Autumn is blowing in, and as the kids walk to and from the bus stop, it’s important that they are dressed warmly to battle the cold weather that is on its way. Your children, teenagers especially, may have very defined ideas about how they want to dress, but when it comes to protection from the cold, you have to put your foot down. A big part of warm dressing depends on where your child will be.

Layering
Layering is a great way to keep kids warm even in the coldest conditions. For example, a thermal undershirt topped by a turtleneck, sweater, and coat will keep the cold from reaching their bones. It’s also great if they’re going in and out of the cold; when the kids get hot they can simply take off the top layer or two.

Coats
A down coat is one of the warmest coats you can find. Many cheaper versions are imitation down, and are made of synthetic fabrics. This is one area where you shouldn’t scrimp. When spending money on a coat, a dark color is the more practical choice. This decision should be made based on the child’s surroundings. In a school with rubber mulch flooring in the playground, the Playsafer mulch does not get coats dirty, so you may be safer with a more adventurous color. Playgrounds with dirt or wood chips, however, will get the coat dirty.

Accessories
Make sure that your kids have hats, scarves, and gloves in the cold weather. Body heat is mostly retained in the head, so a hat is vital. As with a coat, kids will throw down their clothes anywhere. Be prepared that playgrounds that don’t have rubber surfaces will get the clothing dirty.

You may have to fight with your kids to dress warmly, but you can take pride in knowing that they are toasty and warm as they go about their day.