Getting Dressed to Go Outdoors

It may seem a long way off right now, but spring will come again. And with spring comes the possibility of simply opening the door and walking outside with your child. Imagine: No boots! No hats! No mittens! And eventually, no jackets!

Even parents who are firmly committed to the value of outdoor play know that there are certain daily hassles involved in getting children dressed for winter.

Hassle # 1: “Oh, Mother dear, we sadly fear, our mittens (hat/scarf/boots) we have lost.”
Possible solutions:
• Teach your child to tuck hat and mittens into her sleeve when she takes off her jacket.
• Be sure your child has his own low hook to hang outdoor clothing on.
• Help your child design a “boot garage” by decorating a cardboard box with markers. Put the box on the floor below her coat hook so she can easily park her boots there.

Hassle # 2: Your toddler develops “Jell-O legs” when you’re trying to pull his boots on.
Possible solutions:
• First, check to make sure his boots still fit. Young children’s feet grow fast and few things are harder than trying to pull a size-four boot onto a size-five foot.
• Put one boot on as far as possible. Then have him stand up. Hold on to each other and play a game of jumping until his foot slides in.

Hassle #3: Your child dresses herself: Jacket on backwards. Mittens askew.
Possible solutions:
• Show her the “magic" way to put a jacket on. Lay her jacket on its back on the floor. Have your child stand at the collar end. Tell her to put her hands in the sleeves and flip the jacket over her head.
• While your child is putting on his mittens, make up a tune and sing this mitten song: “Thumbs in the thumb hole. Fingers all together. This is the song we sing in winter weather."

Hassle # 4: You have more than two young children to dress: The first child you finish bundling up gets hot and sweaty while waiting for you to get the others buttoned and zipped.
Possible solutions:
• Do everyone’s snow pants first, then everyone’s boots, then everyone’s hats. Do jackets last.
• Have the two oldest work on dressing each other while you get the baby ready. It will, at least, keep them busy and nearby. And while they’re working on zippers, buttons, and snaps, they may actually make some progress.

Hassle #5: You’re just plain tired of wrestling them into and out of winter clothes day after day.
Possible solutions:
• Play your favorite music while you’re all getting dressed.
• Allow twice as much time as you think you’ll need.
• Think of getting your child dressed to go outside as a chance for one-on-one attention, hugs, and conversation.

Play Together

On days when it’s too cold to go outdoors, try some of the play ideas seen in this issue of Babybug. Make a "Pillow Tower" with a toddler or put cushions on the floor to make an obstacle course for a baby who has learned to crawl. Your toddler can play a "Serenade" with his own band made out of cooking pots and wooden spoons.

Here are some other ideas to warm up a cold winter afternoon:
• Spread some towels on the floor and blow bubbles indoors. If it’s an especially cold day, blow a few out the back door just to see if they’ll freeze.
• Visit the library to pick out a stack of read-aloud books to enjoy with your child.
• Give your child a small amount of soapy water and a quick lesson in how to wring out a sponge. What can he scrub? The woodwork, the doors on the kitchen cabinets, chairs, or toys. Water is always soothing. Plus, the feeling of competence that comes with doing grown-up work is very satisfying to a child.
• Make cookies, and invite the neighbors over for dessert.
• Pile up fresh snow in the kitchen sink. Have your children pull up chairs to stand on. Then supply some spoons and plastic bowls, and let them explore.
• Draw or scribble to music together.
• Have a family film festival. Bring out videos and photo albums with pictures of your children (or you) at a younger age.
• Let your child have an extra-long playtime in the bathtub. Use special bath paint or crayons for even more fun.