To think that British people need to get better at winter?

[honeytea]

I have noticed lots of people worrying about the cold weather and their DC coming to harm due to eating/sleeping/playing outside.

I am confused as to why in a country that we all know has miserable weather for much most of the year some children don't have clothing that enables them to spend time outside. The risk of vitamin D deficiency, the higher chance of getting ill when inside and childhood weight issues could all be made better if kids were encouraged to spend more time outside.

I know it isn't all families, I have just been supprised at the amount of people worrying about thier children being damaged by winter weather. It doesn't even get very cold in the UK, nothing a pair of breathable woolen thermal underwear and a good coat/all in one wouldn't solve.

I am British but I now live in Sweden, here the kids at daycare/school have to spend at least 2 hours outside by law, it doesn't matter if it is raining, snowing or -10 the kids are still out playing/eating/sleeping. The schools only shut due to weather when the temp drops below -40.

AIBU to think that we need to get better at winter, it does after all happen every year for about 6 months

Where I live we don't get snow. It just rains all the time. I think we've adapted pretty well. We all have webbed feet.

Seriously though my kids would love it to snow. They are all geared up for it just in case.

I don't think it costs so much to layer up for winter. On Saturday I went to 3 local charity shops and came away with 3 long sleeved tops I can wear under other stuff. I also got a long sleeved tee shirt and a pair of leggings in Peacocks for under £11 ( they were having a 20% off day). I don't see why little boys shouldn't wear leggings under trousers as well as little girls and they aren't expensive. Fleecy lined tracky bottoms are much warmer for small children than jeans too. Wellies are inexpensive and are warm if worn with thick woolen socks.

Aldi do some great inexpensive winter and ski wear for adults and children.

If you have more money to spend the www.landsend.co.uk/ have properly warm and waterproof coats, great winter footwear and thermal underwear for adults and children.

When they were babies and toddlers I used to put the DCs in cotton tights under their trousers, including DS. The trick for comfort is to make sure tights are a bit too big so feet have room to breathe.

I found that when they went out to play in the snow or to go sledding, they didn't need a huge number of layers under a decent jacket and snow pants or bibs. The most anyone would wear under a snow bib and puffy jacket/snowboots combo would be a pair of leggings or light track bottoms and turtleneck, with padded ski gloves and a hat with earflaps, or balaclava for wind, though a coating of vaseline and sunscreen on exposed skin and lip balm on lips would work too. They rejected thermal underwear unless it had a turtleneck and definitely no thermal underwear under another sweater or top. You get very chilled when you are trudging home from the sledding slope if you have sweated too much and your layers haven't wicked moisture away from your body. The turtleneck prevented that chill at the back of the neck and also kept snowballs out of clothing somewhat. They hated scarves, preferred neckwarmers, but usually got too warm if they wore anything more than the turtleneck for any sort of strenuous activity.

There are little details to clothing and snow gear that make a huge difference: long cuffs on gloves or long sleeves on tops keep your arms from getting chilled, an inside cuff on a jacket sleeve keeps snow from getting up your sleeve, a turtleneck keeps the cold wind and snow from your neck. Boots with a toggle and drawstring at the top, and snow pants that go down over the boot, with an elasticated panel inside the leg that keeps it close to the boot, an interior drawstring at the waist of the jacket to keep draughts from the back, are all good features. Thinsulate lining in boots very nice for comfort. (An interior zipped pocket for phone, lip balm, tissues not useful for cold but essential nonetheless.)

i agree the we are wimps as far has the weathers concerned are school has a text service and has soon has theres a whif of snow they all start to panic. and te texts come saying no school

Living in New York and New Jersey for hte past 8 years (after a cold childhood with proper snow in the hilly North East of England) I think people are right about

• Damp cold in England being hard to dress against - a lot of the puffy jackets that keep me snug here when it's -20c wouldn't keep out sleety winds and -8 wet cold in the UK

• People in general not dressing properly. Over here everyone wears hats, gloves and scarves and proper winter coats. At home it seems like no one has an 'anorak' style coat or a puffy coat, and everyone wears a wool-blend that just doesn't cut the mustard under certain temperatures. And why does NO ONE wear a hat in the UK? Are we so worried about style? Also most people have

• neighbourhoods/individuals clearing the snow from their own areas. It's a pain, but everyone does it over here, and then just gets up in the morning and heads out. At home I don't know if people even own snow shovels.

