Can I just skip hats and mittens this year?

[Anonymous]

If the temperature is above freezing, I'd let them make the call. If frostbite is an actual danger, I'd push it. In the meantime, tell them to keep a pair of thin, knit gloves in their coat pockets in case they want them. Have a hat and a pair of gloves on hand for really cold weather.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our house weather appropriate gear is one of the things not up for discussion. Some schools don't let kids outside for recess without hats and mittens, so you're also deciding that you don't care if your kids get to go outside during the day.

I'm OP. You must have very compliant children. I can say it's not up for discussion, and I suppose I could ignore my children if they start discussing my forbidden topics anyway, but I can't actually prevent them from saying "But I'm not cold!" when I say to put on your hat! You must be magic. At any rate, they've never complained about the recess thing so I guess it isn't an issue for them (note: we never had both hats and all 4 gloves by February 15 - that's when I gave up last couple of years).

They can say they're not cold all they want, and you can still put hats and mittens on them/in backpacks. My kids are definitely not passive, but they know we always buckle our seatbelt in the car, always brush teeth, and always dress for the weather. That doesn't mean they don't complain about it, but we do those things anyways.

Um. if the hats/mittens are in their backpack they aren't wearing them so I'm not sure what the point is of insisting that they have those items. It's kind of like putting a toothbrush in the bathroom and not insisting that they brush their teeth twice a day.

Me? I choose my battles. Teeth MUST get brushed every day. Hats/mittens are optional - their choice unless temps are frigid and/or they are outside playing in the snow.

I used to HATE bundling up in 40ish (even 30ish) degree temps when I had to walk to/from school. If I wore the coat/mittens/hat I would get so hot and sweaty...

My kids are teens and actually wear shorts in those temps.

[Anonymous]

My poor, deprived children. No seat heaters, AND no forced wearing of hats and mittens. I am sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously people. Except for the under 5 kiddos, you shouldn't be wasting energy and disrupting otherwise calm, loving moments fighting with kids over this kind of crap. We don't live in Canada--they aren't going to get frostbite if they don't wear gloves. It's perfectly appropriate to let them figure this crap out themselves. When and if they get cold, TRUST ME, they know how to ask you for what they need. Don't waste the money on it until they ask you to. You're teaching them how to be more responsible with money in general and with the things you buy them, which are important life skills.

I'm from Canada. Yeah, it doesn't get as cold, or last as long, but no way am I letting my kid go without hat and gloves. If it's 10 degrees out, you better be prepared. We walk and take transit a coat hood absolutely does not cut it on the coldest days, so I'm guessing I'm coming at this from a different perspective than most people who have posted.

10 degrees is a whole different ball game. We get that about 1 day per year in DC - and You will get no complaints about wearing mittens from my crew on days like that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our house weather appropriate gear is one of the things not up for discussion. Some schools don't let kids outside for recess without hats and mittens, so you're also deciding that you don't care if your kids get to go outside during the day.

What do you consider "weather-appropriate" gear, though? For example, let's say that it's 40 degrees F and windy, like today. Must hats and mittens be worn? Meanwhile the high school kids are out walking to school in shirtsleeves...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously people. Except for the under 5 kiddos, you shouldn't be wasting energy and disrupting otherwise calm, loving moments fighting with kids over this kind of crap. We don't live in Canada--they aren't going to get frostbite if they don't wear gloves. It's perfectly appropriate to let them figure this crap out themselves. When and if they get cold, TRUST ME, they know how to ask you for what they need. Don't waste the money on it until they ask you to. You're teaching them how to be more responsible with money in general and with the things you buy them, which are important life skills.

I'm from Canada. Yeah, it doesn't get as cold, or last as long, but no way am I letting my kid go without hat and gloves. If it's 10 degrees out, you better be prepared. We walk and take transit a coat hood absolutely does not cut it on the coldest days, so I'm guessing I'm coming at this from a different perspective than most people who have posted.

10 degrees is a whole different ball game. We get that about 1 day per year in DC - and You will get no complaints about wearing mittens from my crew on days like that!

It's that temperature more than one damn day, PP. You obviously have a "fair weather" memory.

[Anonymous]

Not usually more than 5 days, though.

[Anonymous]

I have a 10 year old son who never feels cold. I let him figure out whether he will wear even a down vest. Stopped buying coats with sleeves, hats, mittens, etc about two years ago because he just doesn't need or want them. He hasn't even worn the vest yet and is still wearing shorts almost all days. He is genuinely comfortable and I'm fine with it. FWIW, I also never really get cold so empathize.

He has a sister who is appropriately cold and has been wearing a down coat for over a month, plus gloves and a scarf some days. She doesn't like hats so we make sure she has a coat with a hood.

[Anonymous]

I at least put them in the backpacks, then if the teacher says - everyone get your coats on and hats and gloves, they are there ready to go for recess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously people. Except for the under 5 kiddos, you shouldn't be wasting energy and disrupting otherwise calm, loving moments fighting with kids over this kind of crap. We don't live in Canada--they aren't going to get frostbite if they don't wear gloves. It's perfectly appropriate to let them figure this crap out themselves. When and if they get cold, TRUST ME, they know how to ask you for what they need. Don't waste the money on it until they ask you to. You're teaching them how to be more responsible with money in general and with the things you buy them, which are important life skills.

I'm from Canada. Yeah, it doesn't get as cold, or last as long, but no way am I letting my kid go without hat and gloves. If it's 10 degrees out, you better be prepared. We walk and take transit a coat hood absolutely does not cut it on the coldest days, so I'm guessing I'm coming at this from a different perspective than most people who have posted.

