Tag Archives: live in childcare

Play with peanut butter!

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Peanut butter is a favorite food for many children in the U.S, and also a major allergen. Ask your host parents before feeding your host child peanut butter. Some children might like to eat it plain, but it is too sticky and can cause a child to choke. Always put the peanut butter on bread, a cracker, a piece of apple, a celery stick or some other fruit or vegetable.

Tired of eating peanut butter? The kids can play with it too! This is one of the few times it is really okay to play with your food as the play-dough is edible, but only for children over the age of one year.

Peanut Butter Play-dough

  • 3 1/2 cups peanut butter
  • 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
  • 3 1/2 cups honey
  • 4 cups dry milk powder

In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar. Then beat in the honey and fold in the milk powder. Divide the dough into small portions and refrigerate or freeze until you are ready to use it.

It’s international drum month!

Here are instructions (from www.pbskids.org/zoom) for a drum experiment for school age children. Remind them that drums can be played softly too!

  • First get a container that you think will make a good drum, like a metal bowl or an oatmeal container. Sylvia says that larger containers make better sounds.
  • Put double-sided tape all the way around the container 2 inches from the top.
  • Cut 2 pieces of shrink-wrap big enough to cover the tape on the container. Then, push it onto the tape.
  • Tape the edges of the shrink-wrap with masking tape so it’s really secure.
  • Now blow-dry the shrink-wrap with a blow dryer set on hot. This shrinks the plastic and makes a very tight drum.
  • Be sure you don’t put the end of the blow dryer too close to the plastic, or it will melt.
  • Once it’s really tight, bang your drum.

Now it’s time to experiment. Try to change the sound your drum makes. Can you make a drum with a really deep sound? Test it out with different containers.

Younger children might like to use a coffee can or oatmeal box as a drum and bang on it along with some lively music.

It’s Labor Day!

The first Monday of September is known as Labor Day in The United States of America.

It is a holiday very similar to May Day, as it honors the achievements of workers. But unlike May Day, which is a tribute to working class only, Labor Day is a tribute to the entire workforce.

Labor Day originated in Toronto in April 1872 with the first workingmen’s demonstration organized by the Toronto Trades Assembly. Ten years later, in July, a parade took place in Toronto and Peter J. McGuire of New York was invited to hold a speech. Upon his return to NY he proposed an official celebration to honor workers, and in September 1882 Central Labor Union held its first Labor Day celebration in New York City.

In 1884 first Monday of September officially became Labor Day and over the years it has been celebrated with parades, fireworks and festivals; slowly losing its political connotations and becoming an unofficial end of summer holiday.

It’s Baby Safety Month

Image may contain: 2 people, people sitting, people eating and child

There are safety tips throughout this site to keep the children safe. Here are some more tips for baby in honor of Baby Safety Month:

  • Check condition and sturdiness of toys. Discard any that have sharp edges or are broken or falling apart.
  • Check children’s clothing for loose buttons and remove strings.
  • Is baby’s pacifier still in good condition? Be sure it isn’t coming apart. Never use strings to attach the pacifier to baby’s clothes or crib.
  • Where do you set baby’s carrier when she’s in it? Not on the counter please, or any high surface. Babies can wiggle and tip themselves over.
  • Are you using an old walker? It’s time to throw it out. Walkers can be dangerous (especially old ones that don’t meet today’s safety standards).
  • Stroller check. If your stroller is collapsible, be sure latches are secure before putting baby in. Always check that your child’s arms are out of the way when reversing handle directions so they won’t get pinched. Be sure to use that safety strap. Don’t hang overloaded or heavy bags on the handle of the stroller; this may cause it to tip over.
  • Can you name the 12 most common choking foods for kids under five? Popcorn, hot dogs, chunks of meat, raisins, ice cubes, chunky peanut butter, peanuts (nuts of any kind), hard candy, grapes, raw carrots, potato chips and corn chips.
  • Don’t leave toddlers alone while eating; if they begin to choke you need to be nearby to assist.
  • Get a piggy bank: this is a great place to put coins so they don’t end up on the floor, in the couch cushions and then baby’s mouth.
  • Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub. If the phone rings, let the machine get it, or bring a cordless phone into the bathroom with you. Wait until baby can sit alone to give baths in the tub. It’s easier in the sink until then.

Enroll in an infant/child CPR and first aid class. This will be a valuable investment of your time, and Au Pair in America will pay for it if you have at least 3 months remaining on your visa.

Why should I audit?

When it comes to the Education requirement, au pairs can be confused by the phrase “not less than six semester hours of academic credit OR its equivalent.” What that means is that au pairs do not NEED to take credit classes. In fact, some colleges or universities will not allow J-1 visa holders to register for credit classes, as they “save” these for degree seeking students.

BUT au pairs can easily take non-credit or Continuing Studies classes. And some colleges and universities may allow them to “Audit” a credit class. This means that the au pair can sit in the class and do the assignments and take the tests but she will not get a grade for any work done, only a  ”pass or fail”. The cost may or may not be less to audit a class. Each individual school will have its own policy. Au Pairs should consult with their Community Counselor to see which schools offer this option.

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Fredericksburg is fortunate to have the University of Mary Washington which is an excellent school that has a special program for au pairs to audit classes. Check out the link below for more information:

http://academics.umw.edu/registrar/registration-instructions-for-nondegree-students-and-auditors/

Reflections from an au pair

 

Hannah from Germany says in a postcard:

Brazilian au pair, Livia

“Dear Au Pair in America Team
I have to say going to America and living with my Host Family was the best decision I’ve ever made. I saw almost everything that was on my bucket list and I really feel like I have a second home now. I couldn’t have picked a better family. I love the kids and in the parents I found friends for life. Thank you for helping me have this amazing experience!“

It’s National Watermelon Day!

A Summer Craft Recipe: Watermelon Magnets!

Use these on the refrigerator or give them as gifts. Suitable for ages three and older.

  • In a bowl mix 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup salt. Add 1/2 Tablespoon of olive oil, 1/8 cup warm water and 1/4 teaspoon red food coloring. Blend well and knead 20 times. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour.
  • In another bowl mix 1/3 cup flour and 2 1/2 tablespoons salt. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil, 3 teaspoons warm water and a few drops of green food coloring. Blend well and knead 20 times, adding more flour if necessary.
  • Mold the red dough into flat circles and roll the green dough into a long snake shape and wrap it around the edges of the red circles. Press the two colors together so that they stick to each other.
  • Cut each circle in half and press 5 or 6 real watermelon seeds into the red part of the dough.
  • Bake the finished watermelon slices at 200 degrees for 2 hours. Turn them over and bake for 1-2 hours more until completely dry.
  • Glue a small magnet to the back of each.

Have a toasted marshmallow today!

Toasting marshmallows at the end of a long green stick over a campfire is a summertime treat. This may not be possible at home, but you can still make S’mores, a messy, gooey, sweet summertime delight.

  • 2 graham cracker squares
  • 1 large marshmallow
  • Handful of chocolate chips, or half a chocolate bar
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • tin foil

Place the marshmallow and chocolate between the two graham crackers (like a sandwich) and wrap in tin foil. Place in a toaster oven or under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, and voila gooey treat!