Cold Weather Parenting

Now that the cold weather is upon us, many parents are faced with the difficulty of encouraging their children to bundle up to stay warm. While some (though it seems very few!) children do this willingly, the vast majority kick and scream their way up from toddlerhood through adolescent defiance, all the while remaining absolutely adamant about NOT putting on that extra sweater or bulky coat. So what's a parent to do? Should parents simply give up or is this a worthwhile battle to engage in? Let's take a look at some of the causes of defiance as well as a few suggestions for helping your kids stay warm when it's cold outside!

There can be a number of reasons that children balk about putting on extra layers in the wintertime. Some children, for example, get overheated easily if they have to put on a coat prior to going outside. Other children dislike the bulk, weight and / or texture of winter clothing. Perhaps it feels itchy or restrictive to them. Still other children actually enjoy the power struggle that ensues over cold weather clothing. Knowing why your child struggles with this issue can ultimately be the key to overcoming it.

If you believe that your child gets overheated easily, the first step lies in acknowledging how uncomfortable it is to feel too warm. Remember that when you acknowledge your child's feelings and she feels understood by you, it's less likely that this issue will turn into a power struggle. Then, if you have a young child, offer her a choice: "Would you like to put your coat on in the apartment? Or would you like to put it on when we're out on the sidewalk?" Offering your young child a choice reinforces to her that there's no need to struggle for power because you're actually offering her some power to begin with (albeit limited power.) Once out on the sidewalk, should she balk again, you can offer a "when / then" choice: "When you put on your coat, then we can go." Between your steadfast refusal to move until she dons her warmer apparel and the chilliness of the atmosphere, success is almost assured. If your child is older (elementary school or above) you might want to consider bringing this issue to family meeting. Again, acknowledgement of and respect for your child's sensitivity to temperature is critical to an open discussion of the subject. Once his feelings have been acknowledged, it's important to explain clearly why it's important that he wear warm clothing during the winter months. Then, ask him if he has any ideas as to how to make it easier for him, given that he overheats easily. When children and teens are asked for their opinion they feel respected and are then better able to respect your wishes as well.

If you have a child who seems sensitive to the texture or weight of winter clothing, it's again important to acknowledge their feelings as a first step. For younger children, you may then need to experiment with different types