Tag Archives: kids

Snow Days are Here!

Looking for ideas to keep the kids busy on a snow day (when they are home from school for winter weather?)

Here is a simple snow day game plan…

  1. Play in the snow. Do you wanna build a snowman? Here’s a great how-to video.
  2. Come inside and warm up with hot chocolate (don’t forget the marshmallows.)
  3. Make your own play dough.
  4. Play board games or legos together.
  5. Try some Winter Science experiments.
  6. Look for more fun things to do on the APIA Pinterest Boards:
  7. Bake cookies together or make some other fun recipe.
  8. Play in the snow again.
  9. Warm up inside taking turns on the Make a Snowflake Website.
  10. Make a blanket fort.

Stay warm & have fun!

Photo: Yuli Salinas

Welcome to Camp Au Pair in America!

When kids are out of school for the summer, it doesn’t take long for them to become bored and  sometimes that leads to sibling squabbles and mischief. Even though they don’t realize it, they are usually missing routine and predictability in their daily schedule. One solution is to make fun plans to keep them busy! 

Each week this summer we will share a different Camp Au Pair theme. These weekly themes are designed to give you ideas to keep your host kids occupied and engaged all summer long. They will also be learning. (But shhhh, don’t tell them that part.) Check back each Friday, for the next week’s theme. This gives you a chance to make plans and gather materials for the next week. For each theme there will be crafts, games, snacks and activities. You can just use these ideas or add your own and customize the themes to fit the ages and interests of your host children.

Here are the themes you can look forward to:

  • Art Experiences
  • Backyard Safari
  • Bugs & Butterflies
  • Cars and Trucks
  • Dinosaurs
  • Explore the World
  • Nature Explorations
  • Outer Space
  • Pirate Adventures
  • Princesses & Knights
  • Science (STEM)
  • Under the Sea

Check out Summer Fun & Summer Holidays pin boards for even more ideas.

If you get some great pictures doing these activities with your host kids, please send those to your counselor. We love to share your accomplishments and inspire other au pairs!

Let’s make this an amazing summer!

 

Social Distancing: Free Virtual Escape Rooms

Libraries may be closed due to COVID-19, but many librarians are coming up with creative ideas to keep people entertained and promote literacy. One of those creative ideas is free virtual escape rooms. With a variety of themes, some may be fun to do on your own, others as activities with the kids.

Sydney Krawiec, Youth Services Librarian at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, PA created this Hogwarts Virtual Escape Room. She shared this tutorial on how to create your own virtual escape room, which seemed to spark the creativity of many other librarians.

Some amazing librarians all over the country have been busy creating virtual escape rooms with a variety of themes.

Special thanks to the Humboldt County Library in Winnemucca, Nevada for gathering info on many of these escape rooms. Follow them on Facebook for their storytimes and weekly Facebook Live Science Time on Fridays.

Image: Canva.com

Social Distancing: 5 Online Adventures for Kids

Reading, playing, and doing art projects are always great ways to entertain children and keep them physically active and learning. It’s a good idea to limit screen time. But, in this time of social distancing, technology can play an important role in allowing kids to see and connect with the world outside of their homes. Many online resources are popping up to create those opportunities.

Here are five to get you started:

And if kids have questions about the coronavirus, Live Science has created an ultimate kids’ guide to the new coronavirus that has lots of information and is appropriate for school-aged kids.

Host Families – Au Pair Experiences

“She is doing an excellent job with the boys – has really picked up on their personalities and how to deal with each of them.  She has really been a help around the house.  I like how she takes things in stride and doesn’t get easily rattled-definitely a plus in our household!”   (German au pair)

“I came home to hear of how they brought some snow inside in pans & used food coloring to play & do experiments with it, and then did a scavenger hunt!”   (German au pair)

“She really gets the boys and their creativity and embraces that, making efforts to encourage and support their play. The kids wanted to sell Christmas tress so she helped them set up a table at the end of their driveway, make a sign, etc. No customers on the dead end road, but the boys had a fabulous time!” (Brazilian au pair)

“She has logged some serious ‘family time’ with us over the holidays! She even got up at 6:30am to open presents with the boys, and went on our family road trip to visit the cousins in PA.  She skyped with her family a few times, and was happy that the packages she sent a few weeks ago finally arrived in Germany – just after New Years. ”   (German au pair)

“It’s am amazing thing to bring in a young woman and watch her become a part of our larger family. She just fits in so well. She has been a great big sister to our kids and somewhat of a little sister to us. I am confident that my kids are well cared for and loved when I am not there. She has been such a blessing. I am so sad thinking about her leaving, but so thankful for the time she was with us.” (South African au pair)

Our girls love being with her. She has become such a nice addition to the family. Her warm personality and demeanor has made it very easy for (us) to become comfortable with her and she with us. Her past experience with young children really shines through when she is spending time with the girls. We are so happy that we found each other!” (Spanish au pair)

“Things are going pretty well. She is really amazing with the boys. She wrote out a schedule for her & (the youngest), and made goals for him for the month (being able to take off his shoes by himself, walking to the playground, etc). When the big 3 were off school & she had everyone, she planned a whole day of Harry Potter-themed activities, crafts, recipes, etc. They loved it!” (Austrian au pair)

Photos by: Scrabble_retrofade_Virginia State Parks; Ilya-Haykinson

Make Your Own Play Dough

Play dough is the perfect modeling material for children. Their small hands can pat, poke, pinch, roll and knead it into many shapes. Keep it in an airtight container to use another day, or let it air dry into favorite shapes.

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Measure 2 cups of flour, one cup of salt and 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar into a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of oil to one cup of water in a separate bowl then add the mixture to the dry ingredients. For colored play dough, squeeze 10-20 drops of food coloring into the water before you add it to the mixture. Cook the dough at low heat in a wide pan, stirring constantly until it becomes rubbery. Remove the dough from the heat and knead it for a few minutes. When it cools the kids can play too!

Photo: Kevin Jarrett (Flickr)

Au Pair Cultural Fair at Nationals Park on May 1st

Join Au Pair in America for a               1915609_10207257219523657_139700687365704839_n-300x300
Trip Around the World!

Sunday, May 1, 2016 | 1–4pm

Nationals Park, Norfolk Southern Club
1500 South Capitol Street, SE | Washington, DC

Help us celebrate 30 years of Au Pair in America and the U.S. Department of State’s au pair program! You’re invited to a fun afternoon of educational country displays, performances by au pairs, a photo op, face painting, and other fun activities for children. Au pairs from over 30 countries will be participating!

Organized by local Au Pair in America counselors from the DC Metro Area, the fair provides a great opportunity for families who are looking for child care to learn more about the program. Games and activities are planned for children in attendance. Children will be given a passport card that they can affix country flag stickers to as they visit au pairs from around the world.

Visit Au Pair in America’s DC Cultural Fair event page to RSVP and learn more information. (Current APIA host families are requested to RSVP using the link provided in their personal invitations.)

To get there by Metro: Take the Green Line to Navy Yard/Ballpark.
If driving: Free parking in Lot B for all attendees.
Entrance: Center Field gate and take the ramp/escalator to reach the club.