Getting out in the cold weather

Today is the first week of Winter in my part of the world and IT IS COLD OUTSIDE. It’s also rainy and windy. On these days it can be very enticing to stay indoors, but there are great benefits of getting us and our children outside…

How do we make that happen?

I have 2 E’s…Equipment and expectations;

Equipment Matters

It’s all about the gear. You’ve probably heard the adage that “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing”? This can be true!

With that in mind, here is a list of equipment options;

• Puddle suits/pants -

  • there are a few different options available these days. Different materials, some with elastic, some with poppers (press studs). There’s overalls, full suits and pants. Deciding which one of these is best for your kid/s depends on your budget, your child’s age, size, play style and personality!

  • Is your child one who just likes to stay warm outside, or are they a joyful puddle jumper, willing to get right in to the mud?

  • None of the suits I’ve seen keep a child fully dry underneath. None of them allow the kids to play outdoors forever. Many are fantastic until your child lies down in the mud. So be prepared that they can be amazing, but may have a limit to their function/usability.

• Gumboots -

  • Do you buy long or short? with or without handles?

  • Boots can be the same as the puddle suits. If you child loves to do big jumps into a puddle or the mud, then the boots are not guaranteed to keep your feet dry! I’ve seen many a child do a giant jump into a muddy puddle with their boots, only to find that the water has splashed all the way up their legs, or the puddle has been deeper than their boots!!

• Beanies -

  • Keeping their head warm is going to be very useful. Not all kids like a hat on their heads, so do what suits your child

  • Make sure the beanie is one that is comfortable and doesn’t move too much on their heads. This will ensure they can play around, run, jump and splash without having a hat fall over their eyes. If it’s not bothering them, they can often be more likely to keep it on.

  • Soft, fleecy insides can be lovely.

• Gloves/scarves -

  • In my experience, gloves can be annoying and limit play and many kids are not keen on putting them on, let alone leaving them on.

  • Scarves can be uncomfortable and can get in the way of play by impeding sight and movement.

  • These may NOT be useful, but every kid is different, so do what works!

• A change of clothes -

  • At our Nature playgroup, families just know that they will need a change of clothes.

  • When my kids were smaller, I always had a bag in the back of the car or in the pram, with a change of clothes.

• A towel/blanket -

  • This needs to be something that is not precious, that is machine washable and that can be used to wipe/dry/clean dirty hands and feet, be put around cold shoulders or can even provide a place to sit.

• Winter woollies -

  • Cardigans can be much more useful than jumpers as they are easier to take off and put on.

  • Wool can be an amazing fabric to keep your kids warm even if they get wet.

  • Whatever works for you, your child/ren and your family is the best way to go!!

• Vests and Coats -

  • A zippered vest can be the best thing ever for kids! It can be less cumbersome than a sleeved jacket, so can be easier to keep on, balancing your need to keep your kid warm with your child’s need to play freely.

Managing expectations

When I reflect back to all the times I’ve managed children outdoors in the cold, I think realistic expectations are an important part of having a positive experience. Here are some expectations I have when I am outdoors in cold, rainy weather with kids;

• You will feel cold!

• Your child may complain

• Your child will have a limit

• You will have a limit!

• Your kids may have a greater tolerance than you

• Your child may want to take their shoes, their coat, their beanies off

• Your child may want to wear their normal clothes/shoes (be prepared to wash these)

• Your child may go from being fine to being freezing very quickly

• You may not last long

• You may be challenged greatly by the experience

• You may find it’s actually super fun to be outdoors in the “worst” weather!

• You may find that you change your view of what a rainy, cold day means to your family

• Expect to follow the cold, outdoor experience with warmth. Run a warm bath, have a warm meal, have a cuddle on the couch with some books.

• Expect that you’ll need to keep moving to stay warm (ish)

Here are some other positive things that you may discover…

• In my experience, it is never as bad as I expect it’ll be!

• I ALWAYS feel good after getting outside, even if I really don’t want to go initially

• Your child will build their skill and resilience outdoors and can get to a point where they will prefer to be outside when it’s cold and wet

• It’s always worth persisting through the tough times

• You will create some memorable experiences

• Share the experience with others! Everything’s easier with friends.