Getting Prepared for Winter

 

The squirrels and other animals are getting prepared for the coming of winter.  This is a great time for parents to assist their children to do the same regarding dressing for these conditions.

Getting dressed on time in the morning can be a challenge for many of us, but it is particularly difficult for young children who have to contend with buttons, zippers, and snaps when their fine motor skills are still developing.

As a parent, you might want to consider shoes and boots with Velcro fasteners (zippers tend to get stuck when they have snow on them) as well as other clothing items that children can manage more easily as these skills are developing (e.g., mittens instead of gloves, neck warmer instead of a scarf, boots and coats without liners, shorter coats without double zippers).

Before winter arrives, have your child practice putting on and taking off his/her winter boots, snow pants, hat, scarf, etc. independently so that on the first day of snow your child will not become frustrated in dealing with the many items of winter clothing. Also, please label ALL of your child's winter clothing and boots with his/her name ahead of time. Often on the first day of snow, many students do not recognize their own winter clothing and it can be quite difficult to decide which pair of blue, black or pink snow pants, boots, mittens or hat belong to each child. Especially if more than one child has the same or similar articles of clothing.

Getting dressed on time in the morning can be a challenge for many of us, but it is particularly difficult for young children who have to contend with buttons, zippers, and snaps when their fine motor skills are still developing.

As a parent, you might want to consider shoes and boots with Velcro fasteners (zippers tend to get stuck when they have snow on them) as well as other clothing items that children can manage more easily as these skills are developing (e.g., mittens instead of gloves, neck warmer instead of a scarf, boots and coats without liners, shorter coats without double zippers). To help your child when he/she is going to the washroom at school, please provide pants and skirts that are easy for your child to fasten and unfasten.

Before winter arrives, have your child practice putting on and taking off his/her winter boots, snow pants, hat, scarf, etc. independently so that on the first day of snow your child will not become frustrated in dealing with the many items of winter clothing. Also, please label ALL of your child's winter clothing and boots with his/her name ahead of time. Often on the first day of snow, many students do not recognize their own winter clothing and it can be quite difficult to decide which pair of blue, black or pink snow pants, boots, mittens or hat belong to each child. Especially if more than one child has the same or similar articles of clothing.

The order for the children to learn to put on their winter clothing is:

first - snowpants      second-  boots         third - coat         fourth - neck warmer

fifth  - zip/button up coat         sixth - hat        last - mittens