What To Do if Your Kid Won’t Wear a Winter Coat
3 min read

What To Do if Your Kid Won’t Wear a Winter Coat

Children can be rebellious and even obstinate when it comes to listening to their parents. Most of the time, you might be able to compromise on a resolution, but disagreements about items related to their health are something different altogether.

The weather can play a major role in our health and how we feel, so we must be especially vigilant during the winter months. Preparing your kid for this holiday season doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are a few tips on what to do if your kid won’t wear a winter coat while outside in the winter.

Play Into Their Interests

Kids like to have their independence, which can manifest itself as controlling behavior. They want to show you and prove to themselves that they can do things on their own.

This is all a part of their growth and should be expected. Now that you know what to expect, you can go along with it and work with them so that they don’t work against your needs.

So, if they refuse to wear a specific coat, for example, don’t make too big of a deal about it. What you might try instead is allowing your child to pick out their own coat or go shopping with them to let them show you what they want. This will help to keep them dressed appropriately when the weather conditions get bad.

Dress Them in Layers

A useful trick that many people try is dressing their kids in layers or kid’s thermals. This will give the child the illusion that they aren’t wearing too big of a jacket.

In essence, you will have already won the battle by helping them get dressed in sufficient layering that will help them thermoregulate for long periods without a jacket or coat. If they decide that they are cold, they will most likely let you know after a period, at which point you can proceed to suit them up with their coat.

Get Their Teachers Involved

One way to effectively help your child understand the severity of this specific scenario is by involving their teachers. Because children have a different relationship with their teachers than their parents, there is a greater chance that the message will get through to them.

Teachers may use different tactics, such as saying that they will not allow their students to participate in outdoor activities if they do not bring their coats and wear them while outdoors during the winter months.

There are many tactics to help your kids prepare for the winter or extreme weather conditions, and they don’t always have to be obvious or difficult for both parties. If you think through a strategy to coax them into wearing their winter gear, they will be more likely to wear their coat when they need it most. Now you will know what to do if your kid won’t wear a winter coat and how to properly prepare for this scenario in advance.