Tolerating Winter Clothing: A Sensory Approach to Staying Warm

Posted by Nicole, Occupational Therapist

As winter continues so does the cold weather and for a child with sensory processing difficulties wearing winter clothing can be a very unpleasant experience. After having various conversations with the parents I work with specifically regarding different strategies for children having a hard time with winter clothing such as hats, gloves, scarves, etc., I thought it would be very helpful to share this information with our wonderful blog followers!

First things first, we need to determine what clothes your child is having difficulty wearing while paying close attention to the fabric, the fit (loose or tight) and the location (head, neck, hands, etc.). Once you have determined what specific clothes your child typically avoids it’s time to modify and desensitize!

Desensitizing your child to new textures and tactile input can take some time, so be patient and try to make the process as fun as possible. Some examples of making dressing tasks fun include singing songs which detail the process, taking turns wearing different winter items, putting them on their favorite stuffed animals or using a visual schedule outlining each step with pictures to help with transitions. Making dressing fun and providing lots of positive reinforcement such as giving them their favorite toy or snack, clapping, yelling “YAY, you did it!” or giving your child a big hug and spinning them around can increase your child’s ability to tolerate new textures over time in a friendly and secure manner.

The following suggestions will help guide and shape your child’s ability to wear not only winter clothing but perform dressing tasks in general.

1.       Preparatory Methods

a.       Begin with performing a quick skin check to determine if your child has any redness, irritation or dry skin that may be further irritated by winter clothing options. The solution to this problem is simple: exfoliate and moisturize. Exfoliating body washes are also a great way to provide different sensory experiences during bath time.

b.      Provide a firm massage over your child shoulders, neck, head, hands, arms, etc. to provide proprioceptive input to help relax your child and prepare them for donning different articles of clothing.

c.       Heavy work activities are very helpful for a child who presents with high arousal levels to help decrease impulsivity and increase attention. Some activities include pushing a shopping cart across the room filled with books and other weighted items, pulling a large bean bag, pillow or heavy blanket across the room or carrying a bin filled with different toys from one room to another.

d.      Visual schedules are also very helpful to help your child transition into dressing tasks and outline the whole process.

e.      Create a dressing area in your home that is always for donning and doffing winter clothing such as their coat, boots, hat, scarf, etc. Having a specific mat provides a visual cue for what is expected when standing or sitting in this area. 

2.       Desensitization Process

a.       Start with a firm massage and work your way to a lighter touch massage at your child’s tolerance over different areas of their body; focusing on the areas which they have difficulty wearing winter clothing (i.e. head, neck, hands).

b.      Bath time is a great way to explore different textures such as exfoliating body wash, washing with different types of sponges, a wash cloth or soft bristle brushes.

c.       Playing in a container filled with sand, raw rice or pasta, raw beans, shaving cream, etc., where you would encourage them to pick up fists full, pour it into different cups or hide their hands underneath will expose them to different sensory experiences.

d.      Try to have them tolerate wearing the item they are having difficulty with for only 1-2 seconds at first and reward them with tons of praise. Over time promote wearing that item for 2-3 seconds, 4-5 seconds, 5-10 seconds, etc. and always giving your little one positive reinforcement to decrease their fear of wearing winter clothing and increase their tolerance to new textures.

3.       Modifications: Desensitizing your child to new textures and tactile input in not an overnight process as highlighted above, therefore modifications may need to be done to keep our little ones warm this winter.

a.       Experiment with different fabrics such as fleece, cotton and silk. Always avoid wool or rough fabrics because as we all know they can be very itchy.

b.      Experience with different fits such as loose fitting scarves or hat and tight fitting clothes such as wearing spandex under their jeans or sweaters.

c.       Try earmuffs, heads bands and hoods over tight fitting hats.

The above suggestions are from my clinical experiences working with children with sensory processing deficits. It is always important to keep in mind that every child is different and so is their sensory needs therefore explore all options and modifications to make your child feel comfortable, secure and warm this winter.