This link is something I shared a year ago, but it’s so important I want to share it at least once a year. We think we know what it looks like when someone is drowning and we are WRONG. Please take the time to read this. It only takes a minute for a child to get in trouble in the water and this could literally help you save a life.
http://tinyurl.com/kd8mltf
Father’s Day is this coming Sunday. It is unfortunate that it falls after school gets out, because most schools help kids (at least little kids) come up with a nice gift for Mother’s Day but Father’s Day is pretty much left for the kids to do on their own.
Father’s Day is important, though, and children should give it as much attention as Mother’s Day. Dads are really important and we all should show our appreciation for all they do.
Depending on the dad and on the ages of the kids, Father’s Day gifts can range from a home-decorated coffee mug to spending the day at a baseball game.
To make a fun coffee mug, follow these simple instructions from Newsweek: Buy a cheap white coffee mug from Target or Walmart. Decorate it using Sharpie permanent markers, or have the kids go nuts themselves. Then put the mug in the oven and turn th heat to 450 degrees and set a times for 30 minutes. When the timer goes off, turn off the oven but leave the mug in until it’s completely cooled. As long as you hand wash the mug, the decorations will be permanent.
For more fun and low-cost ideas, go to http://tinyurl.com/lh2yxzn
Having an au pair is one way families put their values into practice, teaching their children about the value of diversity and acceptance, about how to relate to different cultures in their futures, and about how the meaning of the word ‘family’ can include people who live far away.
There is an organization in the Twin Cities that also helps families raise children who are thoughtful about the world around them. Doing Good Together helps families find opportunites to work together to make the world a better place – everything from helping animals to advocating for social justice, and everything in between. They even give ideas for small random acts of kindness, such as leaving quarters at a vending machine for the next person to use, or writing a note to someone to let them know you care. It’s a wonderful resource for all families!
If you’re looking for something to do on a rainy day, go to http://www.bigheartedfamilies.org/ and pick a project to do. They give you all the information you need, including appropriate ages of children, so it makes it super easy for everyone!
A fun way to introduce kids to the idea of diverse holidays is to teach them about the solstice. The days have been getting shorter and shorter, and we all should celebrate having a little more sunshine soon.
There is a great website for kids and crafts, www.craftycrow.net, that has a bunch of great ideas for solstice crafts for all ages. Even the littlest kids can make a finger-painted sun, and bigger kids can make some spectacular snowflakes.
Even if you are just looking for something to do when it’s too cold out to go sledding, these are fun ways to enjoy the season indoors. Have fun crafting!
Almost all the families I interview express concerns about how au pairs will adapt to our lovely winters. I can honestly say that not one of the hundreds of au pairs I have worked with has left Minnesota because of the winter. In fact, I would say that the highest percentage of au pairs who choose to extend with their same family in my cluster is girls from warm places like Brazil and Thailand.
However, if your au pair will be sleeping in the basement, you might want to look at space heaters. The modern ones are extremely safe, and as long as you are very clear about safety with it (don’t drape your towel over it to dry it, for example) it might make your au pair feel more appreciated.
It is important to make our environment very clear when you are interviewing candidates. Just like everything else, early communication can really prevent issues later on. You don’t need to scare her – don’t mention the snow emergency we had last May, for example – but she should know that it will be cold and snowy for half the year.
Winter driving can also be a big challenge for anyone – even people who have grown up here can forget how to slow down early enough after it snows. The Minnesota Safety Council has a course entitled “Alive at 25” that au pairs can take to brush up on their skills. They also have fact sheets about winter driving that talk to specific issues they might need to know. The links are at the right.
We can all get through this together. We do it every year!
School is coming for most children. In Minnesota, school generally starts the day after Labor Day, although Minneapolis, and a few other places, start the week before. With a few breaks, the school year will run until around the first week of June.
School-day mornings can be a hectic time, with kids running around trying to find homework and matching shoes, parents trying to get breakfast into them, and everyone running out the door to catch the school bus. It’s helpful to have a routine for school days, which might include picking out clothes the night before, having all homework in backpacks and by the door before bedtime, packing lunches for the week on Sunday night, or other things. This is one of the areas where an organized au pair can be a godsend for their host family! If you have ideas on how to make things go more smoothly, please share them!
During the fall here, the weather can change dramatically in a few hours. Kids will need warm coats, maybe even hats and mittens, in the morning, but in the afternoon they will be overheated unless they stash all that in their backpacks. Kids should have layers that make it easy to change from warm to cold weather – hoodies, T-shirts under button-down shirts, and ‘magic’ gloves that can be easily stuffed in pockets are some easy ways to help kids go with the flow.
Homework is another area where au pairs can make their family’s lives go better. Many families have the kids come home from school, give them a snack, and have them do their homework immediately before they can do anything fun.
Finally, there is no time in a child’s life when they don’t benefit from reading with an adult. Younger kids enjoy being read to, and older kids can take turns, or even just read to their adult. This experience can shape their whole lives, because it teaches them that reading is an important skill, and that they are important to other people. Plus it’s fun!
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!
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.
This was originally posted by Cindy Garruba, the Long Island CC
After the decorations are put away, the celebrations are over, the New Year has begun: and the post holiday winter blues are starting to hit you and your host family. What can you do to get through the long cold winter months happily?
1. Get outside every day with the kids, bundle up and play outside. Go to the park, take a walk, ride bikes; we have been having an unusually warm winter, so enjoy it! If it snows, build a snowman, go sledding, have fun outside!
2. Stay on routine with the kids; get up on time, have breakfast, get to the bus stop on time. Make sure homework is done and everyone gets to their activities on time. Bedtime routines are important, make sure everyone gets enough sleep and that includes YOU!
3. Register for your classes, and get ready to start learning something new.
4. Call a friend and meet for coffee and conversation if you feel housebound.
5. Set up a play date with another au pair and her host children (similar ages) and enjoy a day together.
6. Join a gym with another au pair.
7. Use the library in your town. Sign the kids up for free programs (talk to host parents about the programs.) Join the English conversation group, improve your English and meet people.
8. Prepare a Global Awareness presentation for one of your host kids’ classes. Talk to your counselor for ideas.
9. Volunteer at a local hospital, school, animal shelter, food bank if you have extra time on your hands and need to do something. Doing for others is always an answer for the blues!
10. (From Jennifer) Go to the Conservatory at Como Zoo for a brief visit to warm weather, flowers, and other growing things.
I know it’s kind of a contradiction, but Au Pair in America held a Peace Day competition for our au pairs to submit art or poetry on the subject of the International Day of Peace. You can see all submissions on our Global Awareness page at http://www.globalawareness.com/
Global Awareness is our educational program, where au pairs go to schools, Boy or Girl Scout meetings, birthday parties, etc. and share aspects of their culture. They can teach a traditional song, talk about holiday customs, maybe even share a recipe. If you would like to have an au pair visit your school or other youth event, contact me!
