Parents: why do so many kids insist on not dressing warm when it is COLD?

[Chubroach]

Every day on the way to work, I pass all kinds of kids waiting for the bus in the cold weather. During the last few months most mornings have been about 20 degrees with a brisk wind. Though almost without exception, the kids waiting for the bus are not dressed warm. Some, believe it or not, are just wearing shorts and a sweatshirt. If they are wearing a coat, it is open and more appropriate for spring weather. I have never seen any of them wear a hat, even though we have had mornings near 10 degrees.

What is it about kids that make them feel like it is "COOL" to stand there freezing to death? What are their parents thinking? What do you think?

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

Actually, I have two theories..

With my DD 15, it's more of a minor power struggle thing.
With my DS 13, it is more of a show of weakness with his buddies to show cold.

Either way, it is one of those things I have chosen to "let go". They will not get sick, no body will get hurt and someday they will grow up!!

 

[monkeyboy]

I never had to wear a coat until I was in grad school

 

[tlgoblue]

I think they think it's cool. Who knows what happens to an adolescents mind? I used to do the same type of thing. Why? Because that is what "we" did. It's all about finding your place. Eventually, we all come to the conclusion, that warm is somehow cool. I had this very argument with DS last night. He was on his way out the door to a school dance without a coat. It was 22 degrees. I insisted he wear a coat, as the line to
pick up the kids (Middleschool) is horrific, and he may have to wait outside for quite sometime. He did wear it, and was glad, as he did wait 15 mins. However, I can also say I have let him walk to the bus stop in shorts and a T and no jacket, figuring, he'll figure it out. We have had 3 days since the first of the year that it has made it above freezing. He has worn pants, and a coat every day. They aren't as dumb as they look. They are just teenagers. Weren't you once, too?

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[meeshi]

I think it depends on the kids, some probably just think it's cool to not wear a coat. But I know with my youngest dd, she has always been a hot child and sweats when I put a heavy coat on her.

My older two (16 & 13) sometimes only wear a hooded sweatshirt and/or a light jacket. They walk to school. I figure they're old enough to know if they're cold or not, so if they're warm enough with what they're wearing, fine. DS13 wears his beanie everyday, but that's because he thinks it's cool. He'll also wear gloves if it's cold.

 

[CajunDixie]

My middleschool DS rarely wears his winter coat to school for a few reasons. 1. Some of the classrooms are way too hot.....seems there is no middleground on temperatures at school...its either very hot or not heated at all. 2. I asked why he didnt just put the coat in his locker......seems the lockers are too small to hold a winter coat, backpack, gym bag, school books and materials for shop.

 

[Ellester]

Last year my then 4 year old dd would often refuse to wear her jacket on the way to preschool. It wasn't worth the power struggle, I knew she wouldn't get frostbite or die of hypothermia on the way so I let her be cold. (I always put the jacket in her book bag, she'd listen to the teachers and put it on for recess). She also insisted on wearing only her swimsuit to swimming lessons once last winter. She was very cold on the walk from the van to the YMCA, but again I knew it wouldn't kill her. She wised up quick and was happy to put on the warm clothes I had packed in her bag! This year she is much more agreeable to wearing her warm stuff to the bus stop. Although, this morning she was hatless since she didn't put her hat away yesterday and we couldn't find it. I think it is a power struggle issue for lots of kids and you have to pick your battles. Since it isn't usually going to be harmful (if frostbite is an issue, then you may have to force it) I just let them be cold and learn to live with their decisions!

~Ellen, mom to two headstrong dd's (5 & 2)

 

[peg2001]

Three potential reasons:

1. It's cool to be cool and uncool/wimpy to need a warm coat

2. It's inconvenient to carry or store a bulky coat (my reason for going out without one)

3. Some people are warm natured. DD4 wants to run around our house wearing only a t-shirt. . .nothing else. . .our downstairs was 61 degrees this morning. Her skin feels cool to the touch but she is happy as a clam.

