In Finland, parents face the challenge of a wardrobe several times a year as the seasons change. It can be tricky to know what to buy, when and where.
If you have moved to Finland from abroad, it may come as a surprise that Finnish children are expected to be outside regardless of the weather.
"Shock plays outside when the weather looks like the end of the world," said Andrew Hallott, a British man who moved to Helsinki earlier this year with his three – year – old daughter.
She is happy with the daycare services and ethos, but the range of clothing required is quite different from the Sheffield she is from.
Autumn surprises
"The first cool mornings are always a bit of a shock to the system. Every fall, children go through the same routine where they oppose the return of outdoor clothing after the freedom of summer shorts and t-shirts," said Katja Zevallos, a mother of two in Helsinki.
Finland is proud of four different seasons, but as parents can attest, most months contain some sort of rain.
The Finnish saying suggests "there is no bad weather, just bad clothes." Children are expected to be outdoors year-round regardless of the weather. But what is the right way to dress in this unique climate?
"Goretex and layers," said Päivi Kuutsa, Head of the Montessori Preschool in Helsinki, England.
It is usually time to start wearing outerwear on top of the inner layers when the temperature drops to about 10 degrees Celsius.
The main goal is to stay dry, and to achieve this, kindergarten staff recommend layering rainproof jackets and suits on top of warm jackets and pants when the weather is wet, as removing clothes is easier than underwear.
Foot focus
Cold and wet feet quickly ruin all outings for children and adults.
"You definitely need rainproof shoes in wet weather," said Hannele Oja, Lapland ‘s native and leading playground supervisor in Helsinki.
A ditch that provides free outdoor-only playgroups for 2-4 year old forest clubs (forest club), emphasized the importance of staying dry. In the forest school, young children spend up to three hours walking and playing in nature.
According to Kuutsa, the unlined rain boots offer a little insulation from the cold when autumn comes. He said Goretex sneakers can reduce the number of waterproof shoes "work in any weather."
Parents who want bumps should have two pairs that are suitable for both warm (late spring and summer) and cold (all below 10 ° C) weather. Winter rubber boots are insulated and should be spacious enough for extra socks.
Kuutsa said that moisture-wicking thermal socks are his special weapon in the cold and wet, explaining that the toes quickly begin to feel cold in soaked cotton socks that dry slowly.
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Encouraging independence
Both Oja and Kuutsa stressed that children need to wear clothes that allow them to move freely and explore their surroundings in any weather.
Kuutsa stated it "bad clothes" Includes anything that prevents children from moving freely or hinders their independence.
According to Kuutsa, children should not use things they cannot control independently, such as ribbons or hard buttons, until they are ready. "We want children to wear clothes that support their desire to dress and encourage their independence."
Nonetheless, self-dressing not only improves children’s self-confidence, but also helps them prepare for school.
What about winter?
Finnish kindergartens used to have a -15C frost limit for outdoor play, but this is no longer according to Oja.
"Temperature is not the only deciding factor. The mood also plays a big role," Ditch said and pointed out that windy winds are the only factor that can keep tenacious forest clubs indoors.
The ditch recommends gloves instead of gloves to prevent small fingers from freezing. "Your fingers stay warmer when they’re together, and in a glove you can punch your hand in your fist if you get a cold."
It can also be easier for toddler parents to get a small hand in gloves than to separate five small numbers into a glove.
Staying dry is still a key theme as fall turns into winter. These months can be rainy and snowy at a time, especially in southern Finland. To keep outdoor clothing as moist as possible, teachers wear rain gear over children’s snow suits, pants and jackets, and even protect gloves inside rain covers.
Take your lap in advance
Storing all the appropriate outerwear can be daunting, but buying a used one can save you money. The household of two parents spends an average of 548 euros a year on clothes and shoes per child, says Statistics Finland, which has collapsed in Yle Uutinen’s figures.
"When you pull your baby’s rubber pants for the first time after the summer, they are often too small," Zevallos explained.
Children are growing things fast, which means neighborhood neighborhood buying and selling groups as well as flea markets can be good places to get used children’s equipment.
Buying used ones is also a convenient way to acquire "backups" situations that are too wet to dry completely overnight.
Muddy puddles
The day has now come when it has been raining all afternoon and you have collected your sand-covered child from the park.
The sand-child outerwear will soon be in a wet pile in your hallway. What now?
"It is best to hang wet rain pants or a suit to dry in the bathroom or on the balcony. Once they are dry, shake them (outdoors) and wipe the clothes with a damp cloth. Outerwear does not need to be machine washed every day. Once a week goes well," The ditch explained.
Spending a lot of time outdoors no matter the weather doesn’t always sound appealing, especially for families arriving from milder climates.
In this regard, Oja referred to the physical and emotional benefits of children spending time outdoors where their imaginations can be released. "It not only improves children’s appetite, but also makes them tired of making them want to sleep."
Outdoors is a mood enhancer for children and adults, Oja said, referring to the positive connection between mind and body to the fresh air of exercise. "Going outside often improves the miserable mood even in the rain."
Andrew Hallott agrees. His three-year-olds are now accustomed to Finnish weather conditions, as they have been slightly less active in the UK.
"He didn’t visit England, but now adapts to wet weather games and loves it." said Hallott.
A quick clothing guide
Source: The Nordic Page