OUR AU PAIRS ARE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY!  

CHRISTINA MOSER TALKS TO SCHOOL CHILDREN ABOUT HER COUNTRY, AUSTRIA.

 

Chrissy has been an active participant in Global Awareness. She did three presentations to different grades in a school in our area.  Chrissy shared a video with the children and with us. It shows her dance group in Austria.

· Scan the road ahead: Looking ahead helps provide enough reaction time if an animal is spotted. Also, remember some animals, like deer, move in groups, so when there is one, there are usually more in the area.

· Use high beam headlights if there’s no oncoming traffic: This can help you spot deer or other wildlife sooner and give you time to slow down, move over or honk the horn to scare the animal away. High beams also help in spotting animals’ reflective eyes.

· If a collision is unavoidable, apply the brakes firmly and remain in your lane: Swerving to avoid an animal can often cause a more serious crash or cause you to lose control of your vehicle. What’s more, drivers who swerve to miss a deer and hit something else may be charged for an at-fault accident.

· Be extra cautious at dawn and dusk: Deer tend to be more active in the early morning and at dusk.

· Slow down and use extra caution when traveling through areas with a high and active wildlife population: Be aware of increased deer movement in rural areas during the fall and early winter, as this is both hunting and mating season.

· Always wear a seat belt and remain awake, alert and sober.

(Source: AAA)

As the weather warms, it is likely that you will be spending more time outside. Outdoor play is important for children – to move their large muscles, enjoy the fresh air and explore nature. It is important to use sunscreen to protect from the sun’s harmful rays, and it is also important to be aware of possible disease-bearing insects.

Mosquitoes and ticks are a problem that can’t be ignored. Not only are they unpleasant, but they have been found to carry potentially fatal illnesses, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, West Nile virus, malaria, Lyme disease, dengue fever and equine encephalitis, all of which have been reported in the United States. Prevention of bites is very important both through physical barriers to contact (clothing) and through the use of chemical repellents.

There is a need for using caution when applying insect repellents containing DEET to the skin of young children. Look for products that have about 30% DEET. Products with lower concentrations (10% to 15%) can be used for children if families are concerned about the potential risks of DEET.

The EPA and others have made the following recommendations regarding the use of DEET in children:

• Do not apply to infants under 2 months of age
• Read and follow all directions and precautions on the product label.
• Do not apply over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
• Do not apply to young children’s hands or near eyes or mouth.
• Do not allow young children to apply products themselves.
• Use just enough to cover the exposed skin and/or clothing.
• Do not use under clothing.
• Avoid over application.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
• Wash treated clothing before wearing again.
• Do not use spray solutions in enclosed areas or near food.
• For use on face, apply to adult hands and then rub on face. Do not spray face. Avoid areas around eyes and mouth.

There is no evidence that non-DEET repellents are as effective as those containing DEET. In fact, some alternatives may be more toxic. Yet using DEET repellents on the skin isn’t the only way to avoid mosquito and tick bites. Since mosquitoes can bite through very thin fabric, applying DEET-containing substances to clothing offers added protection with less potential for exposure. Finally, long sleeves with cuffs and long pants with tight cuffs or tucked into socks or shoes are excellent barriers to ticks.

This information is adapted from the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics. See full information at http://www.aap.org/

Here are some additional tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (visit their website at http://www.cdc.gov)

Avoid tick habitats: Whenever possible, avoid entering areas that are likely to be infested with ticks, particularly in spring and summer when nymphal ticks feed. Ticks favor a moist, shaded environment, especially areas with leaf litter and low-lying vegetation in wooded, brushy or overgrown grassy habitat.

Perform a tick check and remove attached ticks: The transmission of B. burgdorferi (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) from an infected tick is unlikely to occur before 36 hours of tick attachment. For this reason, daily checks for ticks and promptly removing any attached tick that you find will help prevent infection. Embedded ticks should be removed using fine-tipped tweezers. DO NOT use petroleum jelly, a hot match, nail polish, or other products. Grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With a steady motion, pull the tick’s body away from the skin. The tick’s mouthparts may remain in the skin, but do not be alarmed. The bacteria that cause Lyme disease are contained in the tick’s midgut or salivary glands. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic.

For More Safety Tips go to: http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/safety_tips/

http://mainlineparent.com/2011/06/fireworks-festivities-main-line-independence-day/

During the summer months we need to take some added precautions to keep children safe in the sun and by the water.

• · Avoid long periods of sun exposure especially between 10am and 4pm
• · Apply sunscreen of at least 15 SPF that protects against both UVA and UVB rays and wear on sunny and cloudy days.
• · Infants should be dressed in lightweight clothing covering as much skin as possible and brimmed hats to shade the face
• · Stay hydrated, drink water throughout the day
• · Intense activities and sports should be reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels
• Never leave children or animals in a car unattended.

Actively supervise children in and around the water, giving them your undivided attention. Appoint a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults. Be very clear who is in charge.

• When in the water there should be an adult at arms length from young children at all times
• Children who cannot swim or who are not strong swimmers should wear water wings or life jackets when in the water
• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!
• If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning.
• Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.

Have a GREAT and SAFE summer!

May 10, 2014

Spring Activity Ideas

Au Pair in America au pairs are so creative and contribute so much to their host families and to cultural exchange.  Here’s what our own Christina Moser contributed:

Christina tells us about Austrian Christmas

I’m going to tell you about the traditions around Christmastime in my family back home in the south of Austria.

Since I was a child I lovd christmas and the time before and of course the time after unil New Years Eve. My family and me we have a lot of different traditions during the most reflective time of the year.

