West Hartford Au Pairs and Host Families

The best advice for staying healthy during cold and flu season is WASH YOUR HANDS!  Cold and flu germs are passed from hand to hand and frequent hand washing is your best defense. The U.S. Centers for for Disease Control (CDC) has a whole page devoted to this topic and they offer these instructions for proper hand washing:

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

As part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s Continuing Education Program, four of the monthly mandatory meetings for au pairs must focus on safety.

For January’s meeting we focused on staying safe in the community.  The West Hartford Police Department has a wide range of brochures posted on their website for every age group. There is a huge range of information available on topics as varied as “how to stay alive during a robber” to carseat information to how to set up a Block Watch.

Officer Leigh Cogle, in the Community Relations Division also shared this link that every one who has ever posted or sent pictures from their phone should watch.  It details how easy it is for someone to find out personal information on anyone who has ever taken a picture on their smartphone, and also shows how to protect yourself. It should be required watching for anyone who has ever snapped a picture and posted it on the internet or emailed it from their phone!

After Spring-like weather last week, Winter seems to have finally arrived.  This area has tons of cold-weather activities for those of you who like the feel of brisk air on your cheeks.  Here are some of the outdoor offerings and where you can find more information.

• Mount Southington Ski Area - Offers hiking in the summer, and skiing and snowboarding in the winter and much of spring (They are open from November through April for skiing). Ticket prices vary to fit every budget including a $33 ticket for evening skiing from 6PM - 10PM (not on Sunday).
• Talcott Mountain State Park - In Simsbury, right near the border or West Hartford, this State Park offers hiking and picnicking, year-round. The Observation Tower (Heublein Tower) is open Mid-April to late August, but the views are beautiful all year round.  It’s an easy but rewarding hike at any time of the year with great views of the Farmington Valley.
• Winding Trails - This 350 acre property in nearby Farmington has 20 kilometers of ski trails which are unfortunately closed right now because of the lack of snow.  However, they have many activities and events for individuals and families that go on all year round.  Activities are varied, both indoor and outdoor. Some upcoming activities include an ice fishing lesson on January 20 and a “Winter Snow Ball” for adults (they provide the music, you bring the food and drink) on Friday, February 17
• For more information on activities in the area, look at the Farmington Valley website. The link will take you to the outdoor recreation page, but the website also has information on dining, shopping and museums in the area.
• CT.now has a huge store of information on area activities under their “Daytripper” section.

You’ve made the decision to host an au pair and have sent in your application.  The next step is a home visit and interview with your Local Childcare Coordinator.  This Host Family Interview is mandated by the State Department and is required for both new host families and repeat host families.

Here’s a great video posted by Cultural Care’s very own Au Pair Answer Mom that explains what to expect at a Host family Interview.

Most au pairs will only spend one New Year’s Eve in the United States, so it’s best to make it count.  Here’s some information on the festivities going on near us.

First Night Hartford 2012, Hartford, CT: This event is billed as a “multicultural, artistically unique, alcohol-free New Year’s experience.” It’s affordable (only $10 a ticket) and close to home.  Professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhibits begin at 2PM and there will be fireworks at 6PM and Midnight.  Venues are spread around downtown Hartford and include Venues such as the Public Library, City Hall, The Old State House, State House Square, Wadsworth Atheneum, Center Church and Charter Oak Cultural Center, The Bushnell Carousel and others.

Watch the Ball Drop in New York City’s Times Square: This event is free, but it’s sure to be extremely crowded.  Watching the ball drop to ring in the new year has been a tradition in New York City for over 100 years.  Please look at the official website (click the link at the beginning of this paragraph) for all the information you need to participate in this event.  For the best view you want to arrive in the early afternoon and pick out your spot.  You can also watch the event live online (the official site even has a widget you can download) or on TV as part of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”.

If you prefer to head north, The Boston Globe has posted a list of events in Boston. There are a number of First Night events happening on Boston Commons and there are other events listed with a range of ticket prices.

Finding the right gift for your au pair can be challenging. You want to do something personal, but may not know information like sizes for clothing.  You also want to be sure that whatever you give is not something she will have to leave behind because of luggage limitations when she competes her year with your family.

