The back to school shopping season ranks as the second largest seasonal shopping period of the entire year, at least for consumer spending. Clothes, as a whole, are a popular and huge industry: annually, over 80 billion pieces of clothing are produced and sold worldwide, so there’s plenty to buy for any season or age group. In fact, around 62% of Americans say that they have more than 10 T-shirts in their wardrobe, and during the back to school season in the United States, clothing makes up as much as 55% of a parent’s budget. Plenty of this shopping is done online, too, especially for parents. It has been shown that parents spend 40% of their budget on the Internet and e-commerce as opposed to 34% for non parents, and they spend more time online shopping than non parents, 7 hours per week versus 4. For autumn, cold weather accessories are a popular choice, especially in regions such as the Midwest (unaffected by stable coastal temperatures) and the New England area (cold fronts from Canada).
Cold weather accessories come a wide variety for toddlers and kids alike. Boots, for example, should be skid-resistant for whenever children walk on icy surfaces such as sidewalks, roads, or frozen ponds, and should be waterproof, such as rubber and related materials. Hats and beanies, such as a beanie hat or knit caps, are important for keeping a child warm. In the human body, a disproportionate amount of body heat is lost through the top of the head, even for someone with longer hair, so keeping a snug, woolen or polyester hat on is important for outdoor health.
According to The Bump, cold weather accessories for kids and toddlers involves the whole outfit, and is important for preventing cold related health problems such as hypothermia or frostbite. Underwear, for example, should be made of a microfiber blend or wool to draw moisture away from the body when it sweats, or else the sweat can become cold when pressed against the skin. A two piece set of thermals can be more practical to take on and off than a one piece.
A lightweight middle layer, such as fleece sweaters or a turtleneck, can also go a long way to keeping a child warm, and a vest and pants of similar materials are recommended. Waterproof jackets and pants make up the outer layer of the outfit, since cold water, if exposed to a child’s body, can cause hypothermia or frostbite if the contact is prolonged enough. The inside should be made up of a tightly woven fabric that keeps heat inside. Some clothing tags such as “waterproof” or “breathable” are good choices. A neckwarmer can complete the outfit if it fits snugly, while a scarf may become snagged on playground equipment or come unraveled. When a hat is chosen, it should cover the ears with flaps or other fabric, since a lot of body heat can be lost through the ears, given their high surface area to volume ratio.
On the hands, kids should wear mittens, since the shared space inside them help keep fingers warmer with hot air, and the palms should allow for a decent grip. Gloves are still an option, though, if kids want better manual dexterity. Socks can be made of wool or polyester, but cotton absorbs moisture instead of repelling it, making it a poor choice.
Kids’ clothes for winter can be stylish as well as safe and practical for boys and girls. Different colors and patterns are available for parents and kids to choose from, and can reflect current trends and styles. Cooler weather, during autumn, can be another fashionable time of year alongside winter, with different materials for jackets, light coats, low-cut boots, gloves, and girls baseball caps are all available from major retailers. Different styles of jeans, such as boot cut or designer jeans, are also possible for kids and young adults alike. Cold weather accessories and autumn fashion choices can make any kid’s outfit trendy and safe for any new year.