Monthly Archives: December 2017

It’s the last day of the year!

Happy New Year!!

The last day of the year is a good time to think about how to make the next year better. You and the children can choose simple “New Year Resolutions.” Or create a keepsake of the year that is ending by making a time capsule or a scrapbook of memories. Include what are cool, slang words, popular activities, clothes, games, names of popular songs or games, and a picture of the hottest toy. If you are making a time capsule, put a date on it and decide when they will open it – in a year, 5 or even 10. Don’t forget to include a photo of you and the children!

Tomorrow, the first day of the New Year, is a federal holiday. In some communities there are New Year celebrations and some families visit each other for New Year’s Day brunch.

Merry Christmas!

Every family and culture has their own Christmas traditions. Try some of these ideas with the children:

Art Activities

  • On a BIG piece of paper draw a fireplace and a mantle. Make a paper stocking (two halves stapled together) decorate with glue and glitter, write the children’s names on them and “hang” them on your fireplace mural. Use catalogs to cut out toys to put in the stockings.
  • Cut out a tree from green construction paper. Decorate your tree with colored ornaments, glue and glitter. Pieces of ribbon or wrapping paper.

Books to Read

  • Cranberry Christmas by Wende and Harry Devlin
  • It’s Really Christmas by Lillian Hoban
  • The Christmas Doll by Wendy Parker
  • ABC Christmas by Ida DeLage
  • Santa Claus Forever by Carolyn Haywood
  • A Forest Christmas by Mayling Mack Holm
  • The Christmas Party by Adrienne Adams

A Fingerplay for Fun

    Five Little Bells
    Five little bells hanging in a row
    (Hold up 5 fingers)
    The first one said, “Ring me slow.”
    (Move thumb slowly)
    The second one said, “Ring me fast.”
    (Wiggle index finger)
    The third one said, “Ring me last.”
    (Move middle finger)
    The fourth one said, “I’m like a chime.”
    (Move ring finger.)
    And the fifth one said, “Ring us all. It’s Christmastime!”
    (Wiggle all 5 fingers)

It’s international language week!

With two weeks or more of school vacation coming up, it’s a great time to teach your children a few words, or even a song in your native language! If the children can read you could write the words for objects around the house and post them (door, window, sink, closet, etc.). Children of any age can learn to respond or speak in other languages. Older children might have fun learning how to say “Hello” or “Happy Holidays” in lots of languages.

Check out the Kids Culture Corner for some language lessons. Children who are old enough to read and spell can make up their own “language” using code. Here’s an easy way to do it:

Paper plate code:

  • Use a small Paper Plate for the top wheel of your code maker. Along the edge of the plate, use scissors to cut out a small square.
  • On the back of the plate, draw an arrow pointing toward the cut-out hole. Decorate the arrow and the rest of the plate with markers or crayons if you wish.
  • Around the outside, back edge of a larger plate; write alphabet letters (and numerals if you like).
  • Use a brad to fasten the small plate face down onto the larger plate.
  • Point the arrow toward the A. In the box opening write another letter or symbol to stand for the A. You could use the alphabet in reverse (A means Z), or you could choose a different symbol or a picture for each letter. When every letter and numeral has a code, you’re ready to write secret messages! Make sure the person you send the message to has a code-breaker!

Need some ideas?

Looking for ideas for what to get your au pair for the holidays?

Check out the latest APIA Pinterest board:

http://pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/gift-ideas-for-au-pairs-from-host-families/

And here are some ideas for au pairs to get for their host families:

http://pinterest.com/aupairinamerica/gift-ideas-for-host-parents-from-au-pairs/

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)