Tag Archives: nanny

Chinese New Year

Welcome the 4711, the Year of the Horse! Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is an important celebration in many Asian cultures. Family members often travel great distances to be together over the 2 weeks of the festival. There are many amazing traditions associated with Chinese New Year, and they can be a great way to introduce children to some of the culture of the Far East. This year it runs from January 31st to February 15th, but it is slightly different every year.

The APIA Pinterest page, http://www.pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/ has all kinds of crafts, games and recipes to try. You can also go to http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/ for other ideas. One thing that I remember from when I was little myself, was learning what the animal was when I was born. There is a 12 year cycle, each represented by an animal that supposedly embodies traits people have who are born under that sign, similar to the zodiac many Westerners are familiar with. I am a Dragon, as is my husband, and my children are Dog, Tiger, and Dragon, so you can imagine the ruckus around here most of the time! Often, au pairs aren’t familiar with this concept, and it is as much fun for them to learn about as to teach to the kids! The Enchanted Learning page I linked to above has a chart with all the animals laid out.

A quart of fried rice and some fortune cookies from the nearest Chinese take-out can be served out while people are making dragon puppets or paper lanterns, making an evening out of it for everyone.

Gung Hay Fat Choy (“May you become prosperous”) is the traditional greeting.

Have fun!

State Fair Time

The Great Minnesota Get-Together is coming up fast! Minnesota has the absolute greatest state fair of any state! (That may be subjective…) But we do have 12 days to celebrating everything that’s special about Minnesota, especially our agricultural roots. There is an entire section dedicated to farm machinery! There is also a Midway with rides and games, and an International Bazaar where you can buy jewelry and clothing from all over the world.

The Grandstand hosts major musical acts, as well as a talent show, and this year, the International Cat Video Festival.

The fair is an annual destination for people who like to eat, particularly if they like to eat greasy, deep-fried food and drink beer. Try the Tom Thumb donuts! And there’s the on-going controversy over whether Corn Dogs or Pronto Pups is the better battered, deep-fried hot dog on a stick.

This year the fair runs from 8/22 to 9/2. Go to http://www.mnstatefair.org/ for all the latest fair-related information.

See you at the fair!

International Women's Day

Friday (March 8th) is International Women’s Day! This day helps to jumpstart the month of March, which has now been named National Women’s History Month in the United States . International Women’s Day is celebrated in 176 countries and allows women worldwide to connect, celebrate and honor womens past, present, and future.

On this day women will “Celebrate, Commit, and Connect.” They’ll celebrate like never before ~ connect as only women do ~ and commit to improve in 3 areas of their lives:
1. Personal ~ improve their personal health and well being, and their businesses as employees, business owners, entrepreneurs.
2. Family ~ help their families be healthier and prepare for the future right now.
3. Country ~ let their voices be heard: to speak up, to make positive changes in their communities/countries.

Au Pair in America is an organization fully commited to enriching the lives and minds of young women and this day is highly regarded within the organization.

Young women from all over the globe, ages 18 -26, come to America to live with an American family and learn about American culture. The Au Pair in America cultural exchange program provides a platform to really the change lives of the young women that participate. Fanny Carvajal-Delgado, one of our former au pairs from Costa Rica, has said “Working as an aupair with Au Pair in America is a life changing experience. It has changed my life, the way I value my family and friends, the way I see the world and the way I think about myself, in a positive way. I will never be the same person ! When I finished the program I was more mature, Independent and responsible.”

In recognition of International Women’s Day, below are some ways you can celebrate this day as well as National Women’s History month in your lcoal community:

Register to vote
Attend an event promoting women’s health, equality or safety
Thank a woman who has been a positive influence in your life
Support a program that provides business training for women in developing countries
Make a doantion that provides education for girls
To find for an International Women’s Day event in your area, go to www.internationalwomensday.com!

Super Bowl Sunday

The Super Bowl is the annual American Football championship and a popular time for friends to gather in front of the TV. Each year millions of people watch the game, the half-time show – or just the commercials! People will be talking about the commercials for days. To learn more about football visit the “Life in the US” section of the Au Pair in America website http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/football.asp
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Groundhog Day Feb. 2nd

Traditionally, the groundhog is supposed to wake up on February 2, and come up out of his burrow. If he sees his shadow, he will return to the burrow for six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, he remains outside and starts his year, because he knows that spring has arrived early. In the U.S., the “official” groundhog is kept in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is called “Phil.” Though not based in science, it is a fun US tradition. The movie, starring Bill Murray is hilarious!
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Winter Weight Control

Many au pairs (probably most!) put on some extra weight over the winter. Americans eat more than most au pairs are used to eating, and it’s way to easy to stay inside instead of going out for exercise. Luckily, we live in the Twin Cities, where there are all kinds of awesome things to do in the winter. Here are a few ideas of indoor things to do to keep you in shape:

Roller skating at the Metrodome http://www.roller-dome.com/ $6 admission plus skate rental
Como Zoo Conservatory http://www.comozooconservatory.org/ Free and full of tropical plants so you can almost forget about the snow outside.
Mall walking at shopping malls around the area – free, and a good place to push a stroller if you’re with a little one during the day. Check with the mall you live near to find out hours. Mall of America is popular mall-walking destination: it’s roughly 1/2 mile around the mall once, so if you go around each floor twice that’s 3 miles.
Midwest Mountaineering has a ‘Bouldering Cave” in the basement that’s free, although you may want to rent climbing shoes for $3. Go to the main desk to sign the waiver and they will help you from there! www.midwestmtn.com for more information
There are several trampoline parks in the area where you and your host kids (assuming they are old enough) can jump around and burn amazing amounts of calories. minneapolis.skyzonesports.com/ for hours and cost information.
Grand Slam has laser tag. batting cages, a trampoline area, and Dance Dance Revolution. Visit www.grandslam.com for more info.

