Tag Archives: au pair new orleans

Mardi Gras Safety

Dear host families and au pairs,

Many of you have been celebrating carnival for days and au pairs attended parades with host families and on their own. However, the final days of the carnival and Mardi Gras itself bring the excitement, entertainment, and the size of crowds up to a different level and I’d like to share with you a few words of advice and caution.NOLMardiSafety

CHILDREN SAFETY

If au pair goes to the parade with her host family, it is very important to discuss beforehand and in detail the following issues:

1. Will au pair be working or just hanging out with the family?
2. If she’ll be working — what EXACTLY will be her duties.
3. If she’ll be looking after a particular child — which one and what she should do when the child gets tired, bored, overexcited, hungry etc.
4. Rules regarding bathroom use.
5. Rules about hand holding and crossing/approaching the street.
6. Rules about NOT coming close to the floats to receive hand-out toys or special beads. If the child is offered a special item, it must be PARENTS who bring the child to the float to receive it, not au pair.
7. Rules about staying close together and not straying with/without child in pursuit of beads/doubloons.

AU PAIR SAFETY

The rules are common-sense but worth repeating:

1. Do not bring valuables to the parade. That includes money, credit cards, expensive electronics and jewelry, etc.
2. Carry your ID, credit card & some cash in a bag that you can keep track of at all times. Keep it zipped and close to your body.
3. Be mindful and protective of your expensive camera if you decide to bring it with you.
4. If you stop for a drink or snack don’t leave your purse or camera on the chair or table even if your friends promise to watch them. Always have them with you.
4. Don’t park on median (neutral ground) unless you want to get a ticket. Meter maids go out in force to give out plenty of parking tickets during Mardi Gras.
5. Be friendly but cautious when making friends. Do not go into people’s houses if you don’t know the owners and never wander away into secluded area (night or day).
6. Remember that in Louisiana legal age for drinking alcohol is 21 years old.
7. Trust your gut. If you have a funny feeling about a person or a situation walk away and join your friends or seek a busy place with other visitors.

LAISSEZ LES BONS TEMPS ROULER!


GROUNDHOG DAY

Dear au pairs,

In New Orleans, with our beautiful winter weather, we don’t particularly care what the groundhog says, but your au pair friends in the North, especially Pennsylvania, awaited February 2nd eagerly to see if spring is coming. And what does groundhog have to do with the spring?  Well, see below.

Groundhog Day in the US is February 2nd, when the groundhog, also known as whistle pig, wakes up from hibernation and climbs out of its burrow. On a sunny day it sees its shadow and goes back to sleep for six weeks because a sunny day indicates a late spring, Cloudy day and no shadow means winter is over! German settlers who brought this tradition from their native country celebrated the first official Groundhog Day on February 2, 1886 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

To find out more about Groundhog Day traditions and see some cute pics you can go to:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/02/groundhog-day-facts-2013-trivia_n_2600485.html

Pinata-making Workshop

PINATA is a one of the most enjoyable imports from Latin American countries that has made countless appearances across the country at children’s birthday parties. It is a large, brightly decorated container made of paper-mache (often in the shape of an animal, star, or cone) and suspended from a height. Blindfolded children attempt to smash it with sticks to release candy and toys contained within.NOLPinataworkshop


On a Saturday afternoon au pairs joined piñata-making workshop presented by Scarlett Alaniz at the Newcomb Art Gallery in the Waldenberg Art Center on Tulane campus. Immediately after, Rosy, au pair from Mexico, shared with other au pairs her tips on making piñatas in a slightly less elaborate but equally successful way.  No doubt a few home-made piñatas will soon show up at kids’ parties in the area.

After singing Happy Birthday to Esther from Spain and enjoying both B-day cake and Mardi Gras King Cake, au pairs decided to have some more fun at the parade. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

NOLTulanepinataworkshopNOLEstherbirthdayNOLPinataTulane

Nutritional Foods And Snacks For Kids

According to the American Dietetic Association children should eat 6-11 servings of grains (bread, pasta, rice, cereal), 3-5 servings of vegetables (about 1/2 cup is a serving for a child), 2-4 servings of fruit (again, about 1/2 cup), 2-3 servings of meat, poultry, fish or dried beans, and 2-3 dairy servings every day.
However, experts agree that children will eat when they are hungry and shouldn’t be forced to eat. Give children small portions which won’t overwhelm them, and remind them that they can always have more.

Snacks between meals should be nutritious (fruits, vegetables, cheese, bread, crackers, yogurt, or juice).
Keep fruits and vegetables at children’s eye level in the refrigerator or in a bowl on the table so they will be able to take them easily when they are hungry. Blend juice, chopped fruit and yogurt in the blender for a quick and delicious fruit smoothie. Add a touch of honey to sweeten.

Involving children in meal planning, grocery shopping and food preparation can help them to become more interested in what they eat. Have them cut out pictures from grocery store flyers to make a picture shopping list, and then they can help find the items in the store. Help them to choose foods in each of the five food groups listed above. Serve food in a pretend restaurant with homemade placemats and menus, or create your own grocery store with empty boxes or cans (if you plan on using cans, open from the bottom and then check for sharp edges).

Many children need to eat more often than three times per day. If a child becomes cranky or irritable, it may be time for a snack. Sugary foods make many children excitable.

