I have a spirited little boy. As the temperatures in our Pacific Northwest neighborhood have dropped from the 60s to the 50s and now into the 40s this fall, my 7-year-old has made it clear he prefers to wear shorts and T-shirts every day, regardless of whether we’re indoors or outdoors.
“It’s chilly outside. Are you sure you don’t want to wear some pants?”
“Nope, I’m good, Mom.”
“How about a long-sleeved shirt?”
Not interested. At this point, I don’t even ask him about a jacket; I know he’ll just decline.
Maybe it’s because he’s my youngest and I’ve navigated this before, or perhaps it’s just my naturally easy-going nature, but I don’t stress over his fashion choices. When the weather is cold, I suggest he dresses warmer. If we’re going to be outdoors for a while, I’ll remind him to take a jacket, but I don’t make him wear it.
I’ve seen other parents take a firm approach on this issue. While I don’t see myself as overly permissive, I do prioritize my battles. Engaging in a power struggle over clothing is simply not something I want to do. If he feels cold, he’ll eventually decide to wear something warmer. If he chooses not to and ends up uncomfortable, he’ll learn from the experience. As long as temperatures aren’t freezing, he won’t be in serious danger from the cold.
Interestingly, experts have indicated that kids won’t catch colds simply from being chilly. I was curious about the common belief that kids need to bundle up, so I did a bit of research. Other than the risk of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to extreme cold (which is unlikely under normal conditions), not wearing a jacket doesn’t make them more susceptible to illness. Kids get colds from viruses, not the outdoor temperatures. Yes, illnesses tend to spread more in winter, but that’s largely due to being indoors with others, not because of the weather itself. It’s the close quarters with sick individuals that lead to infections, not the cold air.
I did find some evidence suggesting that if a child is already ill, being exposed to the cold can exacerbate their symptoms. While that’s not conclusive, I can’t blame them for wanting to stay warm if they’re not feeling well. So, if your child is under the weather, it’s wise to bundle them up. But if they’re healthy? A short-sleeved shirt is perfectly fine.
I like to view this as an opportunity for my child to learn about natural consequences. Just as a child might understand the importance of eating dinner if they go to bed hungry, they’ll grasp the need for warmer clothing after experiencing the cold a few times. Recently, I’ve noticed that when I tell my son it’s chilly outside, he responds with, “I’ll grab my jacket, just in case.” He’s learned from his experiences, so I seldom need to remind him to bring one anymore. Some lessons are best learned directly, and the jacket decision is a safe way for kids to exercise their independence and learn from their choices, as long as it’s not dangerously cold outside.
Just the other day, we were preparing to head to the store, and it was 45 degrees and raining. My son was dressed as if we were in Hawaii — a short-sleeved polo, shorts, and flip-flops.
“Have you looked outside?” I asked. He peered through the window, meandered to the coat closet, and put on his winter coat. And off we went — a down jacket, shorts, and flip-flops.
He was totally comfortable.
I didn’t say a word.
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In summary, while it can be tempting to argue with children over their clothing choices, sometimes it’s better to let them make their own decisions. Through natural consequences, they will learn the value of dressing appropriately for the weather.