5 year old took coat off-what would you have done?

[Swiftschoolpickup]

After school dog walk with my Dd, 5.5. It was cold (v cold) and almost drizzly. She had a long sleeved dress, tights and boots on and her puffa type jacket. All was going well, a nice walk, when Dd says she doesn’t want her coat on and takes it off. I tell her it’s too cold, it’s January and to put it back on, cue almighty meltdown, crying lots and shouting and refusing to put it on. So we walk back to the car to go home, walking past people looking at me like I’m an awful mother.
Dd calmed down later and said sorry, I said she didn’t need to say sorry but explained to her why she needs to wear a coat. She said she didn’t feel free, which I get…
Did I deal with this correctly? Never sure if I’m being too harsh or not firm enough
What would you have done?
Is it normal that she got this upset about it?

Try figure out if this particular coat is getting too small. Or did a sleeve catch on something and was pulling on so she didn’t feel ‘free’

I would not have got into this argument. She takes the coat off, if she’s cold she can put it back on. Whatever.

It's subjective. I love that she wants to feel free. A puffy coat is annoying. I think I would have let her go without until she looked cold and then would have explained what her body was trying to tell her.

I’d have just let mine not wear it until they got cold and asked for it back. Not worth a fight in my experience.

Would have let her get on with it. She should know if she gets cold.

Children feel the cold a lot less than adults at that age, I've always had a coat available for them but never forced them to wear it if they didn't want to.

I’d let her get on with it too, if she’s cold she’ll learn her lesson and realise mummy’s right

I would have let her carry the coat (or put it in the stroller/wagon if we had one) without making a big deal about it. She's 5, not an infant, and can decide between the warmth of the coat or being "free" based on how her body feels.

I would also not argue about this. She will put it back on if she’s cold.

I’d have let her get on with it. She’d have put it one when she got cold enough. Not worth the argument in my opinion.

I Wouldn’t get worked up about it - if she felt cold she could choose to put it back on.

My 7 year old always takes her coat off on a walk and has since she was 4 or so . I honestly think they know if they feel cold or not so I just remind her that it's cold and to put it back on if she feels cold.

She also has worn shorts since summer or skirts. She just doesn't seem to feel the cold much... Doesn't take after me, I'm always absolutely freezing!

Stop worrying so much about what other people think.
I used to be the same, I’d too convince myself people were looking at me thinking I was an awful mother. But really, they’re not!
For what it’s worth, I’d have been the same in this situation. It’s not worth the battle, honestly! If they want to take their coat off, fine! It’s them that gets cold.

Natural consequences, she chose not to wear a coat she'll get cold and decide it's probably a good idea to wear the coat.

I would have let her take it off and figure things out for herself. Don't prevent her from learning life lessons when she's doing so in a safe environment.

Ask yourself what's the worst that could happen if she takes off her coat for a while even on a cold day?

Maybe she runs hot, or just enjoys being out in the cold. I'm not a fan, but there are plenty of people who actively enjoy ice baths.

She's 5, she can figure out when she's cold. And if she wants to be cold for a while, surely that's fine? There absolutely no risk in being outside without a coat for a short period of time.

I wouldn't have got into an argument about it. But it's fine that you did. The main thing about parenting is that you know best isn't it (even if what you know is best changes or you don't really know it!).

Thanks everyone, I did the wrong thing to get in an argument about it 😬it was really bloody cold though and all the kids are coughing and with streaming noses.
Coat not too small, she does it a lot with coats this year
I should’ve let it go, feel bad

This is one battle that certainly wasn't worth having.

As most pp's have said, she would have put it back on when she was cold.

My DD was and still is the same with clothing. Hates the restricted feeling and hardly ever wears a coat.

I'd have told her to keep the coat on too! I don't think you done anything wrong.

Is your DD Northern? If so, she didn't need it. It's not cold enough to need a coat in the North this week.

How long had you been walking? I warm up really quickly after walking for 5 mins and often take my coat off even if it’s cold (live in Scotland by the coast, so cold and windy).

FFS - she takes the coat off she gets cold. There are consequences for everything we do, the sooner she learns that lesson the better.

Why is this an issue? Seriously

Enrol her in rugby so she can join the other girls who are happy to be in shorts and t-shirts running around the pitch whilst parents watch on freezing.

I would have held her coat for her until she was ready to put it back on or there were physical signs she was getting cold. It's not like you'd left the house without it.