Swedish au pair Julia has been enjoying her match with local host family for more than five month now. To find out more about childcare in the area, and in the States in general, she volunteered to participate in the Baby and Child Expo at the Lakeside Shopping Mall. After talking to several interested families, she was delighted to note that both she and the families learned a lot from each other. She was also impressed by the great variety and high quality of services offered to families with young children.
Tag Archives: au pair
Kayaking on Bayou St. John
After meeting at NOMA, some au pairs decided to continue to Bayou Kayaks launch pad on bayou St. John. Paddling along they didn’t spot any local alligators, but saw plenty of fish, ducks, ducklings, geese, goslings, kayakers and yolo boarders.
Kayaking was so much fun it will definitely be a repeat experience.
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
THANKSGIVING falls on the fourth Thursday of November. It is as a legal holiday in the United States and commemorates the feast held at Plymouth in 1621 by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people. The feast was held to honor God and give him thanks for harvest and health.
Thanksgiving has religious and cultural origins but is also celebrated in a secular fashion.
The most common dishes on a Thanksgiving table are: TURKEY, sweet potato casserole, collard greens, squash, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce and in New Orleans – shrimp and grits.
During a traditional ceremony at the White House, the president of the United States “pardons the turkey” which means the bird can spend the rest of its days back on the farm rather than on a Thanksgiving table.
The day after Thanksgiving, on BLACK FRIDAY people rush to the stores to buy highly discounted merchandise. Black Friday is considered the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Thanksgiving Fun For Kids
Here are some activities you can do with the children to celebrate Thanksgiving. Click here to find crafts, coloring sheets, spelling worksheets, math puzzles, nametags and more.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/thanksgiving/
http://www.parenting.com/gallery/thanksgiving-crafts-ideas
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/23-clever-crafts-to-keep-the-kids-busy-on-thanksgiving
HAPPY 4th of JULY!!
Known as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.
For the children, visit this link for fun coloring pages, craft ideas, puzzles and games to celebrate the 4th of July holiday.
Pool and Pizza Party
As usual, some au pairs were faster than others to take the plunge, but on a hot summer day everybody enjoyed themselves and the company.
Au Pair of the Year Award
Each March, the International Au Pair Association presents the Au Pair of the Year Award to the winner selected from among hundreds of au pairs nominated by their host families.
This year the winner is Femke Meyer, 19, from Germany who was presented the award at the IAPA Annual Conference in Rome, Italy on March 13, 2013.
The award recognizes young women for their outstanding childcare, commitment to the au pair program spirit, and their accomplishments in international cultural exchange.
It also celebrates the spunk, intellectual curiosity, and willingness to work hard that young women show when they sign up as au pairs for a yearlong match with a host family in a foreign country.
Two au pairs in our cluster were nominated for Au Pair of the Year this year!!
The host families of Svenja Denker and Blanca Orellana Reyes were so delighted with their performance that they went to the trouble of writing nominating essays explaining what
WONDERFUL, SMART, HARD WORKING, ENGAGING, FRIENDLY, DEPENDABLE… and altogether “BEST EVER” au pair each of them had been, and how much the families and au pairs enjoyed learning about each others’ cultures and customs.
Congratulations to Blanca and Svenja for providing excellent childcare and being great cultural ambassadors for Costa Rica and Germany!
Saint Valentine's Day
A little history about Saint Valentine’s Day:
On Thursday, February 14th we celebrate Valentine’s Day in the United States by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, “Who is St. Valentine”? Time to brush up on your Valentine’s history!
Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. The Emperor at that time, Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger army. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree was not fair and married young couples in secret. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine’s actions he had his head cut off making him a martyr of love. Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor’s daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first ‘valentine’ himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it ‘Your Valentine’, words still used on cards today.
Perhaps we’ll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure…February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent. For some fun children’s activities including crafts, coloring pages, games, puzzles and poems go to:
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.
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!
Martin Luther King Day
Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the “I Have A Dream” speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968. Shortly after he died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him. Following support from the musician Stevie Wonder with his single “Happy Birthday” and a petition with six million signatures, the bill became law in 1983. Martin Luther King Day was first observed in 1986, although it was not observed in all states until the year 2000.
Martin Luther King Day is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all Americans, regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, federal legislation has encouraged Americans to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups.
Here are some fun activities to do with children on this holiday:
Holiday Party
The second week of December au pairs enjoyed an early holiday party and gift exchange. Each au pair contributed a homemade dish to the sumptuous spread. After much eating, merrymaking, and singing of Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer, au pairs shared their plans for holiday travel and Christmas celebrations.
