How to get your fussy child to wear winter clothes

Any parent of young children would agree that convincing your five-year-old to wear the right jacket or your two-year-old to keep their gloves on is not a battle you always win.

"It's interesting that our kids' body temperature is often different than ours. We will often say to our kids, 'it's cold, [so] put your coat on.' They will say, 'oh, I am not cold,'" said Bethelene Hart, early childhood education, and behaviour and emotional literacy specialist.

Every parent has heard that one before. Instead of convincing them otherwise, try this perspective.

"We also want kids to be connected to their instincts. You know that gut feeling. And the basics are I'm hungry, I'm not hungry. I am hot. I am not hot. I am cold. You know body temperature. When we start to override that, it makes the kids not trust themselves," said Hart.

(Pexels/Gustavo Fring)

So, what do I say when the weather looks like this, as my child protests their jacket?

"Maybe it's not for you, and I have your coat ready when you need it. So, as parents, if your daughter goes to school in a skirt and you think, 'oh, man, her legs are going to be cold.' You can say, 'I threw in a pair of tights in your bag. They are there if you need them.' It makes them responsible for them," said Hart.

Now, of course, when the polar vortex pays a visit, parents will have to enforce the jacket for safety reasons. Help them understand why by showing them the temperature on The Weather Network app.

Children may also struggle with how accessories feel and how hard it is to take gloves or boots, on and off. That can also lead to aversion to wearing them.

For our youngest population, this is just the beginning. There is a long road ahead of decision-making based on the weather when you live in Canada.

Thumbnail courtesy of Videoblocks.