Why don't kids bundle up when it's cold outside?
MINNEAPOLIS -- Maybe it's a Minnesota thing? Maybe it's a kid thing? We're willing to bet you still see kids without hats and gloves, and even wearing shorts when temperatures dip below freezing.
So, why do kids not bundle up? Good Question.
It was 25 degrees outside when we met 5th grader Leo Hoehn. He was at outdoor recess at Glen Lake Elementary wearing shorts.
"I've never liked pants," he said. "I don't know why. I just hate pants."
A few miles away at Hopkins High School, four of the students we talked with said they don't wear a winter coat. Rarely do they bring one with them to school.
"I don't think I have one that fits," said senior Charlie Fieldman.
It's been a source of frustration and wonderment for parents, including Star Tribune columnist Laura Yuen, who wrote about this topic last month.
So, why don't kids always bundle up in the winter? Good Question.
"It's a great question," said Hennepin Healthcare pediatrician Dr. Krishnan Subrahmanian. "What's going on?"
Dr. Subrahmanian said kids don't necessarily "run hotter" than adults, though they may get warmer by running around more.
"Truly their physiology is somewhere between 97 and 99, which means they are just as susceptible to cold weather, to injury, to frostbite, to all those things that we should be worried about," he said.
Parent of middle schoolers and WCCO anchor Derek James has a theory.
"I think the main reason they want to do it is because my wife and I say you shouldn't do it," James said.
Dr. Subrahmanian said it could be a sensory issue with children, that they feel as though pants or winter clothes restrict them in their activities.
When asked about his aversion to pants, Hoehn said they don't give him enough room to move his legs.
"They're just too hot, I get too hot when I wear pants all the time," he said.
The students at Hopkins High School had a number of theories on why they don't wear winter gear.
"It's only going to be five minutes to get to and from the car," said Sametta Hill. "You're only freezing for like 5 minutes."
"You don't want to carry it around because most people don't have lockers and it's one extra thing to carry," said Bella Feldman.
"Most people who live down south are like, oh my gosh, it's 30 degrees it's freezing," said Camryn McNeil. "We're like, it's finally 30 degrees."
Dr. Subrahmanian said that while some children don't like the cold-weather attire, there are safety issues to consider.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no exposed skin or restricting outdoor play when the windchill feel below -15 degrees.
As for temperatures in their teens and twenties, he said a few minutes outside are probably ok. And, when it goes above freezing.
"That's when I say, with my teenager, do I want to pick this battle today," he said.
