Tag Archives: Au Pairs

Social Distancing: 5 Online Adventures for Kids

Reading, playing, and doing art projects are always great ways to entertain children and keep them physically active and learning. It’s a good idea to limit screen time. But, in this time of social distancing, technology can play an important role in allowing kids to see and connect with the world outside of their homes. Many online resources are popping up to create those opportunities.

Here are five to get you started:

And if kids have questions about the coronavirus, Live Science has created an ultimate kids’ guide to the new coronavirus that has lots of information and is appropriate for school-aged kids.

Handling Expenses

Host parents often ask for suggestions on how best to handle common expenses that occur as au pairs are caring for the children.

Miscellaneous Expenses

There are different ways to handle the little day to day expenses that come up.  Things like when an au pair takes the kids out for ice cream or picks up a gallon of milk.  Some families keep a cookie jar fund, a little cash that they set aside weekly or monthly for these types of expenses. Others give their au pair a prepaid debit card for this purpose. Below are some suggestions for avoiding problems with expenses.

Host Families

  • It’s important to be clear about how long this money should last and what types of expenses are approved.
  • Let the au pair know whether or not you expect receipts.

Au Pairs

  • Only spend the money on approved expenses.
  • If it is something you are not sure about, ask first.
  • Put your receipts in the cookie jar in place of the money to avoid any confusion.

Gas and Fare Cards 

Host families are responsible for the au pair’s transportation costs: to and from classes, cluster meetings and when driving the kids.

It is a good idea to figure out how much gas an au pair will use for these trips and either put gas in the car or give a gas allowance.   If your au pair is riding to classes or cluster meetings with another au pair, you should offer to share the cost of gas.

Au pairs are responsible for their own transportation at all other times.  You should replace the amount of gas used for personal use.

Photo: Andrea Travillian

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!

Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular – Roger Williams Park

It was a little damp and chilly, but that didn’t stop au pairs from enjoying the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo on the night of October 23! The Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular features a breathtaking display of 5,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns, many artistically carved by artists and craftsmen of “Passion for Pumpkins”.  It is truly a spectacular event not to be missed!

Jack O Lantern SpectacularJack 3

Ramadan Kareem

Ramadan
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At least one of our Rhode Island au pairs is familiar with (and will likely be celebrating) Ramadan, which begins today (Sunday, June 29). For those who are not familiar with this holiday, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran was sent down from heaven. It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation.

During the Fast of Ramadan strict restraints are placed on the daily lives of Muslims. They are not allowed to eat or drink during the daylight hours (an hour before sunrise until sunset). At the end of the day the fast is broken with prayer and a meal called the iftar. Traditionally the fast is broken by having a glass of water and eating a date. In the evening following the iftar it is customary for Muslims to go out visiting family and friends. The fast is resumed the next morning.

During Ramadan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) for special prayers and studying the Quran. In addition to the five daily prayers, during Ramadan Muslims recite a special prayer called the Taraweeh prayer (Night Prayer). The length of this prayer is usually 2-3 times as long as the daily prayers. Some Muslims spend the entire night in prayer.

One day during the last ten days of the month, Muslims celebrate the Laylat-al-Qadr (the Night of Power). It is believed that on this night Muhammad first received the revelation of the Holy Quran. And according to the Quran, this is when God determines the course of the world for the following year.

When the fast ends (the first day of the month of Shawwal) it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Id-al-Fitr (the Feast of Fast Breaking). Gifts are exchanged. Friends and family gather to pray in congregation and for large meals. In some cities fairs are held to celebrate the end of the Fast of Ramadan.

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

April Cluster Meeting at Boston's Prudential Center

This month Rhode Island au pairs had the opportunity to join Boston area au pairs for a visit to the Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory. The skywalk is 50 floors above the City of Boston, and provides an astonishing view of the city and surrounding areas — Boston’s Hancock Tower, Fenway Park, the Boston Common and Public Garden, the Esplanade and Hatch Shell, the Charles River, MIT, Harvard University, and countless other Boston landmarks. Au pairs also had the chance to use interactive exhibits which provided them with a real flavor of the city’s distinctive culture and neighborhoods. Multimedia players were provided detailing the city’s historic past and current sites. The Prudential Center also features over 75 shops and restaurants, including Barnes & Noble, The Cheesecake Factory, Lacoste, Legal Sea Foods, Saks Fifth Avenue and Sephora.

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