Amy Bryan, Local Childcare Coordinator

Holiday Hours & LCC Coverage

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 22, 2009

Cultural Care offices will be closed December 25th, 26th and 27th in observance of Christmas, as well as on January 1st for New Year’s Day.

I will be out of the office from December 25th, 2009 through January 4th, 2010. I will have limited email access, but no voicemail.  I will be out of the country, so please note I will be 5 hours ahead of EDT, so any email responses may be delayed due to this.

For immediate assistance or general program questions, contact Account Services at 1-800-333-6056.

For questions regarding au pair travel, DS forms, passports, etc., contact the Operations Department at 1-800-448-5753.

***   You can also find many answers to common questions in the InfoSource section of your online account.

For assistance with more sensitive or specific issues, contact Program Director Robin Hannum at 1-800-333-6056 x3580 or via email at robin.hannum@culturalcare.com.

For local assistance, the following LCCs will be covering for me in my absence.

***   From December 26th - December 31st, LCC Dehlia Towler will be covering. She can be reached at 610-246-0094 or via email at dehlia.towler@lcc.culturalcare.com.

***   From January 1st - January 4th, LCC Jenny Westphal will be covering.  She can be reached at 610-274-3430 or via email at jenny.westphal@lcc.culturalcare.com.

Please not that these LCCs do not have access to your account information, so any questions regarding anything in your account should be directed to the home office in Boston.

For 24 hour emergency assistance, call 1-800-333-6056 and select option 9.

Except in an extreme emergency, all mediation or transition requests should be held until my return!!

Happy Holidays!!

Recognize your au pair! Nominations due for 2010 IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 22, 2009

Every year thousands of young people from all over the world embark on a special journey by becoming an au pair. Now it’s time to recognize the extraordinary and ordinary daily accomplishments that each au pair makes in his or her host family by nominating your au pair for the International Au Pair Association’s seventh annual Au Pair of the Year Award.

The International Au Pair Association established the Au Pair of the Year Award to recognize the many great young men and women participating in the au pair program worldwide. In addition, the award helps highlight public awareness of this valuable cultural exchange program.

For the last two years, au pairs with Cultural Care have been honored with the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award. In 2009, the honor was awarded to Francisco Ricardo Silva de Araújo, of Brazil, an au pair to the Boyer family of Virginia. In 2008, Linda Falter, an au pair from Germany, received the award while she was an au pair for the Sato family of Hayward, California.

What makes your au pair outstanding?
Maybe it’s the day-to-day things he or she does, such as kicking around a soccer ball, helping the kids with homework or entertaining them while you cook dinner. Maybe it’s the way he or she has embraced your family, such as teaching your kids her language, baking treats from her home country or coming to watch your children in the winter program at school. Every thing your au pair does that helps your family or brings a rich cultural exchange into your family is worthy of recognition, and a great way of saying thank you to your au pair!

Host families who would like to nominate their au pair should submit an essay detailing what makes their au pair exceptional in the form provided. Nominations for the Au Pair of the Year Award must be received by Friday, January 15. Once you’ve submitted your nomination, don’t forget to share it with your au pair to show her or him how much you think of what she or he does for your family!

Simply nominating an au pair for the IAPA Au Pair of the Year Award is a wonderful honor that can show your au pair how much you value what she or he does for your family. This award allows so many in the au pair community to reflect on what an incredibly positive program this is and the many lives it touches and enriches along the way.

For more information about the Au Pair of the Year Award or nominating your au pair please click here.

Find out more about our past winners by watching this video:

January Meeting - Save the Date!!!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 15, 2009

Our January meeting will be on Sunday, 24 January at 10 am.  Au pairs will receive some basic CPR training from a trained EMT.  This is made possible by our connections in the New Castle County police force.

I will announce the location at a later date, as I am still working out the details but I did want to make sure you had a date and time — I apologize for the lateness!!!

BE ON TIME!!!  WE WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 10!  Make every effort to be there on time, as we have someone coming from outside of CCAP to run this meeting for us, so please be conscious of that and arrive no later than 10 am.

