes healthy lifestyles.
  • History & Culture – National Park Week provides an opportunity to appreciate the landmarks, monuments and historical landscapes that define our national identity. Take this chance to discover the sites in your city or state.

Check out the National Park Week event calendar and plan your visit today.

100 Things to Do with Your Kids on Long Island Before They Grow Up

LI Duck

Here’s our list of 100 things we love to do or want to do with our kids while they’re still young.There are, of course, at least 100 more great activities for kids on Long Island, but we had to cut it somewhere. Please feel free to share the activities you’d add to the list.  Post from MaryPoppins.com

  1. Spend an entire carefree day at any of Long Island’s beautiful beaches with a cooler full of food, snacks, and drinks, with no watches or phones.
  2. Take the ferry to Fire Island.
  3. Check out a Long Island Ducks game.
  4. Take a ride on the LIRR into Penn Station.
  5. Visit the Big Duck in Riverhead.
  6. Spend a day at the races at Belmont Raceway.
  7. Indulge in some hot dogs at an Islanders game.
  8. Enjoy a concert at Jones Beach Theater.
  9. Take a trip back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.
  10. Spend the day at Splish Splash Water Park.
  11. See the camels at the Animal Farm Petting Zoo in Manorville.
  12. Check out the penguins at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center.
  13. Go on a seal hike.
  14. Gaze at the stars at the Vanderbilt Planetarium.
  15. Grab a blanket and a picnic basket and enjoy an alfresco concert at Old Westbury Gardens.
  16. Lose yourselves in the Clark Botanic Garden.
  17. Attend the Shinnecock Pow Wow during Labor Day weekend.
  18. Enjoy an ice-cream cone on the Jones Beach Boardwalk.
  19. Make kid-sized bubbles at the Long Island Children’s Museum.
  20. Take surfing lessons (or just watch the surfers) in Long Beach.
  21. Scream as loud as you can on the roller coasters at Adventureland.
  22. Stuff yourselves at the all-you-can-eat buffet brunch while watching the planes take off from Republic at the 56th Fighter Group in Farmingdale.
  23. Go fishing in Captree.
  24. Go kayaking down the Nissequogue River.
  25. Take out a couple of paddleboats at Belmont Park.
  26. Go camping at Hither Hills State Park.
  27. Visit the Heckscher Museum of Art.
  28. Walk for a cause in the Long Island 2-Day Breast Cancer Walk.
  29. Have a backyard barbecue for your kids’ friends.
  30. Spend a weekend at Gurney’s.
  31. Go ice-skating at the Rink at RXR Plaza.
  32. Get a taste of history at Sagamore Hill.
  33. Play the day away at the Children’s Museum of the East End.
  34. Check out the Maritime Explorium.
  35. View one of the $15 “Not Just for Kids” offerings at the beautiful Staller Center.
  36. SAFETY TOWN!
  37. Go horseback riding in Hempstead Lake State Park.
  38. Explore Port Jefferson’s waterfront.
  39. Tour the Cradle of Aviation Museum.
  40. Build a snowman!
  41. Visit Walt Whitman’s birthplace.
  42. Climb a tree at Planting Fields Arboretum.
  43. After the kids have read The Great Gatsby, check out Gatsby’s Gold Coast on the North Shore.
  44. Tour Fire Island’s Sunken Forest.
  45. Sample the wares at a strawberry festival.
  46. Climb to the top of the Montauk Lighthouse.
  47. Visit the Sag Harbor Whaling Museum.
  48. Visit the Nassau County Museum of Art.
  49. Pet the animals at White Post Farm.
  50. Go pumpkin picking.
  51. Go apple picking.
  52. Tour Long Island’s Wine Country (it’s not just for grown-ups).
  53. Visit the Long Island Science Center.
  54. Visit the Nassau County Firefighter’s Museum.
  55. Check out the trains at the Railroad Museum of Long Island.
  56. Take a seal cruise from the Riverhead Foundation of Marine Research.
  57. Peruse the Shinnecock Nation Museum.
  58. Sing happy birthday to the trout at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery.
  59. Check out the nation’s oldest cattle ranch.
  60. Tour the Fire Island Lighthouse.
  61. Visit the Jericho Cider Mill—and don’t leave without some cider and a pie.
  62. Enjoy a show at the Gateway Playhouse.
  63. Take a whale-watching cruise from CRESLI.
  64. Go hiking in Caleb Smith State Park.
  65. Go cross-country skiing in Wildwood State Park.
  66. Enjoy a concert at the world-class Tilles Center.
  67. Visit the African-American Museum of Nassau.
  68. Enjoy a sundae or egg cream at the counter at Coyles Ice Cream shop.
  69. Have some finger-lickin’-good ribs at Smokin’ Al’s.
  70. Get lost among the shelves at the Book Revue.
  71. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Pancho Villa’s.
  72. Eat your way through the Long Island Fall Festival in Heckscher Park.
  73. Pitch a tent and go camping…in your backyard. (And don’t forget the s’mores!)
  74. Rake the fallen autumn leaves in your yard into neat little piles…and then dive in!
  75. In the middle of a snowstorm, go out and shovel the walkway together, adding in lots of breaks for snowball-throwing and angel-making (and enjoy some hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows when you’re done).
  76. Go for a bike ride in Belmont Park.
  77. Go on a scavenger hunt in your neighborhood.
  78. On a hot summer day, turn on the sprinkler to give your lawn a drink…then grab the kids and dance through the water like nobody’s watching!
  79. Watch the surfers in Montauk.
  80. Shake your groove thing to live music under the stars at Jones Beach.
  81. Celebrate Arbor Day at the Planting Fields Arboretum.
  82. Rent a house for a week (or a weekend) on Fire Island, and ride your bikes and haul your stuff in red wagons around the carless island.
  83. Take in the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach.
  84. Feed the ducks as you walk the trails at East Hampton’s Duck Pond on David’s Lane.
  85. Ride the antique carousel in Greenport’s Mitchell Park.
  86. Ride the Peconic County Miniature Railroad.
  87. Enjoy a unique theater-in-the-round entertainment experience at NYCB Theatre at Westbury.
  88. Ride the carousel at the LVIS Fair in East Hampton.
  89. Learn about Long Island’s rich whaling history at the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum.
  90. Marvel at the trucks at the Long Island Antique Power Association’s Annual Engine Run and Tractor Pull.
  91. Decorate seashells on Fire Island.
  92. Grab a cone at Big Olaf Ice Cream Shop in Sag Harbor, then take a walk down Long Wharf and admire the yachts.
  93. Decorate your house and yard for Halloween.
  94. Have a blast at the beach.
  95. Go strawberry picking at Harbes Family Farm.
  96. It snowed all night; school’s closed—grab a sled (or a cafeteria tray) and head to the nearest hill and go sledding.
  97. Foster a deeper appreciation of nature at the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary & Audubon Center.
  98. Ride the bumper boats at Bayville Adventure Park.
  99. Go minigolfing at Tiki Action Park.
  100. Drive around the Island checking out the holiday lights.

