Tag Archives: Au Pairs

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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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.

Information Sessions on Flexible, Affordable Child Care

The Rhode Island office of Au Pair in America offers free, no obligation information sessions to provide details and answer questions that parents may have about hosting an au pair for their child care needs. Program costs are discussed and compared with other child care options, with emphasis on the benefits and cost-effectiveness of the Au Pair Program. Information sessions are held in Smithfield on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m., just prior to our 4:00 p.m. prenatal yoga class (Moms-to-be are welcome to stay for both!) Reserve at 401-949-2427 or BarbaraFetta@gmail.
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Prenatal yoga classes are held on Wednesday afternoons from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm at the East Smithfield Neighborhood Center, 7 Esmond Street, Smithfield, Rhode Island

For moms-to-be, prenatal yoga classes are a wonderful way to put aside time for you and your baby, and to prepare for the birthing process. Each class begins with a brief check-in and discussion — an opportunity for mother-to-be to talk about how she is feeling and address any questions or concerns. The discussion is followed by meditation to quiet the mind and bring focus to the body and the woman’s growing baby. We then move on to breathwork, stretching, strength building and balancing postures that help prepare the body and mind for the process of giving birth. Each class is a unique experience tailored to all stages of pregnancy. We finish the yoga session with deep rest and relaxation. This class is suitable to those new to yoga. Pre-registration is required.

“A mother’s joy begins when new life is stirring inside….when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the very first time, and a playful kick reminds her that she is never alone”

Thanksgiving Fun For Kids!

Thanksgiving fun for kids

Here are some activities that au pairs can do with their children to celebrate Thanksgiving. Click here to find crafts, coloring sheets, spelling worksheets, math puzzles, nametags and more. Enjoy!

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 Hanukkah!

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Hanukkah begins at sundown this evening.

Au Pairs may find fun and educational activities for children at http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/hanukkah/Dreidel

Directions to play the Dreidel game. Play for Hershey kisses, a great way to have fun with the kids when they are home from school! http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/hanukkah/dreidel-game.html

November Cluster Meeting – Thanksgiving Dinner

Rhode Island au pairs had the opportunity to celebrate the American Thanksgiving holiday at their November cluster meeting as they shared a Thanksgiving dinner with International students from Brown University and friends of the International House of Rhode Island. Thanksgiving Dinner (which was the first for most au pairs and international students!) was a traditional meal of roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, apple pie, and hot mulled apple cider. The food was delicious, and it was a fun and festive evening for all! For au pairs, this dinner was a preview of coming attractions — a prelude to Thanksgiving Dinner which most will be sharing with host families and friends on Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 28.
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Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence, RI

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Though we will not be organizing a cluster event at the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular this year, it would be a fun event for au pairs to attend — either with host children and families, or with a group of friends. The nationally renowned Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is an annual event which features a night time display of 5,000 illuminated jack-o-lanterns. Well over 100 of the pumpkins are carved into works of art, and presented in themed scenes with music. This year’s event will run from October 3 – November 3. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that truly lives up to its name – spectacular! For more information, visit their website: http://rwpzoo.org/178/jack-o-lantern-spectacular

Halloween Activities for Children

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October 3lst, is a holiday that is widely celebrated by virtually everyone, its origin lost to current practice. Children dress up in costume – witches, ghosts, and vampires are classic favorites, but anything goes. With the availability of commercial costumes, children can be their favorite action hero or cartoon character, and some girls never tire of being princesses and ballerinas. In the evening children go house to house in costume, ring the doorbell, say “Trick or Treat” and are rewarded with candy or other treats. Some schools have the children come in costume, and there may be parties in the neighborhood. Adults dress up too, so don’t miss
out on the fun! If you are the one at home answering the door to distribute candy, children love a friendly greeting, and to know that their costume is appreciated. Activities for a week or two before Halloween:
• Make simple paper decorations to display for Halloween. Ghosts, witches, bats, pumpkins, jack-o’-lanterns and black cats are all easy to draw and cut out. Mount them on doors and windows to view from outside.
• Check your local library for Halloween stories, ghost stories or stories about witches. There are picture books for young children as well as scarier stories for school age children. Try reading these in the dark if you think your children are brave enough!
• Design and create home-made costumes. Masks are difficult for children to see through,especially at night; face paint is safer (be sure it is the kind that washes off easily). Costumes can be made from an odd assortment of clothes (thrift stores might be a good source for that special touch) or from cardboard boxes, or fabric. Involve the children in the process and it will be a Halloween to remember for all of you! Spray paint works well on boxes (children should not use spray paint themselves). Some ideas from boxes: Candy Bar, Prisoner in jail, space alien (add some aluminum foil, bottle caps etc.), pilot in an airplane and jack-in-the-box.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

Small children might become frightened of masks and costumes; help them to feel safe. Discuss with your host family what they do about the collected candy. Many children are not allowed to eat the candy until it is inspected to be sure that everything is in a sealed wrapper (there have been some unfortunate ‘tricks’ in the past). Some children are allowed to eat unlimited quantities, others only a certain amount at a time. Some families might give some of the candy to charity collections at school. For additional Halloween night safety tips, see: http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/safety_tips/halloween.asp

August Meeting at Lincoln Woods State Park

picnic groupOur Picnic and Kayaking Event at Lincoln Woods State Park was a lot of fun! It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and a good time was had by all — even our “Mascot” Au Pair Bear. Since he accompanies us to many of our meetings and events, we’ve decided that it would be appropriate to give him a name, and have initiated a contest to name the bear. The name and the contest winner will be announced at our September cluster meeting in Smithfield. At that meeting we plan to have our annual birthday party/gift exchange and do some apple picking. Autumn will be in the air by then, the leaves will have begun to show their Fall colors. It is sure to be a memorable and fun day!
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