Monthly Archives: August 2012

Federal & School Holidays

desenhocsThe public school children will be off several days in September and October. These are regular workdays for an au pair, unless your host parents tell you otherwise. As with any “school holiday” start making plans for activities with the kids now.

In addition to holiday in September (Labor Day & Rosh Hashanah,) many public schools are also out additional days for teacher development and the end of the grading period. As with any holiday, it is up to the host family’s schedule whether you will have the holiday off. Please check with your host families before you assume you have this day off. Do not make any travel plans until you have received confirmation that you will not work on this day.

Host parents, please check your schedule to make sure that you are factoring in these hours and make adjustments as needed to stay within the State Department regulations not exceeding 10 hours per day or 45 hours per week (or 30 hours her week for Educare.)

Back to School Tips

back-to-school1Most of the school aged kids in our cluster are either back in school or will be returning soon.  This will mean changes to the au pair schedule and possibly to the duties.  It is very important to communicate these changes to avoid problems.

I suggest you discuss the following (if applicable):

  • Au pair’s work schedule
  • The children’s school and activity schedules
  • Where the children get dropped off and picked up and who will be doing this
  • What to do if a child is staying home sick, late to school, does not get off the bus (if they are supposed to)
  • How to tell if school has been cancelled or delayed for bad weather
  • Add the au pair to your list of people allowed to pick up the kids from school
  • What to pack for lunch
  • The routine after school (do they have free time before starting homework, what to give for snack, any chores, where do they put their backpacks & lunchboxes)
  • How to communicate about what’s going on at school. (Kids in Care Log Books are available upon request from APIA)

At our August Coffee Meeting, I gave out Back to School Kits which included Printable Fill-in-the-Blank School Notes for parents. You may print these out and use them for times when the kids are absent, late, have early dismissal or you need to give permission for something.

If the au pair will be the one going through the children’s back pack and helping with homework, I suggest you designate an area for putting things that need to be read and/or signed by parents.

Reminder: It is illegal in the State of Maryland for a child under the age of 8 to be left alone in the home or car.  Please make sure that your drop off routine does not include leaving children under 8 at home or in the car while dropping off another child.  Even if a host parent gives permission to do this, it is not allowed, because it is against the law.

August 12th is Middle Child Day

Middle Child Day gives a little recognition to the unique middle child in the family. For au pairs and host parents of three children, you likely know the “Middle Child Syndrome” all too well. If you grew up the middle child with both older and younger siblings, you know the feeling from a very personal perspective. It has been suggested that the middle child tends to be more introverted, quieter, perhaps a bit of a loner.  Make today special for the middle child in your life.

Places To Go For Urgent Medical Care

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In a true emergency, seek medical attention as soon as possible at the hospital emergency room. I have local hospitals listed on the Cluster Google Map, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with where they are, in case you should ever need to know.

What I am talking about here are medical problems where you would like to be seen the same day, but you do not feel that it is an emergency. If you go to the emergency room for something that is not an emergency (like for a sore throat or pink eye), they will see you and treat you, but will not admit you to the hospital. In a case like that, there is an additional charge by the insurance company. The emergency room is not to be used as your regular doctor.

Here is the link to the medical insurance information and claim forms: APIA Medical
You may go to any doctor or clinic you choose, but you will pay less if you go to an in-network doctor. You may need to pay up front and submit a claim form to be reimbursed (providing you have met your deductible, if applicable.)

Urgent Care Clinics

These clinics all participate with our medical insurance as of 8/8/2012. This is subject to change, so verify when you make your appointment by telling them you have insurance through First Health Network.

CVS Minute Clinic – www.minuteclinic.com
Open daily – Hours vary by location. No appointment necessary.
Locations including: Annapolis, Bethesda, Crofton, Ft. Washington, Laurel, Rockville, Upper Marlboro & Wheaton
For less complicated illnesses including: Allergies, Bladder Infections, Colds, Ear Infections, Pink Eye & Styes, Sinus Infections, Strep Throat, Swimmer’s Ear, Athlete’s Foot, Cold Sores, and Vaccinations.
Visit their website for a complete list of locations, conditions they will treat and the costs.

Righttime Care Centers – http://www.myrighttime.com/ – 1-888-808-6483
(formerly Nighttime Pediatrics & Adult Care)
Open 11am-Midnight daily. Appointments not required, but strongly encouraged (to reduce your wait time.)
Locations: Annapolis, Columbia, Gambrills, Pasadena and Rockville

Xpress Med Care – http://xpressmedcare.com/
13671 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD 20906-5214
240-558-3131
Monday-Saturday, 9 am-9 pm
Sunday, 10am-5 pm

Patient First – www.patientfirst.com
Open 8 am-10 pm daily. No appointment necessary.
Laurel, 301-497-1820
Waldorf, 240-427-1926

Concentra Medical Center – www.concentra.com
Lanham, (301) 459-9113
Monday-Friday,7am-6 pm
Capitol Heights (Steeplechase), (301) 499-4655
Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm
Weekends, 9am-3 pm

Secure Medical Care – http://securemedicalcare.com/
10452 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, MD
(Route 1, 1/2 mile north of IKEA)
(301) 441-3355
Monday-Friday, 8am-8pm
Weekends & Holidays, 10am-6pm

August 6th is World Peace Day

This day commemorates August 6, 1945 when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. A young Japanese girl dreamed of creating 1000 paper cranes to release into the wind as a symbol of peace throughout the world. Each year at the Hiroshima Peace Park 1000 paper cranes are released into the wind in the hope that the death and destruction caused by war will never be repeated.

Car Seat Safety is a Shared Responsibility

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In MD, DC & VA the laws state that children under age 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat that is appropriate for their age, weight and height. Children over age 8 must be properly secured in a vehicle seat belt.

Car seats and booster seats save lives, there is no doubt about it. But, just having the car seat in the car is not enough.  Car seats and booster seats can only save lives if they are properly installed and used.

Host Parents

  • It is your responsibility to show the au pair how to properly use your car seats and/or booster seats.
  • If you expect her to change seats to different vehicles, show her how to install them properly.
  • If you do not want her to remove and re-install car seats, make that expectation clear.
  • Even if the au pair has a separate car that she is the only one driving the kids in, please check the installation of the seats periodically.

Au Pairs

  • You are responsible for making sure that you understand how to buckle the children safely in their seats and be sure that they are safely buckled in every time you take them in the car with you.
  • The car should not move unless everyone is buckled.
  • Make it a habit to check the seats each time you put the children in to see that the seat is secure and not too loose.
  • If the seat is not working properly or you cannot figure out how to get it tight, ask your host parents as soon as possible.
  • If your host parents have asked you not to remove the car seat(s), please follow that rule.
  • If you need to remove the seat for some reason, ask them for help putting the seat back in.

If you need help installing car seats, find a car seat inspection station near you: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm