Amy Bryan, Local Childcare Coordinator

Spring Ahead, Fall Back — Daylight Savings Time is Ending!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 29, 2009

The United States will be “falling back” and stop observing Daylight Savings Time beginning Sunday, November 1st at 2 am.  This means you need to remember to set your clock back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night;  this also means there will  be an extra hour to sleep!

If your home country does not observe this change, what this means is that we will have daylight earlier in the day, but darkness earlier at night.  This is due to the change of seasons and where we are located.  Many countries in Europe also observe this time change, but some already made the change this past weekend.

To confirm whether your country does this and if they have already made the changeover, click here.

Trick or Treating Thursday Evening on Main Street in Middletown

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 27, 2009

The Middletown Main Street organization will be sponsoring the 2009 Trick or Treat on Main Street this Thursday, 29 October from 5 pm to 7 pm.  Many of the businesses along Main Street in Middletown will be taking part, including the historic, recently renovated Everett Theatre.

The following businesses will be participating and will be open for trick-or-treating:

• Gibby Perry Center for the Arts
• La Dolce Vita Spa
• Smarty Pants
• Tracey Roberts Salon
• Middletown Seafood
• Bing’s Bakery
• Purple Sage Gifts & Teas
• Immediato’s Bistro
• Frameworks
• E’s on Main Cafe & Catering
• Jazzercise
• Pat’s Pizza
• Forest Presbyterian Church
• Middletown Police & Fire Department

There will be free reflective trick-or-treat bags and coloring books given away in Cochran Square (at the main intersection of town at Main & Broad Streets).  There will also costume judging!

For more information, visit the Middletown Main Street website.  This could be a fun way for au pairs to take their host kids out trick-or-treating, as well as to experience Middletown a bit more!  Even if you don’t get out to this event, these might be some great places to check out some other time.

Pumpkin Carving Fun at October Meeting!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 27, 2009

On Sunday, 25 October, we enjoyed a beautiful fall day carving Halloween jack-o-lanterns at my house.  Since our au pairs don’t celebrate Halloween in their home countries, this was a first-time experience for them.  They had fun and did a great job!  There are pictures of their handiwork below.  We also enjoyed some snacks and drinks, including some fall favorites like apple cider and pumpkin cupcakes.  Since some of you were asking for the recipe, you can find it below, courtesy of marthastewart.com. 

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PUMPKIN CUPCAKES:

Pumpkin’s not just for pies. Mix up these cupcakes with canned pumpkin and lots of spice, and top them with your favorite cream cheese frosting for a sweet snack.

Ingredients:

Makes 18 (****Note:  It made more than that for me)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together, brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs. Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth. Whisk in pumpkin puree.

Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway. Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

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Also, a big thank you to the CCAP group from Cecil County, MD and their LCC Maggie, for joining us!

Driving During Deer Season!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 22, 2009

The time from mid-October to December is considered “deer season.”  You are most likely to encounter deer out and about during this time of year, and this is also the time of year when it is legal for those licensed to hunt them.  During this time of year, it is more likely to see them running near or on the road, especially in and around wooded areas. Hitting a deer can be extremely scary and can do quite a bit of damage to your car. (I know from experience!  I’ve hit two and my husband has hit one.)  Unfortunately, if one does charge out in front of you, there isn’t much you can do, but if you are careful and alert, you will at least be able to anticipate what’s going on around you and be on the lookout for them!

Cars and deer can be a lethal combination. Each year the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that there are more than 1.5 million crashes in the United States involving deer, costing an estimated $1.1 billion in vehicle damage.

The average cost per insurance claim was $2,000, with costs varying depending on the type of vehicle and severity of damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.).

During deer season, which runs from October through December, there can be dramatic movements in the deer population with a significant number of deer darting onto highways and into suburban neighborhoods. Over this time period, more deer-vehicle collisions occur than any other time of year, so drivers need to be especially cautious.

