The first time I encountered infant sign language was with my 10 month old niece.  We were sitting in the kitchen while her mom was feeding her some sweet yogurt.  The yogurt finished and she was not at all happy with this.  Simultaneously, she cried out and started making this strange sign with her hands.  “More?” my sister asked?  My niece smiled and kept making the signs as my sister popped open another yogurt. 

Introduction to infant sign language is an important and fun educational tool for infant specialized au pairs to share with their host families.  At Au Pair Academy, au pairs receive instruction on American Sign Language (ASL) basic principles and its application for infants from certified facilitators.  Many families are already using sign language with their infants as yet another way to connect and communicate with their young children.  So, they are excited to welcome an au pair with this knowledge and practice.

I had the opportunity to work with Lora Heller, Founding Director of Baby Fingers™LLC for my introduction to infant sign certification.  According to her and other expert research, a few of the advantages of infant sign language are:

-Increased comprehension

-Decreased frustration

-Increased self-esteem and confidence

-Motivates infants to speak

An article, “Why Teach Sign Language?” on Parents.com also stated “Parents are beginning to realize that children's proficiency in using their hands comes well before using the more intricate muscles of their tongue and vocal cords. And both parents and experts agree that signing with your baby can relieve his frustration at not being able to communicate with you (and your frustration at not being able to understand him).”  Read more www.parents.com/baby/development/sign-language/all-about-baby-sign-language/

Your infant specialized au pair will be eager to share what she has learned with your baby.  Talk with her and create a plan for using these tools with you and your baby. 

For many au pairs who come from countries around the world where snow is something one only sees on television, the idea of a white winter can be both exciting and maybe a little intimidating.  I recall facilitating New Jersey Academy sessions in the middle of a hot, humid summer and getting loads of questions about snow, blizzards, and freezing rain from those au pairs who were off to cold winter states in the U.S.   

So here’s what we’d talk about:

Driving in the snow – Certainly, many au pairs are nervous about driving in the U.S. given that they, perhaps, are used to different driving conditions and vehicles back home.  However, add the snow variable and au pairs really want more information!  Host families should have the “snow” discussion early on.  Review the safety tips for the road and discuss when the au pair might need to drive or not drive in these conditions.  Here are a few links with tips that might help both host families and au pairs.

www.aaaexchange.com/main/default.asp

www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/articles/124638/article.html

Clothing – Au pairs may need some help picking out appropriate cold weather gear once they arrive to the host family home.  Although many arrive with “winter wear”, it may not hold up under the weather conditions in the host family’s state.

“Snow Day” Activities – Discuss “Snow Day” protocol for the children.  How are the host family/the au pair informed byt the school?  What are the host parent’s expectations of the au pair that day?  What in-door or out-door activities does the au pair have in her tool chest for the children.

www.parents.com/fun/activities/rainy-day/child-snow-day-activities/

Emergency Plan – Review the host family’s Emergency Plan in case of situations like blackouts, blizzards, etc.  Post the plan where all can see.   Make sure that the au pair understands her role and the role of each family member in the plan.