***In case of bad weather, alternate plans will be made for the following week!!!

Sojourner Douglass College Au Pair Weekend 2010 Schedule

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 15, 2009

Sojourner Douglass College, Division of Professional and Continuing Studies

Au Pair Weekend Program 2010 Schedule

Thank you for your support of our growing program.  The 2010 schedule is available and posted on the website.  The spring semester is currently available for enrollment.

A much requested weekend course has been added. There is limited space for this session.
Understanding American Culture and Government will take place January 9-10, 2010.

A few changes for 2010:

1.       Weekend sessions are Saturday and Sunday.  We no longer offer classes on Fridays excluding the TOEFL Review.  The TOEFL Review is the only weekend course that has Friday classes. The change occurred due to the local traffic patterns and the work schedules of the au pairs. Check in begins at 7:30am Saturday and the first class begins at 9:30am.  The last class on Sunday ends at 5:00pm.

2.       We now offer a 2 weekend certificate program.  Au pairs can study a subject more in depth with this program.  The outside work for the certificate program will include 2 papers and volunteer work. Please see attachment for detailed guidelines of the program.

3.       All homework is due prior to the weekend course.  Au pairs who register 2 weeks prior to the weekend session can request a 2 week extension for homework. No homework will be accepted at the weekend session. Please see attached updated homework guides.  Please stress to the au pairs the importance of following the guidelines and completing the homework assignments on time.

The weekend sessions include coursework in American Culture, History, Government, Family Life and Personal Growth while providing an opportunity to develop new friendships.  To successfully complete the weekend course, each student will be required to complete a paper and a 3 week journal. The weekend course work, along with the paper and the 3 week journal is worth 4 CEUs or 40 hours.  This course is pass/ fail.  If the homework is not complete and on time the au pair will not receive credit for the course.
The 2 week certificate program along with the outside volunteer hours and two 5 page papers is worth 6 credits or 72 hours.

The registration fee includes coursework, lodging, social activities and meals. The au pair is responsible for transportation to and from the course.

Registration is ongoing and can be completed online by visiting www.aupairweekend.org

Early registration is encouraged for first selection of course options and reduced fees.

Each weekend session is different; sessions may include but are not limited to:
Nutrition, American History, American Presidents, Psychology, American Culture, History of American Music,  Language, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality and Tourism, Stress Management,  American Government, Games that teach, Caring for Special Needs Children,  American Monetary System, Effective Written Communication, Meal Planning for Children, American Holidays, Art Expression, Resume Writing and Life Skills.
2010 schedule of weekend classes.  This schedule could change due to enrollment.

January 8-10, 2010 TOEFL Review (Registration closed due to max capacity)
January 9-10, 2010 Understanding American Culture and Government (limited Space)
March 6-7, 2010 American Culture and Personal Development
April 10-11, 2010 Caring for Special Needs Children
May 1-2, 2010 Child Development and American Government
May 1, 2010 Water Safety
June 5-6, 2010 Experiencing America
June 5, 2010 Infant and Child CPR and First Aid
July 10-11, 2010 to be announced
August 7-8, 2010 to be announced
September 11-12, 2010 to be announced
October 2-3, 2010 to be announced
October 2, 2010 Infant and Child CPR and First Aid
November 6-7, 2010 to be announced
Two weekend Certificate Program

·         Hospitality and Tourism- Au pairs interested in this fast growing profession will learn about the core areas: travel, food and beverage, and lodging; North American Geography;  Front office operations and Event planning.

·         Activities Consultant/Coordinator- Au pairs can gain insight to this fascinating career.  Whether the au pair is interested in coordinating activities in tourism, child care or geriatrics they will learn therapeutic activity planning and coordination.

·         Patient Care- Healthcare is an interesting and rewarding career.  Classes in this focus area will help the au pair understand medical terminology, psychology in healthcare setting and human development.

·         Child Care- Au pairs will increase their understanding of child development, emergency preparedness and be able to create healthy meal plans and lead stimulating activities.

The registration form for this program will include both dates.

