Mickey Mouse was created in 1928!
Celebrate his birthday with Mickey Mouse pancakes: Follow the directions for mixing on the package. Heat a griddle or frying pan. For each pancake pour batter into pan in a large circle with two smaller circles at the top to make the ears. Cook until pancake is puffy and bubbles. Flip and cook the other side until golden brown. Use chocolate chips for the eyes.
Photo: Jessica DeWinter
This year for our Thanksgiving cluster meeting we had our annual pie tasting. Everyone got to taste the different pies they may see during Thanksgiving (Pumpkin, Apple, Pecan) and vote for their favorite one. Many au pairs had never tried pumpkin pie before. Apple Pie was the winner this year.
For the holidays this year we also decided to write letters to the troops. Au Pairs can relate to being away from home for the holidays and therefore we all sent letters of encouragement for others who wouldn’t be home.
Another great cluster meeting!
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Even though a few other countries also celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s still considered a uniquely American holiday, one that the au pairs look forward to experiencing. You can learn more about it here.
“I really enjoyed Thanksgiving with my host family. It was as I imagined! So much food to try. Everyone got dressed up and shared what they were thankful for. It was so warm and special. The next day we began to prepare for Christmas. It was magical.” Selina from Germany
Below you will find some tips to help you have a terrific Thanksgiving experience.
1. Please plan to include your au pair in your Thanksgiving celebration, if at all possible. Thanksgiving with an au pair offers an opportunity to consider the relevance of the history and meaning of Thanksgiving as you compare the hospitality offered by the Native Americans to the recently arrived Pilgrims and the hospitality you offer your au pair.
2. If you are traveling or will not be able to invite your au pair to join you for Thanksgiving, give her plenty of notice and help her make alternate plans. You don’t want to leave your au pair alone over the holiday.
3. If you are invited to attend dinner, please let your family know within 5 days of the invitation, whether you are planning to attend. It is considered rude in America to accept the invitation for dinner and then change your mind later in the month. Please be thoughtful.
4. Make sure to discuss time off during this holiday weekend. Many host families work the Friday after Thanksgiving so do not assume you have this day off or the entire weekend. Talk to your host family, BEFORE you make any plans.
5. If your host family is unable to include you in their Thanksgiving plans, please let me know if you have trouble making other plans. You may be able to join a friend and their host family for the holiday dinner.
If you are looking for a fun recipe to make with your au pair, check out these turkey cupcakes. Find more fun activities and recipes on the Au Pair in America Fall Holidays pinboard.
Photo: Tim Sackton (Flickr)
Keeping children happy in the car can be challenging. One helpful approach is to engage them in car games – the safety of their car seat or seat belt.
Alphabet Game- ages 3 and up
Children who can identify letters and can easily see out the window of the car can play this game. One child starts with A and has to find a word on a sign visible from the car with the letter A. The next child has to identify the B, and so on.
Photo: epSos.de
Now that the school year is well under way, your host children may have more homework than before. Tips to help everyone get homework done can be found here http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/activities/homework_support.asp
From Christine Connally, Community Counselor in MD:
Childcare focus – Check with your host parents before you buy a child a toy that requires close supervision – electrically operated toys, shooting toys and games, chemistry sets, and the like. Remember, too, that younger children may have access to toys intended for older children once the toy has been brought into the home.
Driving – Traffic tends to be heavier around the Holidays. My best advice is to leave earlier than normal and take your time. Be the “bigger person” and allow that one last car to slip in ahead of you. It may avoid an accident. Remember au pairs can be asked to pay up to $500 of the deductible for an accident.
Healthy eating – is your house filled with treats, and goodies that are tempting you? It is the season, and you are here for a cultural exchange, so try some of the traditional sweets your host family is offering, but it is a good idea to downsize your portions – how much you eat is as important as what you eat.
Hints for success – If there is an alarm system for the house, be sure that the au pair is listed with the alarm company as a legitimate user of the alarm. Also, the au pair must know the appropriate security code in case of a false alarm.
Photo: Benjamin Chun
Daylight Savings time in the United States ends at 2.00am on Sunday morning. This means you move the clock hands back by an hour when you go to bed on Saturday night. It is also interesting to note that time changes in other countries may not be happening this weekend. For more information about the history and why we do this check out, http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/
Photo: Mike Licht-Flickr
This morning we all got to enjoy a nice breakfast to start celebrating Halloween (might as well start the sugar rush early). Many au pairs were able to bring their host children, some were dressed up and all had fun. Diane’s house is always decorated for Halloween (see pictures below). We had so much fun!
Halloween can be a lot of fun but it is also a time when safety should come first. Here are some tips for tonight.
Most of all…have fun!
This is the day children dress up in costumes and, in many communities, go door-to-door to ask for candy. Safety on Halloween is extremely important – don’t take our eyes off the children and don’t let them eat unwrapped candy.
