Winter is almost upon us! We’ve had a lovely fall, one of the nicest I remember, but it can’t last until April. Take a few minutes soon to talk to your au pair about winter safety.

Be sure there is a kit with blankets, mittens, water, etc. in the car – there are lots of examples online of what to include. Mine has reflective blanket thingies for everyone, a container to melt snow, and chocolate bars, but I do a lot more driving around the state than most au pairs.

Go over your expectations for dressing the kids, and don’t assume anything. For example, do they wear snowsuits every day or only when they will be playing in the snow? Do they wear hats under hoods all the time, or only when the temperature is below zero? Don’t forget to talk about layers – you don’t want kids to get too warm and take off their only jacket when they’re playing outside.

Driving in the snow is a huge concern. And if you’ve ever had the misfortune to drive during the first big snowstorm, you know it’s not just au pairs who need a refresher. Talk to them in advance about accelerating slower, braking longer, and what to do in case she spins out of control (steer where you want to go.) When there is a little snow on the ground, take her out somewhere safe and have her practice before she needs to drive the kids around.

Outdoor sports can make our long cold winter a lot more bearable – but please, please make sure your au pair has coverage for sports-related injuries before she hits the slopes (or the ice rink, or even the sledding hill.) I can help if she isn’t sure what her coverage is.

There are lots of places to go for au pairs desperate for fresh greenery. The Como Park Conservatory, for example, has flowers year round. So does the Cowles Conservatory at the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden. Edinborough has an indoor park with a playground for the kids, and even Nickelodeon Universe has live landscaping that brightens the spirit and oxygenates the air year round. So get out there!