Winter wear

It seems a bit absurd to talk about winter clothing, given this bizarre warm weather we've been having here in Oklahoma. It almost seems like we are skipping winter entirely. Even my wimpy California self is starting to miss it. But should it ever decide to reappear you can refer back to this post for some tips on dressing children appropriately for winter elements.

Nothing is quite as adorable as toddlers dressed up like Michalean Ompa Loompas trying to waddle through the door. But are you smothering them? How much is too much?

What should they wear?

• Inner layer of pants and shirt made of wicking (preferably non-cotton layer)
• Next layer of pants and shirt made of wool or synthetics
• Light outer coat
• Thin outer coat (bulk doesn't always equal warmth. Your child will be more comfortable if they have a coat they can play very actively in and that has fasteners that are easiest to take off. This layer will come off quickly in many situations.
• 2-3 layers of non-cotton socks
• Boots that are water and cold resistant- not rain boots!
• Mittens, hats that cover ears. 
• Scarves optional

Check here for a great video on how to dress kids for winter from the Canadian organization Active Kids Club

NOTE: As they run about, children's body temperatures will rise quickly. Most likely they will end up with less layers than you. Encourage them to take off layers as they run to avoid getting sweaty- which could make them cold.

Advice on reducing the expense of winter clothes:

• Choose function over style. All those extra designs etc. are cute but may add substantially to overall cost.
• For coldest conditions choose snow suits over snow pants because they are warmer overall and more able to be adjusted in size.
• Choose unisex colors (or remind your kids that colors are not gender specific) so they can be shared between kids.
• Choose items with drawstrings and adjustable straps so they will last over several seasons.
• Check consignment, thrift, and local and online resale companies.
• Use synthetic pajamas as a first layer.
• If snow boots are not available, plastic bags can be used for short time periods around rain boots, if the child is wearing extra socks, to keep moisture out. Check frequently to make sure child's toes are not becoming too cold.

Ensuring you have adequate warm clothes at your site:

• Consider including necessary clothing items in grant requests.
• Ask parents to donate old winter clothes
• Share a class set between other classrooms of the same grade ***(Note if you are sharing outer clothing layers between students make sure to take these steps to insure germs and lice are not spread...1) Wash all items in hot water cycle of 130 degrees F 2) Dry on hot cycle for 20 min OR put items in sealed plastic bags for two weeks. 1)
• Ask local businesses to sponsor mitten, hat, scarf, or boot trees over toy trees during the holidays

• If you have a parent who sews, consider enlisting them as part of a grant or PTA funding to make durable class set of clothes. 
• Instruct parents to send extra under layers in case kids get wet or sweaty.

 1 Kids Health. "Head Lice." Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/head_lice.html# on January 30, 2012.

When is it too cold to play outside?

While doing my thesis I was shocked when teachers revealed to me that here in Central Oklahoma sometimes the students could not even go outside when it was below 50 degrees F outside! Many of the students were not acclimated to spending any time outside. They often could not afford adequate clothes. The school or the district had overly prohibitive policies. Also some of the necessary clothes are difficult to buy here.

So, how cold is too cold to go outside?
The more you research this question you may realize that in many places it is largely an arbitrary judgment call.  Teachers and parents in northern states and countries are much more lenient then are schools in places like Florida.  Some states (like Missouri) have set up a simple traffic light frame of reference. (Even these guidelines are a bit on the cautious side compared to what schools in sites like Minnesota or outdoor recreation leaders will endure with their students). I could not find parallel regulations for Oklahoma.

Green light: Temperature above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind below 15 mph. Children may play for long stretches bundled to their comfort level.
Yellow light: Temperature between 13 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Wind 0 to 40mph. Bundle children in several layers with a non-cotton base. Children should also have mittens, hats and water-proof winterized shoes. Play should be limited to short bursts of up to 30 min.
Red light: Below 13 degrees it is unsafe for children to be outdoors at all.

The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) website is the most accurate place to check the temperature and wind. For a more precise estimate of what your conditions actually feel like on the skin check out their wind chill table below.  Find out the temperature and then your wind speed. Read down to the number where those two columns connect. This will tell you the wind chill, or what temperature it actually feels like.

Borrowed from

http://www.weather.gov/os/windchill/images/windchillchart3.pdf

http://www.weather.gov/os/windchill/images/windchillchart3.pdf

Using this table you can see how dramatically wind can change the conditions. Almost any wind would put you into the yellow zone. A 40 degree day with 20mph makes the temperature feel like 30 degrees and extra caution should be taken to make sure children are properly bundled. However, this table also serves as a reminder that in most winter weather conditions (at least here in Oklahoma!) the dangers of frostbite or other severe tissue damage are highly unlikely in a typical playtime period.  (Note: It is very important to keep children dry so if children go out in sleeting or snowing weather they will need dry clothes to change into. Children also should always be taken inside if they are shivering or have bluing lips. Infants will need additional bundling and less time outdoors as they cannot adequately warm their own bodies).

In a region where the temperatures fluctuate so widely during the winter, care givers should make their assessments on whether to play outside based on the actual weather conditions (taking into account the clothing students have available). Playing and learning outside everyday is a right that should be entitled to all children everyday, when the conditions are safe.

Stay tuned for the next post for more information about how to dress properly and creative ideas to make winter wear available at your site...

Our future's so hot, we gotta get shades!

Two weeks ago our state reached the 100 days of over 100 degree weather this summer. This excessive heat and drought was seen throughout the U.S. creating additional challenges, discomforts, and even dangers for kids to go and play outside. In these conditions kids can easily suffer dehydration, sunstroke, heat exhaustion, sunburn, eye damage, and even the kinds of long term skin damage that can result in melanomas- the most deadly form of skin cancers.

This week we are breathing a sigh of relief and hoping that fall is here to stay. Most of us are trying hard to put the squelching summer as far from our thoughts as possible. However, now is the perfect time to begin grant or fund-raising campaigns at your facility to be thinking about ways you can start providing shade as early as next summer. Additionally you can begin encouraging parks and recreation officials to add shade to existing playground areas.

Here is one grant campaign that is noteworthy. Starting OCTOBER 17th the American Academy of Dermatologists in partnership with the Johnson and Johnson Company will be accepting grants for up to $8,000 to provide shade to non-profits and public schools.

 http://www.aad.org/skin-care-and-safety/skin-cancer-prevention/shade-structure

Advantages to manufactured shade are that it is instantly available after installation and provides more uniform shade. However, very high cost. Some types of manufactured shades to consider include canvas sails and umbrellas.


Another type called a cantilever can be attached to existing buildings or fences, therefore, reducing the need for more posts. Lattices and recycled sheet metals may create a cheaper way to create some shade as well.