The Buzz, Cultural Care’s Online Newsletter, has polled host families and come up with the Top 10 Au Pair Holiday Gifts. Click the link to read the full post, but a few of my favorites are:

• Tickets to a show or sporting event — we have The Bushnell right in Hartford, where touring productions of Broadway Shows play all year round.  Many of the au pairs in West Hartford seem to have a lot of interest in Hockey, so tickets to see The CT Whale would be another great choice.
• Another great idea is anything that can be personalized with pictures of the children or the family.
• For those of you who want to be really practical, an extra suitcase will always be welcome, especially when she find out how much she has accumulated during her year here.

Here’s a guide to some of the Holiday Offerings in Boston.

Rockefeller Christmas Tree 2010

Christmas will kickoff in New York City with the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  While you can watch it on your television at home, everyone should see it at least once in person.  CBS New York has posted an extremely helpful parade guide which includes tips on best places to watch the parade go by and even when and where to watch the huge balloons be inflated.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree - The tree lighting ceremony takes place Wednesday, November 30 with live performances from 7 - 9 PM. A huge Norway Spruce will be decorated with 30,000 environmentally friendly lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star. Below the tree the plaza is turned into a skating rink until January 7. Go to skate or watch! Click here for more information and schedules.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular - This New York Christmas tradition features the world famous Rockettes has a new show this year.  New dances and a new live 3D scene keep the show fresh while honoring the traditions of precision dancing and the highest kicks.  There’s not a bad seat in the house, so don’t feel like you need to spring for the higher priced seats to enjoy the show. The Christmas Spectacular will be presented several times a day until December 30th.

Balanchine’s Nutcracker at the New York City Ballet - Another New York Holiday Classic, Balanchine’s version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker has been the first ballet experience for many youngsters. Shows will run from November 25 until December 3 . Tickets are pricey but definitely make for a once in a lifetime New York experience

Itinerary for a Christmas Stroll in New York City - The best part of a Christmas stroll in New York is that it’s free! Travelers come from everywhere to experience the holiday windows that are created in some of New York’s most famous store windows.   CBS News has posted a gallery so you can see just how creative and beautiful these window displays are.

For more information on Christmas in New York City click here.

Festival of Trees and Traditions at the Wadsworth Atheneum

As far as American retailers are concerned, but holiday season begin the day after Halloween on October 31. Here in West Hartford, Halloween was cancelled — twice — by Winter Storm Alfred, but things are already gearing up for the end of year holidays.

Things will really kick into gear on “black Friday, ” November 25 - the day after Thanksgiving when many stores will open at Midnight hoping to entice shoppers looking for bargains.  Even Starbucks in Corbins Corner will be open for those who need caffeine fortification before they shop.

Besides shopping, the holiday season is celebrated in the U.S. in a way that is unique to us.  You will see a melding of cultures and traditions, both old and new — and lots and lots of lights. If you traveled around the country, you would see differences as difference sections of the country bring their own flavor to the celebration.  Here are a few events to enjoy in our little section of New England:

Holiday Light Fantasia - This light show at Hartford’s Goodwin Park opened on November 19 and will be open until January 6.  Take a two mile drive in the park and see over 200 lighted holiday displays.  The cost is $10 per car, and there is a $2 discount coupon on the website.

Wadsworth Atheum Festival of Trees and Traditions, Hartford - from December 2 through December 11. This annual event celebrates the traditions of Christmas with musical entertainment, family activities, and over a hundred trees donated and decorated to raise money for the museum’s programs.

Chanukah Family Fest at Macy’s , Westfarms Mall, December 11, 12PM - 2PM. Co-hosted by Macy’s and the Mandell JCC, this event will feature entertainment, face painting, Chanukah cookie decorating, PJ Library story-telling and giveaways; Westfarms Mall, 2nd fl., children’s dept.

The Holiday Stroll in West Hartford Center: Thursday, December 1, from 5:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. This wonderful local event has been ushering in the holiday season for over forty five years. The event is free, and will include special events at both Blue Back Square and West Hartford Center like horse-drawn carriage rides, holiday light displays, carolers and even a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Gingerbread Day at the Noah Webster House, West Hartford - Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4. Join in on a the gingerbread house tradition at one of three sessions at (10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m).  Kids and adults alike can create their own miniature masterpiece out of fresh-baked gingerbread, icing, and candy.  The fee is $18 per house ($15 for museum members), instruction and materials included. Due to space constraints, a maximum of two people can work on one house. Call 860-521-5362 x21 or register online.

Chanukah Family Extravaganza, December 17, 2011, 5:45p.m. - Described as a “family rock concert” this event is free for members of the Mandell JCC, and just $5.00 for everyone else.

For information on other local holiday events, see Visit New England