Monthly Archives: October 2014

Halloween Safety and Fall Fun!

What’s on our Pinterest Page? Check out our Au Pair in America fall season board on Pinterest. http://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/fall-halloween-thanksgiving/  We have lots of ideas for Halloween, fall and Thanksgiving including crafts, recipes, coloring pages, games and fun treats for the kids.

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween can be a lot of fun but it is also a time when safety should come first.

Here are some tips for you:

· Adult supervision is essential. Always accompany the children if they are going door to door to trick or treat

· Try trick-or-treat-friendly homes. Ensure the children only visit houses with lights on. Houses with lights off are not participating. Remember, look for houses to visit that have some sort of Halloween decoration on the porch or in the yard.  Remind the children to say Thank you!

· Stay outside. Make sure the children don’t go inside someone’s house. They can trick or treat on the porch. Some families set up at the end of their driveway near the street.

· Remain visible. Dress the children in bright costumes or have them wear reflective strips or carry a glow stick or flashlight. Make sure you carry one too.

· Quality-check treats. Check the candy before they eat it. Throw out any candy that is not in its original wrapper or looks like it has been tampered with.

· Say “no” to strangers. Remind the children to never accept a ride or go anywhere with a stranger.

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October is Month of the Young Adolescent

Parque do Ibirapuera

Dedicated to ages 10-15 this serves as a reminder of the insecurity of young adolescents. Help the young adolescents you care for to recognize their abilities. Help to make home a safe and comfortable place where it is okay to learn from mistakes. Help them to learn about the adult values of hard work, family and discipline.

Even though kids this age are typically pretty independent and may seem like they don’t need or want much interaction from an au pair, this is not completely true. They still enjoy when you take an interest in their activities.  Find ways to connect with them through shared interests or let them introduce you to things they care about.

This is a hard time for many young people, lots of changes, lots of challenges, feelings and emotions. Some days that awesome kid isn’t so awesome. Some days, ok, lots of days, may not be great days for them and they may seem preoccupied, moody, distant and they may even say things that aren’t always nice. Remember to keep your cool, be consistent, even if they are emotionally all over the place. Keep trying to connect, but also give them space.

Photo: Marlon Dias