Tag Archives: Au Pair in America

PLAYGROUND SAFETY

Supervise Kids Using Playground Equipment 

  • Actively supervise children on playgrounds. It won’t be hard – they’ll probably be calling for you to watch them climb, jump and swing.
  • Check playgrounds where your children play. Look for age-appropriate equipment and hazards, such as rusted or broken equipment and dangerous surfaces. Report any hazards to the school or appropriate local office.
  • Teach children that pushing, shoving or crowding while on the playground can be dangerous.
  • Dress appropriately for the playground. Remove necklaces, purses, scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on equipment and pose a strangulation hazard. Even helmets can be dangerous on a playground, so save those for bikes.
  • Little kids can play differently than big kids. It is important to have a separate play area for children under 5.

Choose the Right Play Area Based on Your Child’s Age

  • Ensure that children use age-appropriate playground equipment. Separate play areas for bigger kids and children under 5 should be available and maintained.
  • For babies who are mostly crawling or at best learning to walk, the play area should have a smooth and easy surface to walk on.
  • If your baby has fairly good head control and can sit up with support (usually around 9 months old), give the baby (bucket-shaped) swings a try.
  • Babies love slides but are too young to go down on their own. But they can slide down with your support. Just hold your baby all the way down and enjoy.

Information provided by Safekids.org

Halloween Safety Tips for Au Pairs and their Children

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Halloween is a very exciting time for kids in the United States (and for their au pairs, too!). It involves costumes, decorations, and “trick or treating”. To make sure that Halloween is safe for your kids, take some time to talk about safety for the holiday, including being a safe pedestrian, costume tips, and avoiding a candy “binge”. Taking the time to talk about it in advance will help on Halloween night, when the children might be too excited about costumes and candy to think clearly.

Caregivers must ensure that kids are visible to cars when they are outside trick or treating, and that they take precautions while walking. Children should go out with an adult, cross the street at corners or crosswalks, and look both ways before crossing the street. Carry a flashlight or glow sticks, and incorporate reflective materials into costumes.

If you are driving, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic that evening, drive slowly, and be alert in residential neighborhoods. As always, avoid any distractions in the car.

Check candy for any signs of tampering before children eat anything. Any treats with a torn wrapper should be discarded. Also discard any home-made treats which may have been received from strangers.

Have fun!

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. Most of our Au Pairs will be celebrating July 4 for the very first time — Enjoy!
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June Cluster Meeting – Picnic at India Point Park

Rhode Island au pairs (along with Santiago, their much-loved Au Pair in America “mascot”) celebrated the official arrival of summer at their June cluster meeting – a picnic at India Point Park; and it was, indeed, a perfect summer day! We said goodbye to Eva, who will return to Spain on Tuesday, after having spent two years with us here in Rhode Island. We will miss her – but she has promised that she’ll come back to visit. Bon Voyage, Eva! We also had the opportunity to welcome two of our newest arrivals, Maylla (from France) and Macarena (from Panama) to their first cluster meeting.

Pic for Blog - June Meeting

Memorial Day in the United States

Au Pairs will be celebrating the Memorial Day Holiday weekend with host families, children and friends. This is a day of celebration — there will be parades, hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, a lot of people will be dressed in red, white and blue, and many American flags will be on display. Generally, the American Flag is flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day, and is then raised to the top of the flag pole. Memorial Day is a day to remember those men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the United States of America. Following is information about the history of Memorial Day in the United States.
Memorial Day 2014

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states then others followed. It is now celebrated on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays).

Americans honor those who have lost their lives by visiting cemeteries, placing flags and flowers on graves, flying the U.S. flag at half-staff until noon, attending parades and participating in the “National Moment of Remembrance” at 3.00pm.

Children can be a part of Memorial Day too. Here are some links to children’s activities:

http://sunniebunniezz.com/puzzles/memdykws.htm

http://sunniebunniezz.com/puzzles/memdymcr.htm

http://www.usmemorialday.org/activities/flag/index.htm

http://sunniebunniezz.com/memdyjbc.htm

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” ~Maya Angelou

St. Patrick's Day – March 17

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So what is it and who was St. Patrick? Saint Patrick is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.Most of what is known about him comes from his two works; the Confessio, a spiritual autobiography, and his Epistola, a denunciation of British mistreatment of Irish Christians. Many people ask the question ‘Why is the Shamrock the National Flower of Ireland ?’ According to folklore the reason is that St. Patrick used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans. St. Patrick’s Day was first publicly celebrated in Boston in 1737 where a large population of Irish immigrants resided. Nearly 200 years later, the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in Ireland was held in Dublin in 1931. During the mid 90’s, the Irish government also began a campaign to promote tourism in Ireland on March 17th.