Food safety:
• to avoid choking, never offer food unless the child is sitting upright.
• toddlers are just learning to chew – celery, carrots, grapes, apples, and hot dogs must all be cut up, peanut butter should be spread thinly on bread or a cracker, and children under four should not eat raisins, hard candy, nuts or popcorn, as they are all easy to choke on.
• food storage customs in the United States may be different from those in other countries. Generally, eggs, dairy products and all meats should never be left at room temperature. If meat is frozen, it should be defrosted in the refrigerator or in the microwave, not on the counter. All cutting boards and knives should be well washed after preparing chicken. Fruit will ripen at room temperature, but if it is already ripe, it will keep better in the refrigerator. The one exception is bananas – the refrigerator will turn them black.
• before opening a can, rinse the lid so the dirt from the outside of the can doesn’t get into the food.

Remember, adults should set a good example with the food they eat, and where and how they eat it.

A Taste of New Orleans' Food

To get a taste of New Orleans’ food au pairs visited New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood on St. Charles Avenue.

The restaurant advertises their “new inspired menu with signature creations like the Charbroiled Oysters, Seafood Gumbo and the Shrimpzilla® Poboy” but hamburgers ruled the day. Free frozen yogurt was a very welcome finish to a yummy lunch which was followed by a long walk under the oaks.

NOLSeafoodHamburgerSept2012NOLSeafoodCassia,SvenjaNOLSeafoodErika,Michele,LauraNOLSeafoodgrilzNOLSeafoodLaura,Anna,BlancaNOLSeafoodMichaela,Marta,Kim

Touring Manchac Swamp

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Au pairs took a tour of Manchac swamp with Cajun Pride Swamp Tours in the heat of August when alligators are very active.  They saw scores of them follow the boat, but it was the huge garfish that splashed everybody while jumping ferociously in pursuit of bait. Raccoons watched the spectacle from the shore, careful not to come within predator’s reach.

NOLAlligatorWater

As usual, baby gator was everybody’s favorite.

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Come, make a SCHULTUTE with German au pairs Svenja and Jackie!!

NOLSchultute

It is a German tradition to present first graders with large, brightly decorated cones on the first day of school. Each cone, or tute, is filled with toys, school supplies and candy, just to make that first day extra sweet and special.

Come and let Svenja, Jackie and their Au Pair in America friends help you make your own Schultute.

Where? At the Louisiana Children’s Museum, of course!

Step Into School

August 4, 2012

11 am  – 3 pm

Louisiana Children’s Museum
420 Julia Street • New Orleans, LA 70130

see: http://lcm.org/

Au Pairs Meet Local Parents at Baby and Child Expo

On Saturday, July 7, 2012 au pairs participated in Baby and Child Expo organized by La Leche League of Jefferson. Grouped around the Au Pair in America display in the center court of Lakeview Mall in Metairie, au pairs were happy to chat with visiting families. They talked about Au Pair in America program, different options of care, program rules, cost, and the wonderful experience of sharing the culture of their respective countries with host families.

NOLBabyExpoJuly2012

Fun Things To Do With Kids in the Summer

Summer can be a load of fun for au pairs and their host kids provided some thinking and planning is done ahead of time.  Bored children are not good companions, so au pairs need to BE PREPARED.
It’s not wise to try and wing it. A much better way is to have a list of possible activities ready for each week.
When deciding on an activity, au pairs need to offer their host kids options but not so many that the kids get confused or overly picky. With young children “either – or” is often the best way to go.
Once the decision is made, everybody can go for it & have FUN!

Put the music on!

And dance. Let the kids pick their own tunes and make their own moves. If host mom or dad decide to join as guest stars that’s all for the better.

Jump!

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick, or a line, a branch, with a jumping rope, on one leg or two, to a tune, to count a hundred jumping jacks… the possibilities are endless.

Have a ball with the ball

Kicking, throwing, passing along, catching, rolling, chasing, bouncing, balancing on the top of the head or the tip of the foot… all the wonderful things you can do with a ball will amuse your host kids for hours on end.

Read aloud with the kids

If your kids are old enough to be able to read, find a book with a lot of dialogue and read it together dividing the roles.  Make sure to read like pros with voice modulations, shouts and whispers when appropriate, hushed silences and stern commands. Encourage your kids to get into it and improvise if they wish.

Yoga with kids

It’s okay if you can’t put your legs around your neck, just trying, together with your kids, will provide enough fun and laughter. Then you can switch to dog, cat, snake and crocodile poses and you’ll all feel like in a zoo.

Sticks and stones

Gathering and using sticks, stones, cones, seeds, shells and other natural objects to create sculptures and collages will provide hours of imaginative play.

Be crafty

Most children enjoy doing crafts and are proud of their creations. You can work with simple and inexpensive household items (yarn, old buttons, a piece of string) and with craft store materials. Make sure that the level of skill required to complete the project is appropriate for the age of your host kids.

Get under the table

The best ever idea for a rainy day is making a tent out of a blanket, a table and a couple of chairs. Sharing stories, writing notes, or playing games is so much fun under the cozy cover.

Dressing-up

Dressing up, putting on make-up and strutting around in the special getup is a perennial favorite of all children. Encouraging & helping older kids to create their own costumes will fire their imagination and produce amazing results

Cooking up a storm

Making a pudding, fixing Jell-O, peeling hard-boiled eggs, rolling out dough, decorating cupcakes will create a bit of mess in the kitchen, but the yummy results are so worth it! Just make sure the kids stay away from hot oven and sharp utensils.