Coats, teens and open school windows.

[TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince]

It’s cold where l live.

All windows at school are open due to Corona. Dd has one day where she is sat next to a window 3 lessons in a row. Her hands are too cold to write. She goes outside, gets wet and then sits by an open cold window. She had thermal vests, but will not wear a coat. She admits she’s freezing.

At least a coat would keep the rain off. What do l do. It gets really cold where l am. She moans she’s cold all the time. It’s going to get much worse in mid winter.

😖any advice?

I'd pop a coat in her rucksack so she has the choice if it's unbearable. Just a fleece maybe - something warm yet lightweight and then I would ensure she has wrist warmers and also those heat up pads (you press a button and they activate ) in her blazer or trouser pockets. One in each pocket - she can keep dipping her hands in for some warmth

It's a teenage thing so I'd take the steps to ensure I'd made it as easy as possible for her to have some extra warmth and that's all, as a parent, that you can do.

This stuff shouldn't be so difficult to figure out and it doesn't need to be a battle of wills

I order about five coats each online and then they pick a coat. My sixteen year old has been wearing her Zara parka since she was 12 though so that's been good.

My two both have slightly padded bomber jackets from H&M and they each have a parka winter coat.

The problem with buying one when she wants one, is it will be too late. If it starts snowing she will need one straight away not in a few days!

I am glad my children went to a secondary that actively encourages coat wearing and pretty much all students do wear coats.

If her hands are so cold she cannot write then she is her own worst enemy. I hope she is a September/October born otherwise being 14 puts her in year 10 where they are covering GCSE content and making a massive effort to get assessments for any future grades.

Interesting that she doesn't complain about uniform (compulsory) but does complain about everything else.

I’ve ordered loads online. She refuses to look at them.

You could email the teacher detailing the sensory issues and request that she is moved away from the window. That might help a bit.

Buy her w brolly.

She does complain about the uniform. It’s tight uncomfortable and stuffy. She hates it. She’s been like this since she was tiny.

Even at 6 months old she’d pull off hats unless they were tied in. Then she’d scream and tug at the ties.

I could email the teacher...

Ds always wore his coat to school!!!

If you're cold wear a coat, if you won't wear a coat and gloves then suck it up!

I hate coats too as I find all of them bulky (but being older, 1 will wear one every now & then) but I layer in thin layers.

What else is she allowed to wear & what would she wear? A cardi on top of her school jumper? Socks on top of her tights? Wrist/ankle warmers?

I know you said she won't wear a hat/gloves/scarf but have you looked at a variety of styles? Some being less geeky than others?

15 yo will wear 'hand/wrist warmers' in a very fine wool, but wouldn't be seen in fingerless gloves (despite them being essentially the same thing 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️)

I wouldn't buy a coat she hasn't chosen as it will not get worn - might as well burn the money, it'll keep her warmer!

But as a parent, l feel terrible that my wet cold Dd will be wet and cold all day. Even though it’s her choice😭

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

I could email the teacher...

She is 14. She should have a coat. All your excuses. Just buy her a bloody coat. If she chooses not to wear it that's up to her but to not provide a coat is ridiculous. Almost as ridiculous as emailing her teacher

She may wear wrist warmers. Fingerless gloves were rejected with horror. Even though l offered to make them in whatever style or design she wanted. Or offered to buy them.

She likes how Billy Eilysh dresses. Dunno if she wears coats tho😭🤷🏼‍♀️

They’re NOT EXCUSES.

I don’t want to lay out money on something that won’t be worn.

I KNOW she should have a coat. That’s kind of why l started this thread!

Why are some schools insisting on wide open windows? Sounds OTT to me, Thankfully ds school has made it clear they are going to take a common sense approach, if it’s cold /windy/ pouring rain then windows will be closed.

I work in a nursery school, there’s no way I’m freezing our kids to death this winter.

Just buy any winter coat then if she won't even look with her own eyes. At least you can get one that won't cost a fortune as you can just get any coat.

Don't talk about it any more. If she complains about being cold remind her you've provided a coat.

Make sure she knows it's not good enough to not do school work because she's cold. We're all cold. In classrooms and queuing in the rain outside shops. It's miserable.

Fleece blanket 🥶

Lightweight, stuffable in bag, but warm and crucially .... not a coat.

They are used at outdoor cafes in Switzerland and it’s surprisingly helpful.

Though obviously i am entirely aware that my own DD will have removed the raincoat she was wearing this morning as soon as I was out of sight. You can but try 🙄

Oh, she does her work. She’s really hardworking. She’s just cold.

Fleece blanket for school?!

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

They’re NOT EXCUSES.

I don’t want to lay out money on something that won’t be worn.

Of course they are. What a load of nonsense.

Oh, she does her work. She’s really hardworking. She’s just cold.

That's great, that she's doing her work. You are just going to have to let her be cold. Sadly.

@TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince

I KNOW she should have a coat. That’s kind of why l started this thread!

Go buy her one then.