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

Feeling down after the passing of April Fools’? Fear not, my friends, for today is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. Hey, we’ve observed National Pancake Day, National Napping Day, and National Squirrel Appreciation Day — so why not?

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day: The History

No one’s quite sure where National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day began, though Welch’s claims the credit for a key ingredient within the PB&J sandwich itself (which, I might add, seems quite questionable). The jam-maker says it introduced concord grape jelly in 1923, two years before Skippy hit the market, and that planted the seed (so to speak) for the classic creation.

The actual sandwich supposedly first surfaced in the 40s during World War II, when PBJ became part of the military’s rations. (I guess no one had the thought to combine salty and sweet spreads prior to that point. Mmm hmm.)

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day: The Celebration

How do you celebrate the PB&J sandwich?  According to the folks at eHow, the best way to honor National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day is — not surprisingly — to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Done and done. They have some tips for making the perfect version here, if you need any pointers.

Should you still be feeling the PBJ spirit, you might check out the web for some National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day e-cards. Yes, they actually make those.

From me to you, happy National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! Enjoy the special day – only in America!!!

St. Patrick’s Day Parades!

Irish BrunaSt. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17. This day marks the accepted date in 493 CE of St. Patrick’s death.  Here is a picture of Bruna, a Brazilian former Au Pair celebrating St. Patrick’s Day here in Suffolk County.

As St. Patrick is the figure most prominently associated with bringing Christianity to Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland as a solemnity and holy day of obligation.  The day is marked with special liturgical programs and a breaking of Lenten fasts.

Few historical details are known about St. Patrick’s mission to Ireland, although innumerable popular legends are associated with his work and play a major role in Irish culture. The shamrock’s association with St. Patrick’s Day comes from the popular myth that says St. Patrick used the three leaves of the plant to explain Catholicism’s holy trinity to the Irish.

The holiday is also widely celebrated as a secular celebration of Irish culture. Cities around the world hold St. Patrick’s Day parades and festivals to mark the occasion, with many people participating in the “wearing of the green.” Popularized by Irish immigrant communities, festivities usually include traditional Irish food and drink such as corned beef and Guinness beer.

St. Patrick’s Day Parades 2013

TOWN

DATE & TIME

INFO

WEBSITE & CONTACTS
Patchogue March 17 @ 12:30 PM Main Street – starts at Rte. 112 Patchogue.com

631-475-2431
Rocky Point March 17 @ 1 PM

But be there early!!

