To ask how to keep warm at school?

[Towoowoo]

13yr old is crying because she's so cold at school. I know it's overly dramatic but she's very cold nonetheless. She's not allowed to wear her coat or fingerless gloves. She wears a thermal vest and leggings under her uniform and I'll get her some leg warmer things to go under her trousers too. But what else can I do? It's not even that cold yet and no one else is complaining.

VERY strict uniform policy so warm things have to be hidden!

Rechargeable hand warmers are excellent.

Where do you live that it's that cold already?

Is she trying to pull a fast one and get out of school?

If no one else is complaining I would take her to the doctor's and get her bloods checked maybe she is deficient in iron or something else

Woollen and/or silk long-sleeve vest under top. Cambridge Baby sells lots of this sort of thing (not just for babies).

If she does have a condition like Reynaud's, I'd be at the school advocating for her to be allowed to wear wristwarmers. My DS is prone to chilblains and when the school was cold over Covid years they were fine with him wearing black or grey wristwarmers. I get him fleece ones from Anna Falcke as they're inexpensive, war, durable and easy to wash.

Maybe we need to find out what temperature the classroom is first. Sitting still for hours in a room at 14degrees for instance would be awful.

Uniqlo heatech, for vest and tshirt (long-sleeved) and leggings and socks. All thin and snug firring, so should fit fine undr uniform.

Thin knitted tank top under jumper,

If she still complains of cold with that lot on then she's either exaggerating (so find out why) or you need to discuss with GP.

It's very mild for the time of year, but it's damp and that does make you feel chillier. So if she gets wet on the way in, then she needs to sit on a radiator to dry off. Maybe take dry socks to change in to on arrival. Use an umbrella and wear gloves

Thanks everyone.

She's not trying to get out of school.

She did get chilblains last year.

It's not particularly cold here. I doubt her school is that cold. That doesn't mean she isn't cold though and I think the crying is genuine.

I'll have a look at the different thermals memtiomed on here. We do have some of those reusable hand warmer things which I forgot about so thanks for reminding me. She could keep those in her pockets. No outdoor wear inside the classrooms so no to using a scarf like a blanket (I do that at work 🤣) and she's asked about taking a hot flask in and was told no.

I understand not allowing coats inside but I don't understand not allowing plain fingerless gloves. I don't think she could "hide" wrist warmers.

It's tedious to have defend this problem against people who insist it's not cold enough to suffer like this. Think yourselves lucky that it's not a problem you have had to deal with.

This was me at school and as an adult I still struggle with feeling cold while everyone else is sat in barefeet and shortsleeves. Please get her checked out at the GP for any possible underlying reason.
Even now if I get sat in or near a draught it really affects me. My DH is still caught out by how cold my hands will be when the indoor temp is 18 degrees. I have to layer up because the cold gets into my body and bones and it's just genuinely uncomfortable, and yes sometimes I cry at how it feels.

Really good quality merino skins have made a huge difference to me, and wrist warmers really do help. I would be a complete pain in the arse with school about modifications to allow her to be comfy. Feeling this way is detrimental to her learning.
I was miserable at school during the colder months, I have vivid memories of trying to get a seat next to the heating pipes so I could not be in pain from tensing up with cold.

School uniform is a branded short sleeved polo and a branded standard sweatshirt and we can't do anything about that.

She wears a thermal vest/t-shirt under her tops pretty much all year round. I will look into different fabric or tighter ones to see if that helps. I'll get her some tights to see if they work better under her trousers than her thermal leggings.

I don't think reynards or anemia but I'll have a proper look.

Look at her shoes, keep the ankles warm. Thick soled shoes/boots and warm socks will make a huge difference.
Then scarf, hat, gloves would be my next tips. Isn't she allowed to keep her school scarf on in lessons? We always did in winter!

Nope. If a kid made a fuss in my classroom about being cold it would be with good reason. Because it is cold.

Indeed, but common sense should suggest that if the school can’t afford to put the heating on then it should amend the dress code, like in the heatwave, not just expect kids to be cold (or parents to fork out for cashmere whatever)

OP check the link I posted earlier. It's for tights that look like tights but have fleece inside. Would help under a skirt or under trousers

You can also get flesh-coloured fleece lined tights (don't know how wide a range of flesh tones are readily available, though)

Keeping feet dry and warm might help - so sturdy brogues? Or could she wear boots on the school run and change? (depends on locker situation, I suppose?)

They are some weird tights but yes, warm

If your dd is cold then it is cruel not to let her wear more clothes or her coat!
One of the first things you learn in teacher training is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. In a nutshell: you can’t learn when you are cold (or hungry, or afraid). Really basic stuff and you should insist that school meet your dd’s needs.

The school have an obligation to keep the school at a healthy safe and reasonable temperature. If they haven’t got the heating on in November to save money, they need to relax their uniform code.

I’d write a polite but formal email to the head saying that your DD is crying and unable to concentrate on work because she is so cold at school, ans that a strategy is needed to fix the situation. Is the heating on at school throughout the school day? If yes, what temperature is the thermostat set at? Say you need to assess whether DD has a medical issue or whether the school is failing in its obligation to keep the building at a healthy temperature. Conclude the letter by saying that whatever the cause is, your DD is unable to focus on work because she is so cold, what is the school’s plan to rectify this? Will they be adapting the uniform code to eg allow fingerless gloves, trousers and hats?

Practical measures - thick thermal underwear, long johns under trousers, or layers of thick woolly tights if trousers not allowed.

I assume she’s very thin, suggest you feed her more fat and protein, it really makes a difference to body temperature. If she shaves her legs I’d also suggest she stops for winter unless this will cause problems eg in PE changing room. Hairy legs are so much warmer!

I sympathize. My Dd2 (17) says that her college is freezing cold and they aren't allowed to wear coats either,as it's 'unprofessional'.It isn't just her,as many other students are complaining too,plus Dd2 lives on a farm,has horses and also works at an event yard,so isn't afraid of harsh weather/ cold temperatures.
She's finding it hard to concentrate as she's so cold there. The windows are open and there's no heating, so she comes out saying that it's warmer outside.
I've told her to wear a body warmer, large scarf/ shawl type thing and if she gets told off,I will point out that the rules say no coats indoors. I'm not normally one for breaking the rules,but this is the latest in a long line of ridiculousness from college and I have had it up to here with them.

Take a hot flask in just don't tell them?

Thanks everyone. I'll take a look at the links.

Long sleeve t shirt under uniform