A great day was had by all

with thanks to Washington Parent Magazine:

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 tablespoon salt

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 cups water

food coloring

empty jars with lids

Combine first 4 ingredients in a saucepan and warm until the mixture thickens. Add color; empty into jars.

Be of good cheer and practice good works everyday, but especially on World Smile Day. Use your imagination and think of ways you can someone else smile- kind words, good deeds, thoughtful gestures..there is no limit to the things that you can do!

The weather is cooler now in the Alexandria area, and the kids are now settled in the routines of school. Aupairs need to make sure that backpacks are filled in the morning with any due homework, signed notices, snacks, lunches, gym clothes, etc. The same thing happens when kids come home; a healthy snack and drink comes first, as it is warmer in the afternoon and the kids are frequently dehydrated. Then the backpack needs to be emptied, lunches repacked, notices for parents set aside and homework assignments looked over.

Time for a break and a chance to go outside for fresh air and exercise, playdates,  or depending on your child, settle down for some quiet time as blood sugar rises after snack. Then it may be homework time and cleanup to greet host parents as they come home before backpacks are packed again and readied for the next time.

If an aupair travels with her host family, she is working. Therefore, she will need a schedule, which may not be the same as her typical schedule; however, it must still fit within program guidelines. With everyone together, host families and aupairs must think about how childcare responsibilities should be divided. Host families are responsible for lodging and for meals along with the aupair’s weekly stipend.

For Our Aupairs:

Today is All or Nothing Day- this is a day to give something your all…and if you can’t or won’t do not bother. Think about things that you have always wanted to do, choose one and try it. Even if it goes wrong, you know you gave it your all. Work with your kids to make a list of things that they want to try. See what they come up with. If there is something on the list that you can help with, give it your all!!

Bake some “ice cream” cones with your kids today. Follow the instructions on a packaged cake mix but bake little cakes in flat bottom ice cream cones, found in boxes in any supermarket. Top them off with frosting and chocolate “sprinkles”. They will not melt on a hot day. You can also take your kids to any of our local ice cream stores including The Dairy Godmother in DelRay. There are also 3 others in the lower King St area and a new one in the Bradlee Shopping Center off of upper Rt 7.

Blueberries are ready to pick beginning this month. Try this easy Cobbler recipe:

1/2 stick of butter

3/4 cup white sugar

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup milk

1 pint of blueberries (rinsed under water and drained)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter and pour into a 3 quart casserole baking dish. Mix sugar, flour and milk. Pour over the batter but do not mix. Pour the blueberries on top, but do not mix. Bake at 350 degrees F or one hour. Serve with ice cream and enjoy!

Are your kids out of school and bored already? Here are some great ideas for fun things to do with kids:

Have a teddy bear picnic. Host it for your kids and their favorite stuffed animals. Make lunch fun and turn it into an indoor or outdoor picnic instead.

Do a string painting- get string and cut it into various lengths. Dip the string into bowls of kid paint and get creative.

Make a nature collage- take the kids for a walk and collect things for nature…flowers, acorns, leaves, grass and glue them all onto paper or cardboard to make a collage.

Food Jewelry- string macaroni, cheerios, noodles or straws onto a string. Make necklaces, bracelets, anklets or belts

Make a playhouse- get a large appliance box, paint and decorate it and make a playhouse.