To register, visit the website and click on the “schedule of events” tab.
www.aupairweekend.org

Please note the location of Au Pair Weekend Courses:
The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute
692 Maritime Boulevard Linthicum, MD 21090-1952
(410)-859-5700 Front Desk ext 0

For questions call Angela Garnett, Program Coordinator at 301-213-2404 or email: aupairweekend@gmail.com

Swedish Holiday Tradition Celebrated in Delaware

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 14, 2009

Delaware holidays: Sankta Lucia celebration lights up Old Swedes

Children grow up participating in annual holiday rite, bearing — or wearing — candles

By ANDREW EDER
The News Journal

In Sweden, the Sankta Lucia celebration, an age-old tradition signaling the start of the holiday season, brings light to one of the darkest days in a country with long, dark winters.

On Sunday, Mother Nature got into the spirit by delivering a dreary day just in time for the Lucia celebration at Wilmington’s http://www.oldswedes.org/“>Old Swedes Church.

In the Swedish tradition, the eldest daughter brings sweet buns and coffee to her family at dawn, dressed in a white gown, red sash and crown ringed with candles.

The outfit honors the Third-Century Sicilian martyr Saint Lucia, whose story was carried to Scandinavia and became a symbol of light and compassion.

Delaware’s Swedish community has celebrated the Lucia tradition since 1977 with a ceremony featuring a rotating cast of Lucias, attendants, star boys, called stjärngossar, and gnomes, called tomtar.

This year, Natalie Gustavsson, 17, a senior at Kennett High, played Lucia, in a celebration that she’s been a part of for eight years.

There’s a planned succession of girls who serve as Lucia during the celebration. Natalie said she always looked up to other Lucias in the years when she was an attendant.

“I’ve kind of always wanted to be Lucia,” Natalie said. “Finally getting that position is pretty awesome.”

Her sister, Christina, 13, was an attendant in Sunday’s celebration and will serve as Lucia in a few years. Their father, Nils, grew up in Helsingborg, Sweden, moving to the United States at age 18. He remembers dressing up with his brother and sister as a child and singing songs to his parents during the Lucia celebration in his native country.

Nils and Michelle Gustavsson, of Landenberg, Pa., moved here eight years ago from Virginia and were happy to discover the rich Swedish tradition in the region.

“We joined this because we wanted to bring Swedish culture to our children,” Michelle Gustavsson said.

Sunday’s ceremony began with a welcome and prayer from the Rev. Patricia Downing, rector of Trinity Parish; a Scripture reading in English and Swedish from Michelle and Nils Gustavsson; and a description of the Lucia tradition from the Rev. Canon Kenneth Gunn-Walberg, president of thehttp://delawareswedes.org/“>Delaware Swedish Colonial Society.

Then the lights dimmed as Natalie, wearing the white gown, red sash and crown with five lit candles, a tray of sweets in hand, led the procession of 46 children into the church.

They sang “Sankta Lucia” in honor of the celebration’s namesake, along with five other traditional Swedish songs.

Proud parents — several former Lucias among them — snapped pictures of their children.

For the recessional, the children sang “Silent Night” in English and Swedish as parishioners lit candles throughout the centuries-old church.

Following the celebration, families gathered in the Hendrickson House near the church. Ingrid McAllister, a director of the program together with John Crossan, said the children rehearse for the bilingual program for an hour-and-a-half for three Saturdays prior to the program.

“They’ve been doing this for many years, so they learn the Swedish songs,” said McAllister, whose granddaughter will serve as Lucia in a few years.

Elisabeth Hohman watched her 17-month-old grandson, Oliver, participate in this year’s program for the first time as a gnome, clad in red with a long hat. Hohman, who helped organize the children for Sunday’s ceremony, was born and schooled in Sweden and served as Lucia during a high school celebration.

This year’s Lucia, Natalie, was battling a case of walking pneumonia the week leading up to the program, which prevented her from singing.

But she enjoyed her time as the symbolic bearer of light and happiness of the coming holiday season.

“It’s just nice to finally be that one person,” she said.