• houses never feeling warm in England. No idea why, we don't heat much above 18c here but for some reason you can play out in the cold (toddler DS in snowsuit) and come home and warm up properly in a way that is just easier than in and English house. I imagine cheaper fuel costs are a lot to do with it, as this place isn't that well insulated.

• thermal undies. My first winter here I bought lots of these and just wore them under everything else. That means you strip down to your shirt in an office because of the thermal layer underneath, but to and from work you're toasty. Gosh - they're a lot cheaper in the US, though. . . I've heard the uniqlo ones are good, too. We don't mess around with it over here, we just layer up!

Aldi currently has full kids ski suits for £15!! For jackets and trousers together. Look fab, ski socks £3 for 2 pairs and snow boots for £10

It was -4 your temp here today and windy...I was wishing I had long underwear under my jeans when I was walking my dog! :)

blackcurrants I own a snow shovel - it's the mutts nutts .

Owning up to a decent collection of 'ats. All made by me. I also have wool socks (though not enough because I've had problems knitting them, recently because of my hands and eyesight). I find the best sort of scarf for keeping the draughts out is a small shawl, worn bandit style - all the bulk is at the front, where it's needed, unlike a long, straight scarf. ravel.me/ouryve/2rb4c

On the subject of BMWs - we live on a hill and often see them abandoned outside in bad weather. And the people driving them never wear a coat.

I admit to having skim read much of this OP BUT I would weigh in and say the British cold is different. It's maritime cold, not continental cold. It's not the same. British cold is wet and often wind-driven, and quite variable.

This struck me first at 17, au pairing in the Bavarian Alps. One of our jobs was to clear the snow from the pavement outside the house. Godalmighty, thought I, I'll be frozen for hours as I chip away at it... cue half an hour later, swept clear of snow. Swept. With a broom. And I was proper hot as the sun beamed down upon us, glittering on the fairytale snowscape all around.

FFWD to an English equivalent (Hampshire). The sleet was horizontal, the ground melted then froze, melted then froze. Eventually I tackled my lethal driveway. The 3cm of ice upon it was pure and unbubbled, like glass. I chopped at it with the edge of a spade for about an hour- to make a 40cm wide path safe enough for the postie to reach my door. It then rained- and froze again.

It's different.

Can I just point out that there are maritime areas in Sweden too?

I used to live in Gothenburg, which is actually wetter than where I now live in the south of England. It is also colder, with stronger winds and more sleet blown into your face.

But the houses were warmer. Dh (who works in building recording) reckons it is partly to do with insulation but a lot to do with building materials and techniques.

I used to feel a lot colder when I went out in Gothenburg. But I never got chilblains until I moved to the UK.

Re: coats, what you need is a thin puffy coat with a waterproof and windproof shell over the top. I'm thinking of this kind of thing www.patagonia.com/eu/enGB/product/womens-nano-puff-jacket?p=84215-0-142, but you could also channel the queen. www.barbour.com/womens-clothing/jackets-coats/quilted/classic-womens/shaped-liddesdale-jacket. Thermals a nice cardigan and a head scarf and you will be toasty.

yes, breathable coat, preferably with pit vents and a high collar, merrymouse, I have the Lands End primaloft version of that patagonia coat as my regular go to and then a hip length goretex jacket (almost a shell, very little insulation) for over it when I need it. DS usually wears a softshell with a water/windproof breathable over it.