The I.I.I. suggests the following defensive driving tips to avoid hitting a deer:

• Be attentive from sunset to midnight and hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk periods for deer-vehicle collisions to occur.
• Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.
• When driving at night, use high beam headlights when there is no oncoming traffic. The high-beams will better illuminate the eyes of deer on or near the roadway.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious crashes occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit another vehicle or lose control of their cars.
• Do not rely on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer. These devices have not been proven to reduce deer-vehicle collisions.
• Always wear your seat belt. Deer-vehicle collisions can result in serious injuries. People tend to underestimate how much damage collisions with animals can cause.

A Video Update for Cultural Care’s “Kids First” Project

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 19, 2009

Over 75 Cultural Care staff members recently visited one of our three Kids First partners: St. Mary’s Academy in New Orleans, LA. Their mission? To help establish their elementary school library. They did everything from cataloguing new books to decorating the walls, to hooking up their computers. Staff members’ favorite part of the day was the opportunity to read their favorite children’s books to the students. Thanks to our staff, local childcare coordinators (LCCs), host families and au pairs who have hosted and supported the Kids First fundraisers that have funded these efforts! Stay tuned for more Kids First updates before the end of the year.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to watch this video and maybe it will brighten up your day just a little

Trick or Treating Safety Tips

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 19, 2009

Follow these tips to keep the kids safe when out trick-or-treating.  Whether you’re a parent or an au pair, these are good to review this time of year to make it a safe and fun experience for all!  Parents:  if you plan to allow your au pair to take the kids on his / her own, make sure you review these tips and any other special precautions you would like him or her to take to ensure the safety of the children, as well as the au pair!

• Children should go out during daylight hours only unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
• Plan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves. 
• Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields. Make sure they know to stay in populated places and don’t go off the beaten track. Stay in well lighted areas.
• Stop only at familiar houses in your own neighborhood unless they are accompanied by an adult.
• Small children should never be allowed to go out alone on Halloween. Make sure an older sibling or adult is with them.
• Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you.
• Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car.
• Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars. 
• Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult.

Find these and more helpful safety information regarding more safety tips for parents, costumes, parties and more at www.halloween-safety.com.

Good-bye & Good Luck!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 19, 2009

We bid farewell to Ana and Ariel, as both move on to begin a second year with new families in California.  Ana will be in the San Jose area, while Ariel will be in the San Francisco area.

We wish you much luck in your new adventures!  Keep in touch and we’ll miss you!

10 Great Reasons to Host a Chinese Au Pair!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 17, 2009

If you will be going through the matching process sometime soon, why not consider an au pair from one of our newer recruitment countries–China!  China is a country rich in history and culture, as well as fabulous au pairs, including the au pair featured in this ad.  Ariel is one of our local au pairs and I’m very proud that she has done such a great job during her au pair year and to have her as a part of our group!

If you can’t read this copy well, click here:  consider-a-chinese-au-pair

December Meeting

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 17, 2009

We will meet for our final meeting of 2009 on Saturday, 5 December.  We will meet at Your Creation Station in Middletown Crossing Shopping Center, near Starbucks.  We will meet at 11 am to paint our own pottery.  I went there today with a friend and three small children and it was a really fun activity for everyone.  You can create a great personalized holiday gift or help the kids to create one! 

Prices vary depending on the type of pottery you choose, but you can spend as little as $5.  Once you have finished painting, they will fire it for you and you can pick it up within a week.

This can be a great fun family activity, so host families are invited to attend as your Host Family Day event, since our event in September was rained out.  Please let me know if your family plans to attend because we have a larger group, I will need to let them know in advance.

November Meeting

Posted by: Amy Bryan on October 17, 2009

We will meet on Sunday, November 15th at 1 pm for our Fall Continuing Education meeting.  I have not yet determined a location, but I will announce one in the November Newsletter.

Our topic for fall deals with household poisoning dangers.