While many Catholics still quietly celebrate this day of religious observance by going to mass, St. Patrick’s Day has slowly evolved to become a celebration of Irish heritage. Through the years, along with legendary shamrocks, many symbols were included in festivities that are reflective of Ireland’s folklore, culture, and national identity (think leprechauns, ethnic cuisine, and wearing green). Other places that join in on this celebration include Japan, New Zealand, Argentina, and Canada. New York City hosts the largest St. Patrick’s Day in the world with around 150,000 marchers. In Chicago they turn the river green and other cities and towns all over America celebrate the day. You’ll find many restaurants serving traditional Irish cuisine next week with corned beef and cabbage being the most popular,

You can find some fun games and activities including coloring pages, word puzzles and recipes for children here: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/st-patricks-day/

Though Rhode Island au pairs will most likely be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with friends and family, we will not be having a St. Patrick’s Day Cluster Meeting Celebration this year — we will instead be enjoying a performance of “Flashdance-The Musical” at Providence Performing Arts Center for our March gathering. Here are a few photos of last year’s celebration — a “traditional” Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner!

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February "Bingo Night" Cluster Meeting

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“Bingo Night” was such a hit last year, that we decided to do it again this year for our February cluster meeting — once again with snacks, prizes, plenty of laughter. Last year, Almen’s “magic” bingo card earned about five prizes for the evening; and though she was hoping for the same good fortune this time around, the magic card went to Lorely this year! 2014 Bingo Night 2014 BINGO 22014 Bingo

Valentine's Day Activity Ideas for Au Pairs and Their Children

Valentine’s Day, celebrated on February 14, dates back to ancient Rome. Sending a valentine in the United States is not a serious declaration of love as in some other countries. Children usually send valentines to the other children in their class and to their teacher. Friends and relatives exchange valentines. For that we can thank Esther Howland, a young woman from Massachusetts, who in 1848 started the first mass production of valentines. Now valentine cards and candy are a fun way of keeping in touch with those we care about.
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Make your own valentines: Although many store-bought valentines are designed for children, come in large packs and are quite inexpensive, it is lots of fun to make your own. Pink, red and white paper, crayons or markers and a little bit of imagination are all you need. Dress up the cards with glitter, doilies, lace, stickers, or feathers if you wish.

Valentine Collage (ages 18 months and older): Prepare hearts of different colors and sizes, ribbon, feathers, etc. Older children can use glue on paper. For younger children tape a piece of contact paper sticky side up securely onto a table. Paper shapes will stick easily to the contact paper.

Picture Frame Card (ages 3 years and older): Take a picture of the child and cut a piece of construction paper to make a picture frame. Have the child decorate the frame. Use this as the front of a card, or to stand by itself.

Heart rubbings (ages 3 years and older): First cut hearts of different sizes from heavy paper. Place those hearts under a blank piece of paper and rub over the shapes using the side of a crayon. The hearts will magically appear.

Sewing Heart (ages 3 years and older): Cut a heart shape from light-weight cardboard about 8 inches across. Use a hole punch to make holes all around the edges about 1 inch apart. Give the child yarn or ribbon to lace through the holes. Tie the ends into a bow.

Heart caterpillars (ages 3 years and older): Cut many heart shapes out of colored paper and have the child glue them down on a sheet of paper to look like a caterpillar. Use tiny hearts for eyes and at the end of antennas.

Edible Valentines (ages 3 years and up): Graham crackers, cake frosting and conversation heart candies make the most delicious valentines!

Heart wreath (ages 4 years and up): Cut out the middle of a paper plate. Arrange colored heart shapes, flowers, ribbon, etc. around the edges.

Valentine Puzzles (ages 4 years and up): Cut different-sized hearts down the middle with a jagged line. Children can match the sides of the hearts.

Heart mosaic (ages 5 years and up): Cut small pieces of paper, or use crushed eggshell dyed with food coloring. Arrange in a heart shape.

Heart people (ages 5 years and up): Use a large heart for the body and smaller hearts for eyes, hands and feet. Take long strips of paper and fold them back and forth like an accordion for the arms and legs. Glue them to the sides and bottom of the body.

Valentine’s Day Post Office (ages 5 years and up): Set up your own post office at home. Decorate mailboxes for every member of the family. Use a rubber stamp to show that the valentines have been properly mailed. Deliver to the boxes.