Help Your Child Stay Warm This Winter

Getting young children to be properly dressed outdoors after the temperature drops can be a challenge. Little hands may struggle against gloves and mittens, or reach up to yank off warm hats. Here are a few techniques to keep the warm clothes on.

Cover Your Head

Children and adults lose heat through any exposed part of the body and a child's head is usually the largest uncovered area. However, unless a child is used to wearing a hat all the time he or she may rebel against wearing one. But it doesn't have to be a battle.

1. Use a hood instead. While not as effective as a hat, a hood still blocks the wind and keeps radiating heat close to your child's head. As the winter progresses you can move him or her into a hat.

2. Put a helmet over the hat. Have an aspiring fire fighter? Or future bike racer? Slip the hat over your child's head and ears, then strap the helmet right on top. Let your child look in the mirror and then head off to play, hat firmly in place.

Warm Those Fingers

Just like a hat, adjusting to mittens or gloves can be difficult for children. They lose a lot of their dexterity and ability to feel with their fingers, and just might not like how the mittens feel.

1. Use clips. Parents can clip the gloves to their child's jacket. For babies, or even children in strollers, the mittens tied together on a string are equally effective. While the mittens or gloves may not always stay on at least they won't be lost. And if it is challenging to remove the child may just accept the gloves.

2. Lead by example. If your child idolizes another child point out how he or she is wearing mittens. Similarly, point out that "Mommy and Daddy" wear their gloves. Turn the act of wearing gloves into a "Big Boy" or "Big Girl" activity.

Wear Layers

Children do not like to feel constricted, and may fight against multiple items of clothing. This is one area that sometimes parents should just relinquish to the child. Instead, be sure he or she has a warm coat and the warmest shirt possible. You can even provide a change of shirts for inside and outside if necessary.

It is difficult if not impossible to reason with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers but with a little creativity parents can keep their little ones dressed warmly during the winter months.