What should the kids wear? A clothing guide by temperature

The easiest way to know what the kids should wear is to look at how cold it feels, not just what the thermometer says, and at whether it's raining or snowing at the times the kids are actually outside: on the way to school and at pickup. With a simple rule of thumb per temperature, the morning becomes a quick decision instead of a debate in the hallway.

Clothing guide by temperature

Go by the feels like temperature, with the wind taken into account. A windy day at 4 degrees can feel like it's below freezing.

Above 17°C: T-shirt
13–17°C: jumper
7–12°C: jacket
0–6°C: jacket, hat and gloves
−1 to −5°C: winter jacket, hat and gloves
−6°C and colder: winter jacket, hat, gloves and scarf

It's a rule of thumb, not a law. Kids who run around all break often need less than kids who sit still, and a child who gets cold easily needs one more layer.

When it rains or snows

Rain: rain gear and wellies. The rain jacket replaces the ordinary jacket, and when it's cold a hat and gloves are still needed underneath.
Snow: winter jacket and winter boots, even if it's only just below freezing. Snow on the ground makes kids wet and cold faster than the temperature suggests.
Sun and warmth: from around 20 degrees on a sunny day in the summer half of the year, sunscreen is worth remembering.

Check the weather at two times: when the kids leave home and when they're picked up. A cold morning can turn into a rainy afternoon, and then the rain gear needs to come along even if the sun is shining at half past seven.

Five tips for an easier morning

Decide the night before. Check tomorrow's weather after dinner and lay the clothes out. The morning is the wrong time to hunt for the other glove.
Layers. Several thinner layers keep warmer than one thick one, and the child can take a layer off if it gets warm.
Keep spare clothes at preschool or school. A pair of dry socks, gloves and trousers in the cubby rescues a wet day.
Let the child help choose. Within what the weather allows, of course. A child who picked the hat is more likely to keep it on.
Make it a routine. The same question every morning — "what does the weather say?" — soon becomes something the kids check themselves.

Clothing tips in FamVibe

In FamVibe you can get clothing tips right on the home screen. You pick your town, and the app shows what the kids need at two times, 07:30 and 15:30 unless you change them. An hour after pickup the tips switch to the next day, so you can lay the clothes out the night before.

The kids can see the tips in their own view too. If a child has Visual schedule turned on, the clothes are shown as pictures – a hat, a jacket, a pair of wellies – so even a child who can't read yet can see what to put on. The clothing tips are free. How to turn them on, step by step, is in the weather and clothing tips guide.

Frequently asked questions

At what temperature do kids need a hat? A good rule of thumb is a hat and gloves when it feels like 6 degrees or colder. On a very windy day they may be needed at higher temperatures too.

When should kids switch to a winter jacket? When it feels like it's below freezing, or when there's snow on the ground. Winter boots are needed as soon as there's snow.

Should you check the weather in the morning or the night before? The night before, so the clothes can be laid out. It's worth checking both the morning and the afternoon, as the weather at pickup can be different.

Want to skip the hallway debate? Turn on clothing tips in FamVibe and see what the kids need for school and the way home, right on the home screen. Download FamVibe for free.