Really good (non cotton) thermals are good too. I have different weights for warmer or colder weather. I also put gel insoles in my regular winter waterproof ankle boots (for when I'm not wearing my snow boots), they seem to help. Oh and don't wear cotton socks, if it is really cold I wear thin wicking synthetic socks with wool ones over, the wool socks layer over the thermal leggings or I wear opaque tights with a thin pair of socks over them. I wish I had stretchy softshell jeans-like snow pants but mine are pain in the neck goretex ones.

If I don't want the bulk of thermals I wear two camisoles, one tucked in my knicks and one longer one over my hips so there is no gap.

I find a long thin tube of something lightweight (mine is thin bamboo knit) warmer than a scarf. One end tucked down into my coat so there are no gaps and either the other draped like a cowl or if really cold up over my head to go under my hat. If you can sew at all it is incredibly easy to make, a rectangle with one seam and you can reuse a tshirt or something.

I have really good gloves, ones that are loose enough but fit well. Tight fitting socks or gloves make your hands so cold.

It is true that UT is a very dry cold, but when we go to the Adirondacks it can be damp and yucky.

I saw someone walking about the shops in a red belted ski suit yesterday.....was it one of you guys??

(want one)

Woke up to a few flurries in east london this morning. Lady on tv says luton and stansted airports are closed. YES uk you need to get better at winter. Closing an airport for a few cm of snow is laughable.

I jsut want to say how much I adore my yaktrax. The snow we had here has of course been compacted down, thawed, refrozen etc, even the area out the back of our house that I cleared ended up with a thin film of water on it as the frost melted and then refroze so it is all iced up (dh couldn't find the grit int he shed, I need to clear the shed out and find it myself but the baby hasn't napped for long enough). Anyway I have merrily walked to school and back over skiddy ice without a wobble. I popped out for 2 seconds yesterday and almost went flying on our hard standing yet with the yaktrax on it was fine.

5alive that reminds me of my trip back from Moscow one winter. The plane was late arriving in Moscow but it arrived, we got on and left. This was MOSCOW.. in WINTER. It was COLD and there was lots of SNOW. WE had to change flight in Italy. Now parts of Italy are not exactly strangers to snow but clearly the rest of it has no idea how to cope. It had snowed a little. The airport was manic, there were flights cancelled everywhere, nobody knew what was going on. We waited around for hours then were loaded up onto a plane, they deiced the plane while we were in it then we went to our runway. Then they decided they had taken to long to get there so they deiced us again and so on ans so forth before be we finally set off.

We believe in letting DD out into all weathers, and just have plenty of suitable clothing for it all. Wellies and waterproof pants cover a lot of eventualities, we have a good few hat/scarf/gloves sets for everyone (so 1 can dry out while another gets used), plenty of thermal layers and regular layers, etc. We also have proper ski gear as we've seen snow a few times now (no prob for DH and I, DD needs a good warm coat for walking to school anyway and trousers are so cheap from Lidl etc that we don't mind a pair every couple of years as she grows).

What was funny was trying to persuade the bike shop to fit mud guards to her new bike recently when we were buying it - as most kids don't need those nowadays. Well DD does as she cycles in all weathers, and just because it's raining doesn't stop her having to get to school (au pair brings her everyday, they walk 3 days as creche collect her by car for afternoons, and she cycles the other 2 as she goes straight home afterwards and au pair happy to cycle with her).

We also have snow socks for both cars, and take a sensible attitude to using public transport to get close to home and leave a car near bus/train stops to get to creche, get bits in shops and get all the way home safely.

It's just about thinking things through - all the kids on our street love when it snows as the first snowy saturday here means a neighbourhood BBQ on the green!! (We're a slightly whacky bunch, but it's now expected if there is snow!).

And school has a snow patrol team to come in and clear the school, whereas most schools locally just close immediately. An hour of parents time and a possible delay in opening versus having to mind and entertain the kids all day and make up time later?! No contest!! (Yes, I am on snow patrol!).

Ok , I am inside my house. Heating is on. I am wearing jeans, socks, tshirt and hoodie top (cleaning day).
I am unbearably cold and my toes are like ice blocks . I may have to wear thermals and a coat in the house

My house will never be warm exactly.

