If you had to sit in the car for an hour at -6/-7...

[ChristmasTidyings]

What would you take to keep yourself warm?
Winter boots, thermals, plus layers. Gloves, scarf and hat. Flask of tea (would take more, but toilet not available!) Fleece blanket.
That's doable, right?

A hot water bottle.

Will you be able to turn the car on intermittently as a back up? Bring something to amuse and distract you, like a film downloaded onto an iPad or a book, and you won't notice the cold as much.

Hot water bottle. Hot pasta pot in a food flask rather than liquid so no need for toilet

Do you have to actually sit in it or can you at least go just outside and walk around a car park or something? That would also help with condensation. If not, then I think what you have listed should be enough with the addition of a well charged phone to keep me busy if it wasn't light enough to read a book.

Hot water bottle, but agre, I'd go for a walk if possible. Or drive to a mcdonalds/Costa and sit there

All good suggestions, I’m wondering why OP has to though

Engine running, heat on, audiobook to listen to.

why would you not run the engine?

Run the engine for a bit and put heater on

If you are not a vegan then a wool blanket or down sleeping bag / down camping blanket will be warmer than a fleece blanket. If you are going to be stationary, then move your feet around as much as possible to keep circulation going, if they get cold, and you are good at yoga, take them out of the shoes and warm your right foot under left butt cheek and then swap foot round.
Hand warmers (the one you recharge via hot water) are good for keeping extremities warm for a good few hours.

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar I could but it seems a waste of fuel and not very environmentally the right thing to do.
Good point about a film, I could download something to my phone, I usually read a book but it's annoying with gloves.
@mincepiepie would be a good idea if I didn't then have to drive home and make dinner!

it's a row of parking spaces at the end of a massive housing estate with a one way system and lots of roadworks. Not worth driving anywhere as it's only an hour and by the time I'd got out of the estate and through the rush hour city traffic, I'd probably be late for pick up. The parking is next to a forest, (which the school backs onto) and I don't feel comfortable walking in the forest in the dark.

If it's only an hour you'll be fine - layer yourself up including thermals, hat & mitts and bring a hot water bottle or those hand/foot warmers. If that not enough just switch the heater on...

I regularly have to do this for my work breaks, I work in the community. Turn the engine on everysooften and have the vents facing you. Wear thermal socks, it will be your feet that get the coldest

Cover the windows. Outside and in if you can. This keeps a lot of the heat in. Car covers or sun screens,newspaper,bin bags and cardboard can all be used. Cardboard from packing cases is best. Bin bags can be used as bivi -bags. Candles are a regular emergency pack suggestion. In my experience,they are pretty useless,although if you use the type you get in tins,the tin will get hot and can be used as a hand-warmer. Keep sleeping bags in car boot.

We'd be okay as it's a camper van too, gas cooker tea and a fridge. We could make tea for everyone or heat up formula if needed. 😀

Wrong thread!!! Soz

Another person! I remember breaking down one winter night and years ago DH and I put a child each on our laps to keep us all warm.

If you haven't got a human (or dog) to hug - I'd go with layers, a thermos of hot liquid and some hand or foot warmers if you can. If you have time to acquire it, heated clothing is another option. DH has a heated gilet that he wears in the shed in winter.

I have to do this once a week. Dress warmly and run car intermittently to blast hot air out.

I've done a lot of waiting in cars because it's not worth going home and I generally find that if I'm wrapped up warm enough then running the engine for about 3 minutes every 15 or 20 minutes keeps the edge off the cold. Life is much easier since I changed to a plug-in hybrid as I don't need to run the engine to have the heating on so long as I have enough charge on the battery.

Comedy (books/films) keeps you warmer IME, and stay away from crime/horror especially if parked near creepy woods.

Park in a nearby car park and leave it running. Fuel use will be minimal, a litre perhaps.

Is it for a child's activity? Tbh I'd keep them at home this evening and not sit in the car in -6!

Scarf, hat, gloves, kindle. Thick socks, and chunkest shoes/boots you can safely drive in.
Maybe not in -6, but a 10 min walk or similar half way through - ie stay on the car while there is still some heat, then go for a short walk to generate some body heat.

Let the air out of a tyre then spend 15 minutes pumping it back up.
repeat three times. 😋

Heated coat. Those things are a game changer. Never getting a normal coat again me.

But yeah, keep your head covered most importantly. Use the heaters every now and then.

Sling a duvet in the back seat wrapped round a hot water bottle on the way there, then you will be toasty. It is warmer to sit in the back with your feet up under the duvet if possible as you'll be more insulated.
But for an hour it'll be fine

Heated coat. DH has a heated gilet that he wears in the shed in winter.
How, just how have I never heard of these! Brands to look for?

I'm not that desperate @tanstaafl ! I'd rather go with turning the engine back on for a bit.