Police close 25A at noon!!!  Get to your viewing spot early

 Begins at 25A & Harrison Ave, Miller Place and continues East through Rocky Point on Broadway! http://www.friendsofsaintpatrick.com/
Hampton Bays March 23 @ 11 AM Starts at Hampton Bays Elementary School and west to Hampton Atrium parking lot. info@aohdivision11.org
St. James March 16 @ 1 PM Lake Avenue from Woodlawn to Railroad Avenue Contact parade chairperson Kerry Maher at the St. James Funeral Home at 631-584-5200.

http://www.stjameschamber.org/asp/chamber_event_calendar.asp
Montauk March 17 @ 11:30 AM Edgemere Rd. then onto Main Street www.montaukfriendsoferin.org/contact
NYC March 16 @ 11 AM The Parade starts at 44th Street at 11:00 am. The parade marches up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick’s Cathedral at 50th Street to 79th Street, where the parade finishes at around 4:30 – 5:00 pm http://nycstpatricksparade.org


March is Red Cross Month

Did you know that Au Pair in America will pay for the cost of a Red Cross class providing you have at least six months left on your visa and you are taking one of several approved childcare/child safety related classes, such as infant/child CPR or Community First Aid and Safety.  Check with your counselor for details!

Big Snow Storm Coming!

Snow storm starting Friday, 2/8 and continuing through Saturday afternoon!

Snow storm starting Friday, 2/8 and continuing through Saturday afternoon!

Please be careful, do not drive in a snow storm.  Stay home and be safe!   Cluster Meeting on Sunday is still happening, everyone will be OK by then, so make sure that you are coming!

Host Mom from Suffolk APIA

From Diana, a Host Mom in Setauket, NY

YU_JUE__with_Bella_and_Delia__at_Preschool_Holiday_Play_2012 resized

“After 4 years of German au pairs, we felt the German language was well grounded in our twins as I am able to continue this bilingual upbringing non-stop after work and on the weekends. The German au pairs brought my girls the “fun” aspects of the German language by making it come alive with creative craft activities and all the fun outing activities, whereas I was able to reinforce all their German  learnings through reading and more traditional teaching.  So in our most recent au pair cycle renewal, we decided to expand the twins learning with two additional languages which had been privately tutored up to this past summer.

Since August 2012,  we have a native Spanish  speaking au pair and a Mandarin speaking au pair who split the longer work days that I have. The twins know very well that Spanish is spoken only with Jenny Quintana and Mandarin is spoken only with Yu Jue Wang. Very recently, my husband remarked that the girls don’t stop speaking Spanish!!!  Basically, chatterboxes!! Mandarin is their fourth language, and they love singing and engaging in the very funny children’s stories from China. Yu Jue makes everything very amusing in Mandarin and the girls really like being challenged by her. It’s a big puzzle  and game to them!!
At 4 and half years, learning languages is just pure fun!  In short, the cultural enrichments stemming from understanding the language itself are an excellent foundation for all the years of global awareness and travel yet to enter into our twins lives.  Our au pairs have and will be giving our girls a gift of a life time and we are so humbly grateful for these opportunities!”

The Flu Season

fluYou can’t turn on the television news lately without hearing about the flu epidemic.  The seasonal flu has started early this year and is spreading quickly throughout the state.  Here’s some useful information from the Center for Disease Control about how you can protect yourself from the flu and how to treat yourself and your host children should you get sick.

An Ounce of Prevention

There are steps you can take in your daily life to help protect you from getting the flu.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.  Germs spread this way.
  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people
  • Practice good health habits.  Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food
  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
  • If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever reducing medicine.

Symptoms of the Flu

The flu and the common cold have similar symptoms.  It can be difficult to tell the difference between them.  Your healthcare provider can give you a test within the first few days of your illness to determine whether or not you have the flu.

In general, the flu is worse than the common cold.  Symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu.

Flu symptoms include:

  • A 100oF or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
  • A cough and/or sore throat
  • A runny or stuffy nose
  • Headaches and/or body aches
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children)

Treating the Flu

You can treat flu symptoms without medication by:

  • Getting plenty of rest
  • Drinking clear fluids like water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages to prevent becoming dehydrated
  • Placing a cool, damp washcloth on your forehead, arms, and legs to reduce discomfort associated with a fever
  • Putting a humidifier in your room to make breathing easier
  • Gargling salt water (1:1 ratio warm water to salt) to soothe a sore throat
  • Covering up with a warm blanket to calm chills

Children are at higher risk for getting the flu because their immune systems are not fully developed.  If your host child gets sick, always ask your host parents before giving any medications to the children.  There are strict guidelines for dosages and they MUST be followed.  Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have the flu.  Giving aspirin to children with the flu can cause a rare but serious illness called Reye’s Syndrome.  Read ingredient labels on over-the-counter medications carefully to ensure they do not contain aspirin.

Frigid Cold Warnings!

baby_its_cold_outsideWe are experiencing the coldest weather in 20 years!

Some tips to protect yourself:

  • Wear a hat, hood, or scarf, as most heat is lost through the head.
  • Wear layers, as they provide better insulation and warmth.
  • Keep fingertips, earlobes, and noses covered if you go outside.
  • Keep clothing dry; if a layer becomes wet, remove it.
  • Drinking alcohol can be dangerous: Alcohol does not make you warmer and drinking alcohol when outside in the cold weather is dangerous: It increases one’s risk for hypothermia and frostbite.