Tag Archives: Southern Maryland au pairs

Snowy Days and Winter Fun!

As we prepare to for winter weather, a few reminders and some fun snow day ideas!  

*If you have school aged kids who will be home due to school closures, this will change your au pairs work hours. Host parents and au pairs should work together to adjust the schedule as needed to stay within the regulations from the Dept. of State.

*Remember, no more than 10 hours per day and no more than 45 hours per work week. Host parents should be cognizant of this and if you are home too, look at having the au pair start late or end early. You can also choose a middle of the day break, but remember, a meaningful break is three hours minimum. The key here is to be flexible and prepared! Always have a back up plan!

*Remember that days on end in the house due to the weather and now more days can be draining. Be empathetic and offer encouragement and ideas. When the roads are safe in your area, suggest she get out for a couple of hours while off duty. This will offer her a chance to have a break and recharge. As parents, we all know the need for that.

*Check out our Pinterest boards for some great ideas on beating the winter blues! Do you want to build a snowman (inside where it’s warm)? Check out the Olaf activity. How about “painting” snow? We can show you how! Make sure you bundle up when heading outside. Don’t forget hot chocolate or tea when you come back in!

For some fun ideas, check out the – APIA Pinterest Board – Winter Fun

Photo by Cynthia Chan

Christmas Pierogies

In preparation for Christmas, Patrycja, from Poland, currently residing in Southern Maryland, and her host dad spent all day making traditional Polish pierogi!

She said, “I wasn’t sure if we can actually do it since I’ve never made pierogi by myself before, but we did it!

‘Pierogi z kapustą kiszoną i pieczarkami’ one of the things Poland is most known for! (Sauerkraut and mushrooms)

My mom offered us her help (from Poland), so we had the greatest pierogi maker on our side 😁 We ended up with almost 100 pierogi

I am really really proud of us and I’m glad I could contribute to this Christmas with a little bit of my own culture!”

Cluster Fun – Annmarie Sculpture Garden In Lights

Garden in Lights!

Recently Southern Maryland au pairs gathered at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Art Center to enjoy the Garden in Lights! Two of our host families joined in the fun as well! We strolled the gardens and several enjoyed the music, shopping and current exhibits inside the gallery!

The most magical time of year at Annmarie Sculpture Garden as it is transformed into a twinkling wonderland!

Annmarie Garden In Lights transports you and your companions to an enchanted world where they will discover glowing “light sculptures” and wondrous light installations.  Discover wild animals, wintry wonderlands, musical holiday scenes, deep sea treasures, the art walk, magical creatures, glowing trees, and so much more!

Halloween Safety Tips

  1. TRICK OR TREAT TOGETHER – Children should trick or treat in groups and younger children should have adult supervision.
  2. DRESS UP SAFELY – Avoid masks that block children’s vision and make sure costumes don’t pose a tripping hazard. Avoid sharp or heavy props that could cause injury.
  3. BE VISIBLE – Children should be visible to drivers. Consider reflective material on their costumes and/or carrying a flashlight or glow stick.
  4. CROSS SAFELY – Children should walk on the sidewalk and cross at corners.
  5. CHECK TREATS – Children should not eat candy until an adult has a chance to check it.

Contest: First au pair to send Cynthia (through Facebook or email) the name of their favorite Halloween candy will receive a prize! 

Camp Au Pair – Global Awareness

Wrapping up Camp Au Pair for Summer 2019, let’s focus on global awareness and share some cultural experiences! Most importantly, share you culture with your host family. Incorporate games, books, songs, language, foods, etc into your host family’s lives. Cooking a dish from your family is a great way to share. Discuss similar traditions and ones unique to your family or culture.

Resource –

Use the Global Awareness website for an amazing collection of resources!

Let’s Create & Learn –

Check out –

Photo by {Rona Proudfoot}

August Cluster Fun – Bert’s Diner and Sending Smiles

This month, we met up at the iconic Bert’s “fabulous 50s” American Diner for a cool American experience. We made funny and uplifting postcards to send messages of love and hope to children and their families battling cancer and other serious illness. Our au pairs created over 50 post cards for children in need at this event. 

We also continued our collection of new socks as part of our participation in Exchange Day, a nationwide celebration of the power of international exchanges! International exchange participants are joining their American hosts to “eat, play, and give” — sharing cultural diversity and American customs, to give back to their communities, and to have some fun. Click here for more information about the Sending Smiles

 

 

Camp Au Pair – Kids in the Kitchen

Camp Au Pair is in the kitchen this week! Feeling creative? Try making these adorable palm tree snack plates!