I think I am good at winter: my DSs had tights on under their trousers when they were little and now have a collection of thermals and waterproofs (which now they are teenagers they try not to wear).

I started buying sheepskin insoles for my boots a couplof years ago and they are lovely, make a big difference.

The best thing I ever did was get a job near my house - I can walk to work on the snowiest of days.

I wear lots of layers. Jeans are hopeless this time of year unless you have tights or longjohns underneath. Two layers of longsleeved top - usually a base layer and a jumper. A scarf helps a lot (just a decorative one indoors still keeps the heat in), and I am wearing fingerless gloves as I type this. I have just lit the stove.

Oooh - and the best Christmas present I ever had - knee-high sheepskin boots, for wearing in the house only. My feet just go "aah" every time I pull them on. They are on their third winter and still look as good as new.

Switzerland calling!

It is -1 here at the moment and I don't yet have the underfloor heating on for winter. The house is just comfortable and yet each room has a bank of French doors instead of windows. They are triple glazed, the house is very well insulated and the heating is run from a compressed recycled wood chip burner in the cellar.

I used to constantly have the radiators on in my place in the UK over winter. The sash windows let in draughts and even with secondary glazing it was cold.

On Monday we had a blizzard with 50km winds and 5 inches of snow, yet my plane still managed to land, and all the roads were clear of ice and snow on my way home.

I have winter tyres on the car from October to April. It's not the law, but if you have an accident by not having them your insurance could be voided. They are not only for snow, also good for just cold conditions as they don't harden as much as other tyres. I cannot believe people in the UK don't think about fitting them.

It doesn't always snow in Switzerland at winter, but they are always prepared. Everyone has a good snow shovel at the front door, and most people clear and salt their path and steps in the evening. If the postman slips on your step - you are basically paying for his hospital bills and loss of earnings.

People take the weather reports seriously, and always dress appropriately. Jack Wolfskin is a very popular mid market brand here, but you can pick up great thermals from Aldi or Lidl, I have a pair from each and I would recommend them. Electric socks that heat up are very popular too!

You can buy excellent snow suits from H&M, I travel to Sweden frequently and the majority of kids are wearing them, same here in Switzerland - they cost 60 max. They are very well made - they do the fleece under layers, or kids wear thermal tights and tops under them, or track suits. Good snow boots and thermal socks can be picked up at Lidl too.

I don't think UK school uniform helps. My son went to school in the UK in a snow storm and we put him in his snow jacket and trousers, but the teachers didn't want him to spend time putting it on at breaks to go out, and it was cold with just uniform underneath. How girls would manage in school skirts, I don't know.

In school here, they strip down to their thermal, fleece or jersey layers and use their house slippers indoors.

We came home and went to Gullivers after Christmas one year, DS all kitted up and cosy. It was awful seeing kids in Welles and ankle socks shivering and miserable with cold.

I'm currently in France, so not a terribly cold country. Having some work done in the house, electricians messed something up so we didn't have heating the whole weekend. Was around -2 outside during the day and the house was a bit cooler, but still fine, even though we have 4 pairs of French doors and a window in the living room.
Quite a difference in comparison to what someone wrote earlier, that her house without heating cooled down 3 degrees in 40 minutes.

People don't fit winter tyres in England because we don't have consistently cold weather. Last year I remember people rushing to put winter tyres on and then we had temperatures in double digits.

Last Christmas day it was 15 degrees in Aberdeen

We don't have properly built houses is a big problem and they are small = no room for mega amounts of weather preparation equipment.

And remember, the rest of the world are SHIT at rain. Where as we take it in our stride. In many many other parts of the world people won't go out or drive in the rain.

I have been in the states when federal alerts have been issued for 1 inch of rain. A while back when 4 inches of rain fell on London Victoria station was closed for a few hours while everyone got on with their business.

Our airports close for snow but many in the rest of the world shut down for rain.