Category Archives: Summer

4th of July

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Known  as the Fourth of July and Independence Day, July 4th has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-83). In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades, family gatherings and barbecues.

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This weekend you can count on enjoying traditional favorites such as hamburgers and hot dogs, chicken, ribs, potato salad, chips and watermelon.  

 

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A few facts about this Holiday!

·            Fourth of July is the federal holiday marking the Colonies’ adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776,

·            The Fourth of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941.

·            The oldest, continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States is the 4th of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island; it began in 1785.

·            The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the first newspaper to print the Declaration of Independence.

·            Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird but was overruled by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who wanted the bald eagle.

·            The “Star Spangled Banner” was written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 and not decreed the official national anthem of the United States until 1931.

·            In 1776, there were 2.5 million people living in the new nation. (Today there are over 311 million.)

·            here are more than 30 towns nationwide that have the word “Liberty” in their names.

·            Approximately 150 million hot dogs are consumed on this day. It’s the biggest hot dog holiday of the year.

 

Have fun with the children too, visit the link below for fun coloring pages, craft ideas, puzzles and games to celebrate the 4th of July holiday

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Health and Safety – What are Ticks?

When the weather is nice, we spend more time outdoors with the children. Playing in the back yard, at the playground or walking on nature trails are great ways to get fresh air and exercise.

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What are ticks? – Ticks are small mites that attach themselves to skin and suck blood. Click HERE to see examples of ticks.

Where are ticks commonly found? – Ticks are normally found in areas with trees, bushes or tall grass. This includes back yards, parks, nature areas and most places you would be spending time with the children outdoors in the nice weather.

What needs to be done? – When you return home from areas where ticks might live, carefully check the children (their skin and scalp) for ticks.

Most ticks do not carry diseases, and most tick bites do not cause serious health problems. But it is important to remove a tick as soon as you find it. Removing the tick completely may help you avoid diseases such as Lyme Disease that the tick may pass on during feeding, or a skin infection where it bit you.

Click HERE for Instructions on Removing a tick from WebMD.com.

Summer Reading in Hampton Roads

Hey au pairs!

I think most host parents will agree that they want their kids to keep reading over the summer. It’s a good way to keep their minds active and engaged, as well as keeping them out of trouble for a little while. If you want to know what summer reading programs are available to “your” kids this summer, click here for information about summer reading programs all over Hampton Roads.

Summer Programs At First Landing State Park

There are lots of activities happening at First Landing State Park (near Oceanfront in Virginia Beach) from Memorial Day through Labor Day. This is definitely something to check out! Thanks to www.myactivechild.com for posting this! Click here to get more information about the individual programs.

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