10 degrees is a whole different ball game. We get that about 1 day per year in DC - and You will get no complaints about wearing mittens from my crew on days like that!

It's that temperature more than one damn day, PP. You obviously have a "fair weather" memory.

NP here. Not really. Dangerous cold is extremely rare in this area.

On those rare occasions, or if kids will be outside for extended periods, then hat/gloves should be on hand and worn for health/safety reasons. Other than that, they'll do just fine without.

FWIW, I grew up in a state adjoining Canada. As a kid, I played football (real, not Canadian) in the snow. In shorts. Always knew that those Canadians were a little soft, with their precious tooks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just buy some inexpensive knit stuff from target to have on hand. It will last a couple years if they don't use it much. But there may be a couple of days when they need it so better to plan for it.

I've never really understood this. On the really cold days, the inexpensive knit stuff just doesn't cut it as the wind blows right through and body heat goes out between the knitting. Knit is fine for moderate cold, but many kids don't care about the moderate cold. You want hat and gloves/mittens for when it is dangerously cold, like frostbite type cold. Knit stuff doesn't help that much in those conditions.

OP, I recommend you get winter coats with hoods and the flip over sleeve covers. The sleeve covers are an extra flap of the coat material at the ends of the sleeves and if needed, you can pull your hand into the sleeve and flip the cover over the end of the sleep. It can keep the body heat in when it's really cold. The kids have that for an option like when walking to the bus in a cold wind or when they are sitting or standing outdoors on really cold days. You can't lose a hood or flap when it is attached to your coat. They don't have to use it, but it's there if they need it.

I'm not getting this - don't think I've seen it before. Where do you get these? Link would be appreciated!

Augh...I hadn't looked for a while, but I had them as a kid. Now it looks like all you can find are the snowguards where there is a thumb-hole to keep the sleeve down and tucked into gloves. Also the extendable couple of inch sleeves for as they grow. Land's End, LL Bean and Northface all seem to have Sorry for not checking. Maybe they don't make them anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In our house weather appropriate gear is one of the things not up for discussion. Some schools don't let kids outside for recess without hats and mittens, so you're also deciding that you don't care if your kids get to go outside during the day.

What do you consider "weather-appropriate" gear, though? For example, let's say that it's 40 degrees F and windy, like today. Must hats and mittens be worn? Meanwhile the high school kids are out walking to school in shirtsleeves...

To me, this is the crux of the issue. Different people have different tolerances for cold. I wear gloves in 40 degree weather but my husband doesn't. I generally don't wear a scarf because it makes me feel too hot; my husband generally does. In this weather, I see adults wearing a variety of gear--some wear hats and scarves and gloves, some wear a mix of those things, some wear none of them. If my kid doesn't feel cold without a hat or mittens, why should she have to wear them?

If the temperature is below freezing, it's usually moot--my kid doesn't want to take off her hat and mittens because then she feels cold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously people. Except for the under 5 kiddos, you shouldn't be wasting energy and disrupting otherwise calm, loving moments fighting with kids over this kind of crap. We don't live in Canada--they aren't going to get frostbite if they don't wear gloves. It's perfectly appropriate to let them figure this crap out themselves. When and if they get cold, TRUST ME, they know how to ask you for what they need. Don't waste the money on it until they ask you to. You're teaching them how to be more responsible with money in general and with the things you buy them, which are important life skills.

I'm from Canada. Yeah, it doesn't get as cold, or last as long, but no way am I letting my kid go without hat and gloves. If it's 10 degrees out, you better be prepared. We walk and take transit a coat hood absolutely does not cut it on the coldest days, so I'm guessing I'm coming at this from a different perspective than most people who have posted.

10 degrees is a whole different ball game. We get that about 1 day per year in DC - and You will get no complaints about wearing mittens from my crew on days like that!

It's that temperature more than one damn day, PP. You obviously have a "fair weather" memory.

NP here. Not really. Dangerous cold is extremely rare in this area.

On those rare occasions, or if kids will be outside for extended periods, then hat/gloves should be on hand and worn for health/safety reasons. Other than that, they'll do just fine without.

FWIW, I grew up in a state adjoining Canada. As a kid, I played football (real, not Canadian) in the snow. In shorts. Always knew that those Canadians were a little soft, with their precious tooks.

Canadian native poster here. As I said, I suspect I am coming at this from a different angle than most posters. 3 block walk to metro. Stand at an outdoor platform to wait for the train, then another 4 block walk to school for my kid. I'm not saying bundle your kid up arctic expedition style when the temperature hits 40, but at least have a quality hit and mittens or gloves on hand for when it does get truly cold or those windchills dip into the single digits. This idea that you'd never need hat or gloves the entire winter just blows my mind.

And we're not soft for wear toques, we're smart.

[Anonymous]

No problem here in Loudoun where they literally CANCEL SCHOOL if they think it will be too cold at the bus stop.

Wish I was kidding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Canadian native poster here. As I said, I suspect I am coming at this from a different angle than most posters. 3 block walk to metro. Stand at an outdoor platform to wait for the train, then another 4 block walk to school for my kid. I'm not saying bundle your kid up arctic expedition style when the temperature hits 40, but at least have a quality hit and mittens or gloves on hand for when it does get truly cold or those windchills dip into the single digits. This idea that you'd never need hat or gloves the entire winter just blows my mind.

And we're not soft for wear toques, we're smart.

I'm guessing that if OP's kids did that, on single-degree or single-degree windchill days, they wouldn't mind wearing hats and mittens. But they don't do that, and they do mind.