It's Winter! Here's How I Dress Kids Outdoors

by Elena Guberti

During the winter, dressing children appropriately, in layers, is essential to ensure thermal comfort without compromising their freedom of movement.

A lot depends on the type of school they attend and the activities they do, whether they spend a lot of time outdoors or not.

As the first layer in contact with the skin, for my children when outdoors I use a wool-silk shirt, almost always long-sleeved. 

Wool is much more delicate than cotton and is not easy to maintain, so it is not feasible to think of changing and washing it every day. 

Over time it will need to be mended, patched, all normal! It needs to be treated with care, with gentle and occasional washing.

If the child attends a more traditional school, or in any case in closed environments where the heating is generally high, it is preferable not to use wool silk which, in addition to being hot, would be uselessly consumed. Eventually you can opt for a vest . 

The second layer should keep you warm. If your child spends a lot of time outside, a cotton sweatshirt , or a fleece , or a wool sweater may be appropriate. For example, in winter, for my 4-year-old child I often use a long-sleeved cotton shirt, with a wool vest that keeps his chest warm. 

After that I put on them thin wool or wool-silk leggings . Over the classic cotton pants or sweatshirt. I always make sure that the outer layer is battle-ready because it is the one that suffers the most abuse. 

The third layer: the jacket . It should not be too bulky , unless the temperatures are really cold, below 0°. Boiled wool is excellent.

Finally, a waterproof outer layer to protect them from the rain. In my opinion, a set of trousers, possibly with a bib, and a hooded jacket is preferable to a full suit, to give freedom of movement and to make changing easier.

Socks : I don't like 100% wool socks. I think they are more suitable for staying at home and being a couch potato! They lose their shape easily. For "hiking" I think socks with a % wool mixed with a % synthetic are preferable, which perform better in friction. 

Boots : If you use warm wool or wool/mix socks, your rain boots do not need to be lined. The lining could get wet and take a long time to dry, or worse, stay damp. A classic rain boot is better. There are removable linings that can be dried separately if wet.

Personally I prefer boots that are light in weight . Boots with heavy soles are suitable for icy terrain but for playing for long periods on terrain, whether gravel, grass or asphalt, in the long run they become heavy.

Finally, don't forget a hat or balaclava , gloves /mittens and a neck warmer to protect your extremities! Of course in a fabric that doesn't itch (like merino wool, cashmere or wool/silk blend)!