Cutting paper snowflakes is a fun and simple indoor winter activity. Here is a great video showing you how to cut some of your own. For younger kids is is best to keep the designs simple to avoid frustration if they cut away too much and it tears.
If you want to make virtual snowflakes, check out this great website: Make-a-Flake Website
Having a car accident is a very upsetting, stressful situation. Being prepared and knowing what to do can make things a little bit easier. Make sure you know which host parent to call in case of an accident.
Make sure you have all the necessary documents in your car glove box. Read this post on What to Keep in the Car Glove Box for a detailed list.
If you have an accident: (from Edmunds.com)
Image: cygnus921 (Flickr)
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans.
It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.)
Anne Arundel County Health Department – Free
Montgomery County Health Department – Free (proof of residency may be required)
Prince George’s County – Free
Adventist Hospital – $28
Giant Pharmacy – $35
CVS Pharmacy & Minute Clinic – $31.99 and up
Walgreens Pharmacy – cost not listed on website
Rite Aid Pharmacy – cost not listed on website
Target Pharmacy & Target Clinic – $24.99 and up
Here is a video explaining how to carve a pumpkin (as well as some non-carving alternatives.) If you get a pumpkin at our pumpkin patch cluster meeting, I don’t recommend carving it until the week of Halloween, so it will stay looking fresh for big day.
Find more fun on the APIA Fall Holidays Pinterest board.
Photo: Jeff Kramer
Click here to get the recipe for Animal Face Pizzas on Annabel Karmel’s Blog
Pizza is easy and fun to make and can be a nutritious meal for the children and is easy to make at home.
You will need a ready-made pizza dough or a ready-made crust, shredded mozzarella cheese and a jar of pizza sauce. First the dough or crust goes on a cookie sheet or pizza pan. Then spread the sauce, add the other toppings, and last of all, sprinkle the cheese. Bake as directed for the crust. Be careful, and keep the children away from the oven as the oven must be very hot to make a nice crusty pizza.
If you want to get a little fancier and try these Animal Face Pizzas, click on the photo to get the recipe.
Click here for a coloring page where kids can draw in toppings and make their own pizza.
Photo: blog.annabelkaramel.com
Click here to read more fire safety tips on the FEMA website
Here are some Fire Safety Tips from http://www.usfa.fema.gov/:
Photo: Tony Alter
Au Pairs – Imagine for a moment that you went to the hospital and you were in the care of doctors and nurses. How would you feel if those doctors and nurses who were there to care for you were more interested in texting or using their personal computer than caring for you? How would that make you feel, about yourself and about them? Would you think that you were getting the treatment you deserved? Would you feel like paying the bill after your stay?
Life as an au pair, it is a fine balance between employee and family member. You live with your host family and participate with them as a member of the family, but you also have clear responsibilities as a childcare provider. Being a childcare provider is truly one of the most important jobs I can think of, because you are helping to shape our next generation. What message are you sending them when you would rather interact with a computer than with them? How will they feel about themselves and about you? Children feel as though everything is about them. They will see this as a rejection of them and they will be more likely to act out.
It also poses a safety concern when you are not paying enough attention to the children in your care. Accidents happen, but when an adult care giver is close by and appropriately supervising the chances of a major injury dramatically reduce.
During work hours, the following would not be considered acceptable:
-Texting
-Talking to friends on the phone
-Chatting with friends online
-Using Skype or FaceTime
-IMing
-Emailing
-Updating your status on Facebook
-Using Snapchat, WhatsApp or any other app or social media site
-Watching videos on YouTube
-Tweeting on Twitter
-Uploading photos on Instagram
-Anything else on the computer unless it is going to Nickjr.com together with your host children
Think about this — even if you work 45 hours a week, that leaves you 123 hours per week for all of that other stuff, or about 70 hours (if you are getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep per night.)
Host Parents – You need to be clear about what you consider acceptable during work hours to avoid misunderstandings. Also, please understand that you are dealing with a new generation of people who are very accustomed to being plugged in at all times. Their intention is not to be rude, they don’t necessarily realize how their actions will be perceived. Please use this information as an opportunity to begin a dialogue on the issue.
Fall has arrived! Are you looking forward to cooler weather, changing leaves and all the changes that come with autumn?
Au Pair in America has a Fall, Halloween & Thanksgiving pinboard on Pinterest with lots of great activity ideas.
Photo: Mo Rizza (Flickr)
On October 24, we watched the Naval Academy Midshipmen take on Tulane University. The Naval Academy won! It was many of our au pairs first taste of American football.