There are several places to go roller skating indoors, and also several ice arenas where you can learn to skate indoors as well.

Finally, meetup.com has ways to find people who are interested in the same things you are. It’s a great place to find a volleyball team, or a dodgeball tournament, or almost anything else, all near you.

I’ll post another list of fun things to do to stay active outdoors as well.

Back to School Safety Information from Consumer Reports

School bus safety tips for drivers and children
Aug 17, 2011 8:30 AM

Every school day 23 million children ride a big yellow bus. While school buses are one of the safest modes of transport, there are real risks in getting on and off and walking to bus stops. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has offered some tips to help students, parents, and motorists safe around buses.

Tips for drivers:
When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school. Better yet, walk around your car or out to the sidewalk to check for any children walking in your path before you get in.
Drive slowly and watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks. Also be aware of children playing or waiting around bus stops.
Be alert and aware on the road. While children are typically taught about looking both ways, they could dart into the street without looking if they are late or distracted.
Learn the school bus laws in your state. Yellow flashing lights indicate that the bus is preparing to stop to pickup or drop off children. Drivers need to slow down and prepare to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop arm signal indicate that the bus is stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Cars must stop a safe distance away and not proceed until the red lights stop flashing, the stop sign folds back, and the bus continues on its way.
Tips for children:
Get to the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
When the bus approaches, stand at least 6 feet away from the curb, and line up away from the street.
Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says that it’s okay before stepping onto the bus.
If you have to cross the street in front of the bus, walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least 10 feet ahead of the bus before you cross. Be sure that the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.
Use the handrails to avoid falls. When exiting the bus, be careful that clothing or backpacks don’t get caught in the handrails or doors.
Never walk behind the bus.
If you drop something near the bus, tell the bus driver. Never try to pick it up because the driver may not be able to see you.
For more on child safety, see our kids and car safety guide.
—Liza Barth

Camp Au Pair

We have a great set of ideas for au pair ‘day camp’ suitable for all ages. They are organized around various themes, such as “Under the Sea,” “Cars and Trucks,” and “Dinosaurs.” The most current one is “London Olympics,” which is a great way for families to use the cultural exchange aspect of the au pair program to see the Olympics in a whole new way. Go to http://pinterest.com/aupairinamerica to see all of the great ideas! You don’t need to be a member of Pinterest to use this link.

Water Safety Tips

Another post from Walgreens’ site.

WATER SAFETY

  • Learn CPR.
  • Teach your children to swim, but do not assume that this alone will prevent drowning in young children.
  • Never leave young children unattended, even for a minute, in a bathtub, swimming pool, lake, ocean, or stream.
  • Fence all home pools and keep the gate closed and locked.
  • Always wear life preservers when boating, even if you can swim.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol when swimming or boating.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Never dive into water unless you know beforehand how deep it is.
  • Know your limits. Do not over-exert yourself.
  • Avoid standing on wet surfaces or being in water during a lightening storm.
  • Stay out of strong currents.
  • Do not overload your boat. If your boat turns over, stay with the boat until help arrives.

Child Safety Tips

This is from Walgreens’ website – I think it has a lot of good information.

CHILD SAFETY

  • The space between crib bars should be no more than 2.5 inches.
  • The distance from the mattress to the top of the rail should be over 2 feet.
  • DO NOT put extra blankets and stuffed animals in a crib with a baby.
  • DO NOT place a baby on the stomach to sleep.
  • Always keep one hand on an infant who is lying on a changing table.
  • Place gates at the top and bottom of each stairway.
  • Cover unused electrical sockets.
  • Keep cleaning fluids, bug poisons, and other chemicals well out of a child’s reach. Avoid storing toxic substances in unmarked or inappropriate containers (such as food containers). If you suspect poisoning or have questions, call 1-800-222-1222.
  • Buy medicines with child-resistant caps. Place all medications out of the reach of children.
  • Put safety latches on cabinets that a child should not open.
  • Keep knives and matches out of reach.
  • Keep plastic bags away from children.
  • Keep children away from hot drinks and stove tops.
  • When cooking on the stove, make sure that pot and pan handles are turned to the middle of the stove. Handles that hang over the edge of the stove may be reached by a curious toddler.
  • Keep toys with small parts out of the reach of infants and toddlers. This includes stuffed animals with buttons.
  • Avoid putting dangerous items in a waste basket where a young child might find them.
  • Keep toilet lids down.
  • Never leave infants and children unattended in a bathtub.
  • Check water temperature in a bath before placing a child in it.
  • Set the hot water heater thermostat to no more than 125°F.
  • When heating a baby bottle, always test the milk temperature to prevent burning your baby’s mouth.
  • Inspect playground equipment for signs of deterioration, weakness, and damage.
  • Teach children what to do if strangers approach them. Teach them at an early age that no one should touch private areas of the body.
  • Make sure children know their address as early as possible. Teach them to call 911 when in trouble.
  • Teach children to watch for cars on streets. They must stop, look both ways and listen for approaching traffic. Children must also be very aware of cars on driveways and in parking lots. Cars backing up cannot see small children.
  • Supervise young children at all times.