The myriad of activities that can be done only in snow is one of the best parts of being a kid. From building snowmen to snowball fights, allow your kids to build some of the best memories of their lives without catching a cold. Knowing how to dress your kids for a day of fun in the snow will go a long way to preventing colds, fevers or other illnesses that take the fun out of winter.
The No. 1 rule for dressing to play in the snow is to wear layers. Many of the negative effects that being in the cold can have on the body are really effects from being cold AND wet. If your kids are dressed in layers, they can easily remove a layer that has gotten wet and increase their chances of staying dry. Layers also help keep kids warm when they first go outside, but allow their bodies to adjust as their activity level (and therefore their body heat) rises. A basic guide to dressing your children in layers should include long underwear, a turtleneck or other long-sleeved shirt and pants, a sweater and a warm winter jacket.
Cotton isn’t very insulated and it absorbs humidity easily, so it’s a bad choice for playing outside in the snow. Wool is an excellent alternative to cotton and will definitely keep your little ones warm. Pay extra attention to the material used on your children’s hats and boots, since we lose the majority of our body heat through the head and feet.
Don’t forget to put sunscreen on your kids’ faces before going outside to play in the snow. Sunburn is easier to get in snowy conditions because people ignore basic protections despite snow being an excellent reflector for the sun’s ultraviolet rays.