Well, the December 1st is always a pretty big deal in my family. Everyone is very excided because we LOVE christmas. It’s the time of the year that makes our whole family come together from all over the world. So on Dec 1st we open the first window on our Advent calender. We have a handcrafted one, my mom made 20 years ago, so when I had my first Christmas.

The whole Christmas time for my family starts at the first sunday of advent. My family and I we light the first candle at our Advent wreath. We sit together and each of us plays something of on of our Instruments (e.g. my brother plays on his styrian akkordeon and I play my guitar) and my parents read a typical christmas story. Since my brother and I were little we hold on to that family tradition.

And before the first sunday of advent where we light the first candle. My brother, my mom and me we start to bake our tratitional  christmas cookies. Most of the recepies we have from my granma and my grandgranma. Of course I love to share my traditions with my hostfamily here in the US and so I brought my most favourite cookie recipe and baked and decorated the cookies with my girls.

December 5th is the day of the Krampus. As you will read in the text below, he comes with the Saint Nikolaus on December 6th to the houses of the kids. Well, but what is a Krampus? Duning the christmastime those creatures try to scare away bad ghosts and after christmas they try to scare away the winter. So this tradition may seem a litte bit very strong, because very often during the the Krampus runs though some cities some people like it to get hit by them. Don’t ask me why they like it. I’ve actually never been to one of them, because I’m very, very scared of them, even if I’m already 20. I’ve always been and will ever be.
And that’s the definiton of Krampus on wikipedia:
Krampus is represented as a beast-like creature, generally demonic in appearance. The creature has roots in Germanic folklore; however, its influence has spread far beyond German borders. Traditionally young men dress up as the Krampus in Austria, southern Bavaria, South Tyrol, northern Friuli, Hungary, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Croatia during the first week of December, particularly on the evening of 5 December (the eve of Saint Nicholas day on many church calendars), and roam the streets frightening children with rusty chains and bells. Krampus is featured on holiday greeting cards called Krampuskarten. There are many names for Krampus, as well as many regional variations in portrayal and celebration. On December 6th Saint Nikolaus comes to houses in Austria. Kids get a visit from him and his companion the Krampus. For those kids, who were good in the last year, they will get a bag full of apples, nuts, tangerine, chocolate and little toys and he knows everything. Before a kid gets his bag, he or she can compose a poem about him (there are tons of them, even songs) and he tells you what you did right and what you did wrong in the last year (e.g. you are very good in school, just try not to fight as much as you do with you sister as you did in the last year).
The Krampus is a beast-like creature that always comes togehter with the Nikolaus. It will never hurt any kid, it’s just there to frighten the very bad kids. With his scary face and the bells around his waist he is very frightening and very loud. The picture you see is the Nikolaus and the Krampus visiting my little cousin Manuel last year at his house.
This link is to a song about him, that is very popular in Austria.

An now we are on December 24th, the so called “Heilige Abend”. My whole family comes together, my parents, my brother, my uncle and his family and my granparents with my grandgranma. As I am a skilled cook, my dad and I cook the Christmas meal, usually four courses , together. I always contains a Carpaccio, seafood for second, like Spaghetti with shrimp as second, somthing fancy, like duck á l orange, like we had last year or any kind of cream for dessert, last year we had Limecream. We prepare as much as we can for the later evening. At around 5 o’clock we meet my grandparents at church to celebrate the holly mass together. Back at home my dad and I continue to cook and when my uncle’s family arrive, we all celebrate Christmas Eve together. That’s the difference between Austria and the USA. We celebrate and open our presens on the 24th, so Christmas Eve. So before we open the presents the Christkind brought us, we call it “Bescherung”, we listen to christmas poems and stories the adults read to us and play on our instruments and sing together. Then we lighten the candles on the tree with the holy light from Jerusalem, which my dad and my brother always pick up at a location in the city on christmas day, which is the 24th in Austia.
So I told you we don’t have Santa Clause. We have the Christkind. It is said that it comes in through the window and leaves presents around the Christmas tree while the children are out of the room and it looks like an angel, but it’s actually Jesus Christ Baby.
The picture you see is Christmas at my house back in Austria.

December 25th is reserved for my friends. We always spend Christmas day together. Mostly we are on the mountains skying or do whaterever we are up to.
New Years Eve, I always used to spend with my family first and then go to my best friends house. We usually dress up and meet our friends in the city and then go back home to my place where we shoot fireworks together with my family.
Jannuary 6th, Epiphany, the day of the three Magi, Caspar, Melchio and Balthazar who brought gold, rankincense and myrrh to Jesus Christ on his crib. This tradition combines collecting donations for the the third world by goning from house to house and sing dressed up as the three Magi and helping he local church as well. So mostly kids in my area do that. In german it’s called “Sternsingen”. It is like a huge charity project from all austrian churches togehter. So there are different groups of kids, every group has an adult with them. My grandma always went with my group. I went singing for about 5 years. We didn’t went exactly on Jan 6th, but on the days around. So we went from house to house and sing our song at each house. After we’ve finished the song we usually get a donation and sometimes we get a treat as well. I loved it, becuse I could hang out with my two cousins. We’ve always been in the same group. And after the last day of all groups we had a huge meeting, when we were told how much we collected and everybody was so happy that we could helped so much by doing things we love, singing and hanging around with family and friends.  On this picture you see me and my cousins, 8 years ago, wearing our costumes before we started to the first house.

What an innovative group of au pairs!!  Here are the original creations from the three groups “competing” in our Project Runway activity at yesterday’s cluster meeting.