Childcare Tip of the Week #4 - Creating a “Reward Chart”

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 14, 2009

This week’s tip comes from supernanny.com. There is actually a TV show here in the US called “Supernanny,” which features a British nanny, who goes into different homes to help families who struggle with behavior issues in their children. She usually gives a lot of helpful techniques and advice that any parent, nanny, babysitter or au pair could use with their children. One of the items she frequently talks about is the use of a “Reward Chart.” Some host families may already use something like this, and it is important to check with them first to see if this is something they would be okay with you incorporating into your day, should you want to!

The following comes from http://www.supernanny.com/Advice/-/Supernanny-techniques/-/Discipline-and-reward/The-reward-chart.aspx

Introduction

Positive attention and praise are the most effective rewards for good behavior. As used on Supernanny, the reward chart is the perfect way to reinforce good behavior on the spot.

Reinforcing good behavior

Positive attention and praise are the most effective rewards for good behavior, because they reinforce it on the spot and a child can make the connection between what you’re saying and what he’s just done.

Step 1: Choose your chart! (or download one FREE!)

Get creative - develop a chart based on something your child loves and make it together. If he loves drawing make a dot-to-dot chart, allowing one line to be drawn in for good behavior (or erased for bad behavior!). Or design a color-by-numbers chart where each of your kids has a color and a picture gradually emerges as the chart is filled in (this type of chart has the added bonus of encouraging sibling co-operation). And don’t forget to check out Supernanny’s great print-and-color reward charts.

***NOTE: There are charts for varying age groups - 3 to 5, 5 to 7, 8 to 10+

Step 2: Decide on rewards

Mutually decide on the rewards your child will earn once he hits the targets on his chart. If you can, avoid candy–instead perhaps your child could earn a book or a trip to the movies with you. For younger children, a rewards box works well: just fill a cardboard box with inexpensive party favors he can fish out when he reaches his target.

Step 3: Use it!

Use the reward chart to award stickers for good behavior, and when your child has collected enough stickers to get him to the top of the chart, you can reward him. When your child misbehaves, remove a sticker from the chart. Tell him why you are doing this, so he understands there are consequences for bad behavior.

Step 4: Tailor your chart

Now you’ve got the basics sorted out, think about ways you can make a reward chart more specific. For example, if morning mayhem is your main problem, use categories like ‘brushed teeth’, ‘dressed” and ‘made bed’ in a morning-themed reward chart or try our Get Up and Go! chart. Give the kids a sticker for each activity they do on time, so you get out of the door feeling less stressed!

Don’t feel daunted if these charts sound too much like hard work. Making them should be fun for you and the kids and the benefits of the reward system will become immediately apparent as soon as you start using them. Remember to get your chart laminated so that you can re-use it and peel the stickers off as well as put them on!

If you (or your au pair!) create one of these and starts to use it, please pass it along!

Good luck!

Newark Symphony Orchestra Performance - Sunday, 13 December

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 10, 2009

The Newark Symphony Orchestra has its last performance of 2009 on Sunday, 13 December at 3 pm.  The NSO performs in the auditorium of the Independence School at 1300 Paper Mill Rd in Newark, DE.

The performance will include the following pieces:

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for students and $9 for seniors.  Tickets can be purchased online and picked up the day of the concert, or can be bought at the door (CASH OR CHECK ONLY the day of the performance will be accepted!)

Chesapeake Brass Band Performing This Weekend in Smyrna!

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 10, 2009

The Chesapeake Brass Band will perform Saturday evening at 7:30 pm at the Smyrna Opera House.  The 35-piece brass ensemble will play many holiday favorites and will also include a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”  Tickets are $15 each or $35 for a “Family 4 Pack.”

To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit the venue’s website or call their Box Office at 302-653-4236.  You can also buy them in person from 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday.

December Meeting at “Your Creation Station” in Middletown

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 7, 2009

We had a great time at Your Creation Station, a paint-your-own pottery store in Middletown.  Au pairs painted some Christmas items and our au pairs from warmer countries enjoyed watching the snow come down outside!

Thanks to Steve Datz, the owner of Your Creation Station, for letting us come and create!

Thanks for a great year and I look forward to more fun meetings in 2010!

St. Lucia Day Celebration in Wilmington, DE

Posted by: Amy Bryan on December 2, 2009