Tips on taking a beach vacation for families in Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg

I spent last week taking care of my brother's 4 and 3 year old at the beach along with my children.  I love the beach and I love spending a week each summer soaking up the warmth, reading a book under the umbrella, and watching kids have the time of their lives in the sand and waves. 

As I read in bed last night sand was falling out of my book into my bed.  It started me thinking of all the tips I've picked up through the years of taking children to the beach.

Here are some that may be original to me.  I bet there are some new ones for you.

• Pack a very soft brush (I use a hand broom) in the back of the car to brush the sand off of legs, arms, boogie boards, etc.  No matter how much you shake and pound on the beach, some will come back to the car.  A swift, soft brush, and most will be gone.
• Shake towels, blankets, etc. down wind and away from others down wind from you.  Now, I know, for most of you, this is obvious, but for some, it might be an "ah ha" moment.
• Start sunscreen at the car before you head out for the sand.
• The first sunscreen to glob (and yes, I mean coat thickly) is a very heavy, cream kind.  Rub it in well and it will soak in as you walk to the beach.  Then, as the sand builds up throughout the day, switch to the spray sunscreen.  Remember, put a lot of spray sunscreen on--more than you think you should.
• Always have shade available for the times your children are sitting still.  Bring one or two umbrellas or a canopy to set up.  If you have a toddler that plunks down in one spot to build the perfect castle, put a smaller umbrella up right over them.  It can be moved when they get up to head for the waves.
• Start hats early!  Make it a habit early on in their life and it won't be a struggle later.  No hat, no play is my rule.

AuPairCare is offering a FANTASTIC Summer promotion now through June 30th in Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg

 

For kids, summer means no school and lazy days at the pool. For a lot of parents, summer means searching for ways to keep the kids busy while you're at work.

From now until June 30th, apply for just $59 and welcome an au pair into your home as early as next month. Your live-in au pair can help make your summer less chaotic by:

• Driving your kids to playgroups and other activities
• Helping with light housekeeping related to childcare
• Traveling with you on family vacations

View some of our more popular au pairs now, such as our German au pairs and Brazilian au pairs, or search all available au pairs by language.

Getting started is easy!  and use the promo code SUMMER$59 to apply online at www.aupaircare.com for only $59 (over $290 in savings!) You can also speak with a Program Advisor at 1-800-428-7247 and receive a free, no obligation childcare consultation.

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Do your children use the computer in Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg

It starts in infancy.  The toys of today are basically all computers.  Push a button, hear a cow moo.  Push another and hear how an “A” sounds.  Computers are a part of our life and it starts earlier than you think.  My kids started playing on a real computer at age 2.  I bet many of your kids started even earlier than that. 

As children get older, they move into…yes, you guessed it…Social Networking.  Before you know it, your child will ask for a Facebook page.

Like it or not, kids social lives include Facebook.  A Symantec study shows that kids spend nearly 40 hours a month online!

In order to take advantage of the opportunities online, children need to act responsibly with your involvement and guidance to help the make the right choices.  Follow some of these guidelines: 

Make and Explain why there are online rules.  Online rules are essentially the same as other “stranger/danger” rules.  You wouldn’t befriend a stranger on the street, so don’t befriend a stranger online. Also stress the importance of never giving out passwords to anyone (except you of course). 

Keep tabs on what they’re doing online.  OnlineFamily.Norton is a free service that lets you monitor your kids online activities through alerts sent to your email or mobile phone. Rather than just blocking certain sites, this service is designed to foster communication between you and your kids when they are breaking the rules.  

Make sure you are their Friend online.  As an online “friend,” you can actually learn more about them and their interests.  Also befriend their friends if you can.  That way you’ll know what is happening in their social circles at school.

Know their passwords.  Make sure you know all your children’s passwords so you can check up on them at times. 

As an advocate for live-in childcare utilizing an au pair, I know there are advantages to having an au pair with your children at home.  An au pair will monitor your children’s computer use just like you would.  With an au pair home while your children are doing their homework, there is an adult dedicated to supervising their computer time. 

Of course, the au pair will not watch their every key-stroke, but an au pair will walk through the room, just as you would, and casually glance at the computer to make sure it is being used properly. 

Because computer usage is beginning at such early ages, let’s take advantages of the opportunities and protect our children from the dangers.

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