 

Field trips!

  • Make a plan of food creativity! Check out your pantry and fridge first, then plan a trip to the grocery store to get needed items. Have your host kids help prepare the list. Think about the layout of the store, make your list so you can walk around and easily find things.
  • Perhaps part of your food experience week is going out to a local eatery and trying something new or sharing food from your home country.
  • Krispy Kreme has their stores set up so you can watch the donuts being made! Watch

    thedonuts being made, wear a fun Krispy Kreme hat and then eat a fresh, hot donut! Call ahead to get an idea of what time is best. You can even sign yourself up for their rewards program and get a free donut!

  • Visit a local farm or farmer’s market.
  • Check out the Food Network’s kids cooking and baking shows.

Who says you can’t play with your food! Have fun in the kitchen with your host kids!

Photo: Melissa {flickr}, Brewbook {flickr}

 

Camp Au Pair – Science/STEM

This week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Science (STEM).

Crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to all things science, technology, engineering and math can be found here on the Camp Au Pair – Science (STEM) pinboard. Try some of these great ideas!

Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Here are a few places to go, that fit this theme:

Videos – On YouTube you can find many great videos of with science experiments to do with kids. You can also check out Steve Spangler Science lab videos! Check out the cool slime art!

Movies – The Lego Movie, Big Hero 6, Wall-E and Hidden Figures all fit the STEM theme.

Webcams – You can do a google search for science websites with webcams. Here is a collection of 22 science webcams from around the world.

Books – Stop by your local library and look for books on science, technology, engineering and math.

Image: sweetpaulmag.com

Camp Au Pair: Art Exploration

Camp Au Pair: Art Exploration

Roll up your sleeves for some artsy fun this week!! Art is a great way to engage with your host kids and have a great time together!

For more great art ideas, check out the Au Pair in America Pinterest board!

The National Art Gallery has a wonderful option for kids. NGAkids interactives offer an entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history. Featuring a variety of art-making tools that encourage exploration and creativity, these computer-based activities are suitable for all ages. You can learn about each program by clicking on the associated thumbnail image. Download the Art Zone or NGAkids App applications to your Macintosh or Windows-based computer, or order the free CDs. There is also an iOS version of the NGAkids App for iPad.

Field Trips:

  • How to have fun with kids in an art museum
  • Art museum scavenger hunt for kids
  • Taking kids to an art museum (tips)
  • Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center is located in scenic Solomons, Maryland, where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The sculpture garden features a 1/4 mile walking path that meanders through the woods past permanent and loaned sculpture, including over thirty works on loan from the Smithsonian Institution and the National Gallery of Art.   Currently, they have a Fairy House exhibit along the trails and the Fairy Lolly is a wonderful place to play! A wonderfully whimsical natural play space where kids can run, jump, climb, perform and more!  There is an art exploration room there as well in the gallery where kids can create art freely! Check with your host family to see if they are members! Admission fee.
  • Bonus: you can spot Cynthia’s photograph – Gifts from the Chesapeake on display in the Ebb & Flow exhibit until Sept. 2.

 

Virtual Field Trips:

  • #MetKids is a digital feature made for, with, and by kids. Explore The Met with our interactive map and watch behind-the-scenes videos that feature kids just like you. With fun facts and creative projects for the galleries or at home, #MetKids has been inspired, tested, and approved by real kids ages 7–12.

Art work by Sarah, age 7

Camp Au Pair – Bugs & Butterflies

Get ready to get buggy as we explore bugs and butterflies this week! Ready for some serious fun?

Activities

Check out the Au Pair in America Pinterest site for more great ideas!

Field Trips can be a great way for kids to learn and have new experiences. Here are a few places to go, that fit this theme:

  • Two local attractions offer the opportunity to surround yourself with hundreds of live butterflies from all over the world and learn about their metamorphosis and the part they play in our ecosystem.
  • Also at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, you can visit the Orkin Insect Zoo. Don’t miss the tarantula feedings daily at 11:30am and 1:30pm.
  • Goldpetal Farms has a second sunflower maze opening on July 21st. The flowers attracts bees and butterflies!

Videos – You can find many great videos of butterflies and insects on YouTube. Check out these videos for kids about bees and ants. All about Insects covers lots of tiny creatures who crawl and fly. Here is a video showing a Monarch Butterfly metamorphosis time-lapse.

Photo: Nick Goodrum {flickr} & Cynthia Chan