Chinese New Year begins January 31st. 2014 is the year of the Horse.
Check out the APIA Chinese New Year Pinboard on Pinterest for great activities and craft ideas related to the Chinese New Year.
Photo: Tony Hisgett (Flickr)
Chinese New Year begins January 31st. 2014 is the year of the Horse.
Check out the APIA Chinese New Year Pinboard on Pinterest for great activities and craft ideas related to the Chinese New Year.
Photo: Tony Hisgett (Flickr)

A is for Art – try drawing, painting or gluing
B is for Baking – bake a dessert together for dinner
C is for Clay – Use non-hardening clay or play dough to shape and mold
D is for Dance – put on a lively tape
E is for Exercise – be sure to get some everyday
F is for Friends – invite some over
G is for Greenhouse – find a local greenhouse to visit to enjoy the sights and smells
H is for House – make a playhouse from a large appliance box
I is for Ice skating – take the children to a local rink
J is for Jigsaw puzzle – be sure to pick one that isn’t too difficult
K is for Kitchen science – try a safe experiment
L is for Library – borrow some new books
M is for Movie – make one with a video camera, or watch one
N is for Necklace – make one out of cereal or macaroni
O is for Origami – learn to make simple paper creations
P is for Puppets – socks make easy and fun puppets – put on a show!
Q is for Quiet Time – everyone needs some of this
R is for Reading aloud – choose a good book and a comfortable place to sit
S is for Seeds and Suet – put out food for the birds and watch them eat
T is for Tent – make one from old blankets and chairs
U is for Unplugged – do a day with no TV
V is for Variety – try something new everyday
W is for Walk – take one in any weather (be sure to dress appropriately)
X is for Xylophone – make your own with glasses, water and a metal spoon
Y is for Year – make a calendar or scrapbook to remember the year
Z is for Zoo – visit the animals
John Philip Sousa was born in 1854 and is famous for composing marches – classic American patriotic music. Make a marching band with the children and have a parade. Children love to make noise, and you don’t need fancy instruments. Try two pot lids as cymbals, a stick and an empty cardboard or plastic container as a drum. Sandpaper rubbed together makes a great noise too! Homemade flags or paper hats would dress up your parade even more.
Photo: Brandon Giesbrecht

Approximately 300 Au Pairs from all around the DC area and their 20 Community Counselors gathered at the National Zoo early Sunday to participate in the first-ever DC Regional Scavenger Hunt at the National Zoo!
It was an incredible day! Sun was shining, temperatures were great, the zoo was decorated for Halloween…
A wonderful day for Au Pairs and Counselors alike!