Peggy

 

[disneycrazed139]

I think kids are less sensitive to cold as a feeling. I remember being about 10 and staying outside until I had frostbitten toes. I know I wouldn't get to that point at the age of 35. Something in their brain wiring I think is different. It's not that they don't feel cold, but I think that they feel it less intensely.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I wish I knew, because my daughter ALWAYS wants to wear flip flops whenever it's cold outside. She demands a jacket when it's hot, flip flops when it's cold.

 

[Evil Princess]

I always fought with my mother over wearing a coat. If it wasn't like twenty below in Boston, I wouldn't be wearing one. I HATE wearing them, I think I look like an idiot. I'm really tiny (only 5'1) and bulky coats just look awkward on me.

 

[disykat]

I tell my kids they have to wear coats because my self esteem can't take all the people thinking I'm a bad Mom. They roll their eyes and put them on. (My kids get sick a lot, so I face big time judgement from the people who think cold weather causes illness)

 

[Deb in IA]

Originally posted by Chubroach


What is it about kids that make them feel like it is "COOL" to stand there freezing to death? What are their parents thinking? What do you think?

I think people should MTOB.

 

[tlgoblue]

Originally posted by Deb in IA
I think people should MTOB.

So much for Midwesterners being "friendly".
But ITA


Tracy

 

[battricia]

Originally posted by Evil Princess
I HATE wearing them, I think I look like an idiot. I'm really tiny (only 5'1) and bulky coats just look awkward on me.

For me it's always been that coats FEEL awkward on me! I feel like my arms are sticking straight out and if someone pushes me the slightest bit i'm just going to fall over. (think of the little kid in A Christmas Story) It's sooo uncomfortable to me, and I'd rather just wear a hooded sweatshirt. However I usually wear some mittens and a hat with that.

tricia.

 

[Dancind]

Mine will only wear a hoodie sweatshirt to school. The same one she won't take off in dance class because she's COLD. Diana

 

[CyranoJones]

I guess my daughter takes after me. Neither of us like wearing heavy coats. She would usually wear a thick hoodie with a shirt underneath. My husband, on the other hand, bundles up like Nanook of the North. He just doesn't understand us warm-blooded women, lol.

 

[powellrj]

Originally posted by CyranoJones
I guess my daughter takes after me. Neither of us like wearing heavy coats. She would usually wear a thick hoodie with a shirt underneath. My husband, on the other hand, bundles up like Nanook of the North. He just doesn't understand us warm-blooded women, lol.

It sounds like our house!!! MY dd and I roast and my 2 DS and DH freeze all the time!!! My dd and I will usually wear shorts and t shirts when we get home because the guys keep the house way too hot. I always keep a coat in the car, but I very seldom will wear it.

 

[Princess Dot]

at our elementary school, they "solved" this problem by not allowing kids to go outside for recess unless they wore a hat and gloves. If not, they had to stay inside and could not play with the other kids. My dd who is very resistant to wearing heavy coats and hats (bad for the hair!) quickly insisted that she needed a hat and gloves so that she wouldn't miss recess.

I would often go on field trips with her class and I was really surprised at the way kids came dressed to school, wearing only sweatshirts etc. on really cold days. Mind you, these are kids from affluent families, not as if they can't afford coats. But I also know what its like to have a very stubborn kid who refuses to wear what you want them too!

 

[Melora]

My husband almost NEVER wears a jacket.

We went on an Alaskan cruise and he finally put on a light windbreaker when we went up on deck to look at the glaciers. I was frozen to the bone and he was happy as a clam.

He did however buy a jacket on our last trip to WDW because it was bitterly cold on a few nights. I think he looks adorable in his Mickey hooded zip-up sweat jacket.

Now my 8 year old wont wear a jacket unless its really cold and the 3 year old runs around naked every single chance he gets. I try to keep some underwear stashed close by the door in case someone rings the bell I can scoop him into a pair so the visitor won't get an eye-full. No matter how codl it is in the house he wants to be naked. I am so tired of picking up clothes all over the house because he won't wear anything longer than 2 minutes.