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Although I'm not a big fan of winter, now that I have kids, I find myself spending more and more time outdoors during that season. After all, there are epic snowball fights to engage in, snow forts to be built, and numerous snowmen and snow angels to be made.  Plus, there are various ski outings with friends during the winter season and more trips to the local sledding hill than I can count.  

The key to having fun during all of these outdoor winter activities, particularly when there are children involved, is to make sure that everyone is dressed appropriately. Like most things involving children, this is much easier said than done. Despite the fact that my kids know we are preparing to go out and have fun, they still struggle against my attempts to dress them for the bitter cold they are sure to encounter. That's because spending significant amounts of time out of doors in the winter requires lots of layering. Let's take a look at what I think are the best kinds of clothes to wear for these winter activities.

I like to make sure that the first layer of clothes I put on my kids fit snugly -- yet aren't so tight as to be uncomfortable. This serves a couple of purposes. First, there are more clothing layers to come, so I can't have the first layer be too baggy or I'll never be able to get anything else on over that. Second, snug clothes provide better insulation than loose-fitting clothes. This is an important consideration in winter. In fact, I'd venture to say that if you go wrong with your first layer of clothes, you'd be in for a long and miserable day.

So for this first layer, I generally stick with thermal underwear, tights (for the girls), close-fitting sweatpants, or even leg warmers. Socks are extremely important, too. I first start with one or two pairs of regular socks, then add a nice, thick pair of wool socks over those. The same principles hold for above the waist. A long-sleeved thermal underwear top or a similar close-fitting long-sleeved garment would be the best.

I'm a lot more flexible with the second layer of clothing and usually let my kids pick what they want to wear. This represents something of a compromise to them, so they really like being able to choose their own things. For the most part, they pick jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and then either a sweater or a sweatshirt. I still hold full veto power, however, so if they pick something that isn't going to cut it against the cold, I ask them to choose something else.

The kind of outwear I put on my children depends on which particular activity we will be participating in that day. If the kids are going to have a snowball fight, then it's usually best to put them in thick, heavy jackets. This will not only keep them warm but also protect them from the occasional ice ball that someone will inevitably try to throw.

If we're going to be skiing, sledding, or making snow angels, then that means our pants and maybe even our jackets are going to get totally wet. So if these activities are on the schedule, I make sure to put the kids in nylon snow pants that will repel snow and moisture, keeping the kids warm and dry underneath.

Finally, no matter what we're going to be doing outside, I insist that my children wear knit hats, gloves or mittens, scarves, and snow boots at all times. These items are absolutely essential to keeping warm, and I would never consider letting my kids go out to play in the winter without them.  

IF you live in an area that gets cold and snowy in the winter, you don't have to make your children stay indoors for three or four months just to keep them warm. Instead, all you have to do is make sure you dress them in several layers of clothing that is appropriate for the conditions they will run into as they play outside. Then once your children are dressed properly, they'll be able to enjoy all the fun and games that the snowy season affords.