Español de México Pumpkins, falling maple leaves, warm cinnamon apple cider. . . these are all sure signs that Autumn is here. The fall season also brings with it a dip in temperatures and definitely more rainy days, which means it’s time to inventory your child’s wardrobe and make room for warm, cozy clothes for colder weather.
Many child care providers and preschools plan for outdoor time in their schedules regardless of what the local meteorologist may forecast. It’s often written in child care policies, “We go outside rain or shine so please send your child to school dressed appropriately.” In order to ensure that children can still enjoy outdoor playtime regardless of the changing weather, it’s important that parents dress them ready for any kind of element. Oregon is is known as wet, rain country so we might as well embrace it and be prepared. Below is a list of some helpful tips that will help in preparing your child for chillier weather.
1.) Put away all summer clothes to decrease the likelihood of your child choosing it. If shorts and flip flops are out of sight, children won’t be able to choose them.
2.) Check the weather forecast before leaving the house. Sometimes Oregon starts out gloomy but then brings on the rain in the afternoon or vice versa. Although the weather forecast is never 100%, depending on where you live, it could be spot on.
3.) Think about your activities and plan ahead. Will you be outside for a pumpkin patch field trip? Will you be at the park? What about your child’s schedule? Do they go outside at preschool? Does their preschool have a covered area?
4.) Layers, layers, layers. Dressing your child in easy-to-remove/put-on-by-themselves layers is key. The layers create pockets of heat that will keep your child warm. If your child gets too warm, then simply remove a layer. It’s much more efficient to remove a layer of clothing to cool off versus an entire jacket that only reveals cold arms from a short sleeve shirt. We don’t want children to go from sweating underneath a heavy coat to freezing immediately because they only thing between him/herself and the coat is a plain t-shirt.
5.) When layering, think of three layers:
- Base Layer (what is directly against the child’s skin)
- Middle Layer (like a swather, hoodie, or light fleece)
- Outer Layer (Jacket)
Keep in mind that layers should still allow for easy movement and be snug, not too tight.
6.) Pack extra clothes wherever you go. Sometimes children may sweat under layers. If that happens, follow the procedure for removing layers until children are comfortable. If children sweat so much that it causes a layer to become damp or wet, you’ll want to change them into something dry immediately.
The Parenting Hub would love to hear about ideas for being prepared for the colder temperatures in Autumn with young children. Please send your comments to: parentinghub@earlylearninghub.org.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Dressing for Cold
Dressing for Fall: Tips to Keep Your Kids Warm While Playing Outside
http://rainorshinemamma.com/dressing-for-fall-the-low-down/
Winter Rules: The Art of Dressing Your Kids for the Cold
http://www.kindercare.com/blog/winter-rules-the-art-of-dressing-your-kids-for-the-cold
No Bad Weather, Only Bad Clothing
http://www.playworks.org/blog/no-bad-weather-only-bad-clothing
How to Dress Your Child in Colder Weather
http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/2010/10/how-to-dress-your-child-in-colder/
How to Dress Kids in Cold Weather
http://motherhood.modernmom.com/dress-kids-cold-weather-17954.html
