Keeping Warm at the Bus Stop?

I don't have a good answer for you. My daughter is 16 now and all thru her bussing years, I bugged at her to wear warmer shoes and gloves and such! We are in MN.

Now, as a home daycare provider, who is home and sees the other ages of kids walk past my house at 3 time intervals each weekday, on their way home from the bus each afternoon....the high schoolers first, then middle school then last the elementary age kids. And I am shocked and amazed to see NO ONE is wearing a coat. They almost always are carrying their coats! Even this week when it was like 15* with a windchill making it feel even colder! It baffles me!

It is to be snowing about "go home" time today....wonder if any of them will have their coats on, or just over their arms like I always see....geeze!

Good Luck!

My skinny little son wears snow pants, winter boots, jacket, hat with facemask, and gloves (this is what he had on this morning...15 degrees). Snow pants are for warmth more than anything (the snow part is irrelevant to us). Flannel lined pants or long underwear are great unless it ends up making them too hot at school. I think it is important to encourage/teach proper winter dressing since it is people who don't know how to dress properly who end up hating winter.

my legs are what gets cold when we are outside so I might consider snowpants so they can take them off at school. My oldest gets very hot very easy so I can't put the flannel lined pants or thermals on him and expect him to wear them all day he'd be too hot while inside.
If your kids will be comfortable while inside with the flannel lined jeans or thermals on under jeans then go with that option. Thankfully here I can the bus when it starts coming down the street so we don't have to wait outside I just send him out and watch from the window. Another thing is they may actually be warm enough with just a winter coat, hat, gloves, mittens, etc kids don't seem to be bothered as much by the cold especially since they aren't outside long.

When I was growing up I wore a uniform jumper and always wore snow pants, with my jumper tucked in, as I walked the 6 blocks to my bus stop. And yes, it was uphill in the snow, lol. It was a 15 min walk and never froze, until I got to jr high and wanted to look cool by not wearing anything under my skirt. Um, yeah, should have stuck with the snowpants.

Tube socks, under shirts either long sleeved then another shirt over or under shirt with a pull over sweat shirt or sweat jacket plus his 2 layered winter coat along with hat coat hood up & gloves he doesn't wear snow pants to school only for outside play.It is bitter cold here in KS.If he wants to wear thrmal under wears to school then i'll let him but he says he is warm enough with his double layered shirts.

They sell "pocket warmers" that hunters typically use to stay warm. They look like little ice packs, but are actually used to keep you warm. You "crack them" and then put them in your coat pocket- hands in the pockets and you are warm! Pricey, but it works.

You could do something similar with the "neck warmers" you can buy for "home spa treatments".

Bogg boots keep your feet warm for up to 20 or 30 degrees below zero- my husband loved my son's pair so much that now he has a pair for himself.

Hats are a must.

Mittens instead of gloves.

Layer with a wind-proof fleece under the winter coat.

Snow pants also keep you warm so use them. Long underwear for boys, tights and longunderwear for girls. Thick socks and/or fur lined boots. Not sure if they make underarmor for children but that is what the football players wear in the cold climates.

Restoration Hardware sells these cute reusable warmers to put in you pockets. Would make a great stocking stuffer too.

http://www.restorationhardware.com/catalog/product/produc...

I put my daughter in a pair of sweatpants (Hanes sells some for $5) and she takes them off once she gets to school. Works pretty well for us.

Haven't read the other posts but I'm sure to bring up a duplicate on this idea: layers, layers...flannels are warm, but how about long underwear? What do you put on them if they are sledding? If they do that is? Do they have longer coats as opposed to shorter ones? Longer will keep that air from flying up underneath. They will have to experiment. Double up on gloves if you can. Make sure they have an extra pair of clean socks in their back packs. Sometimes those little feet get sweaty and while you are layered and warm that part if freezing. Oh and here's the best one. If you are with them make sure you alternate giving them hugs!!!