Tag Archives: winter

Make Your Own Play Dough

Play dough is the perfect modeling material for children. Their small hands can pat, poke, pinch, roll and knead it into many shapes. Keep it in an airtight container to use another day, or let it air dry into favorite shapes.

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Measure 2 cups of flour, one cup of salt and 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar into a bowl. Add 1/4 cup of oil to one cup of water in a separate bowl then add the mixture to the dry ingredients. For colored play dough, squeeze 10-20 drops of food coloring into the water before you add it to the mixture. Cook the dough at low heat in a wide pan, stirring constantly until it becomes rubbery. Remove the dough from the heat and knead it for a few minutes. When it cools the kids can play too!

Photo: Kevin Jarrett (Flickr)

Avoiding Homesickness this Holiday Season

Homesickness can be a problem during the holidays, even if it hasn’t been at any other time of the year. Au pairs often miss their friends and family, familiar places and their own traditions and customs. The holiday activities in the United States seem, and may actually be, different just at a time when an au pair would welcome something familiar. 

It is common for au pairs’ emotions to be close to the surface during the holidays. Her highs are higher, her lows are lower. The enormity of what she has done–actually living in another country (which is an amazing thing when you think about it!)–hits her and throws her into a self-protective mode.

Host parents can help her through this unfamiliar territory by talking to her about what your specific family activities will be (gifts, meals, visitors, religious services, in-home traditions, or none of these, as the case may be.) In the spirit of cultural exchange, ask her if she has any favorite holiday traditions or foods that you might be able to incorporate into your family’s celebration of the season. Let her know what you will be doing, when you will be doing it, and what she can expect. Talk to her about what has to be accomplished and get her involved and interested. Don’t expect her to just “know” what needs to be done. Give her some clear, agreed upon assignments. Make her feel a part of things. And, let her know her contribution is needed and appreciated.

Photo: Sheila Sund (Flickr)

February 2 – GroundHog Day

Traditionally, the groundhog is supposed to wake up on February 2, and come up out of his burrow. If he sees his shadow, he will return to the burrow for six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, he remains outside and starts his year, because he knows that spring has arrived early. In the U.S., the “official” groundhog is kept in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania and is called “Phil.” Though not based in science, it is a fun US tradition.  The movie, starring Bill Murray is hilarious!

Click here for some ideas for fun projects that you can get kids involved in to commemorate “Groundhog Day”: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/groundhogday/

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Slide1On Sunday evening, January 23, our cluster meeting was scheduled at the Bank of Ameirca Skating Center at Kennedy Plaza.  Frigid, below-zero temperatures drew most of us across the street, though, where there is a warm, toasty Starbucks at the Biltmore hotel, just steps away from the skating rink.  It was a very comfortable place to be on a cold, winter, night.  There were a few who immersed themselves into winter sports, though, despite the cold weather.  Three au pairs (all from Thailand) not only enjoyed skating on Sunday, but also spent sometime snow-tubing earlier in the day!  They really enjoyed immersing themselves in our cold, winter weather.  We said “Farewell”  to Jade, from South Africa, who has successfully completed two years with Au Pair in America and is now moving on to her next exciting adventure!  Our next meeting is scheduled indoors, and it won’t matter how cold it is outside.  We’ll be enjoying a Zumba class….and the heat will be on!!!

View more photos at: http://www1.snapfish.com/snapfish/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3640394017/a=13509975_13509975/

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