Would you expect your grandchildren to be layered up?

My daughter always complains about my cold house when she visits, but she expects to wear short sleeves in winter. Its that attitude that's all too prevalent in the young that's behind these panics about the cost of heating.
They'll learn when they can't afford their bills that layers are the only answer. We are all going to have to tighten our belts and use less energy.
But a 3 year old shouldn't be asked she should be told what to wear.

We all layer up here in Australia, especially Melbourne where it is freezing one minute and stinking hot the next because of an unstable climate. The children don’t think anything of it, it is just a fact of life. Many houses here are quite cold in winter because most don’t have double glazing.

This newer generation will survive even thrive in this changing environment, despite the very questionable posts in this thread

Why the lack of faith in the adults older generation raised? (Thinking emoji)

What I didn’t understand with the young mother who was being interviewed was, if she was not wrapping her child up but heating her home to higher temperatures, who does she expect was going to pay her heating bill.
So many people, according to reports, are cancelling their standing orders.

nanna8 I remember also the horizontal winds blowing under the huge gaps between floor and doors.

I have got my old guernsey out of wardrobe and it looks fine, I have also been keeping an eye out for heavy jumpers in the sales. When the children were small they had pyjama suits from Mothercare which kept them warm even if they kicked the blankets off.

annodomini

Fortunately my grandchildren are old enough to make their own decisions.
Teenagers are a race apart. Even on the coldest days, I see them strolling home from school in short (shortened) skirts, blazers and - sometimes - bare legs. Never an overcoat in sight. Whatever happened to school scarves? Have they heard of gloves?

Teenagers are a race apart ?
As DH says "they go into a tunnel at ten and emerge at twenty as people".

I still have my school scarf somewhere.

When the children were small they had pyjama suits from Mothercare which kept them warm even if they kicked the blankets off
Oh yes, weren't they great. They had rubber or polyurethane soles on the feet so they could toddle in them.

I would expect my grandchildrens parents to decide what their children wear. It’s up to them, taking into account household budget, huge increase in costs of heating etc.

I think it’s me who is reluctant to layer up too much! I usually wear a t shirt under a sweatshirt in the winter and might add a sleeveless gilet this year but I don’t like feeling too restrained. I like to crochet while watching tv so need my arms free to move.

Last year I found that having my heating set at 19 degrees was comfortable and not too expensive but I might try 18 degrees this year to offset the increased costs. Luckily I’m 66 this October and will be getting my state pension so that will be useful for the extra costs.

I saw that interview too, and thought it odd. Surely you dress your child for the weather conditions? If it's cold, you dress them warmly, whether it's for indoors or outdoors?

Teacheranne

I think it’s me who is reluctant to layer up too much! I usually wear a t shirt under a sweatshirt in the winter and might add a sleeveless gilet this year but I don’t like feeling too restrained. I like to crochet while watching tv so need my arms free to move.

Last year I found that having my heating set at 19 degrees was comfortable and not too expensive but I might try 18 degrees this year to offset the increased costs. Luckily I’m 66 this October and will be getting my state pension so that will be useful for the extra costs.

Ah, born too late for enhanced Winter Fuel payment this year, but you will get it in Winter 2023!

MiniMoon

Mine already wear layers. They live in a draughty Grade 2 listed cottage. They only have single glazed, wooden framed windows, no double glazing allowed. Original stone floor in the kitchen.
Rather be warm than fashionable I say.

Jokey response - please take as such.
I say "rather live in a modern house and be warm"!

Dempie55

I saw that interview too, and thought it odd. Surely you dress your child for the weather conditions? If it's cold, you dress them warmly, whether it's for indoors or outdoors?

You can take a horse to water, Dempie!

I don’t think children feel the cold as older people do - my Gdcs don’t seem to, anyway. And in the depth of winter you so often see lots of older schoolchildren in just thin shirts with an open blazer - no coat of any description.

I do recall, as a student of 19 or 20, going out in just a thin mini dress (no jumper or vest of course), very thin tights, an unlined shortie leather coat and high heels - in Yorkshire in midwinter, with snow on the ground. And not really feeling cold.

It’d be a different matter now!
Dh used to have his personal central heating - never wore a coat or jacket - it’s a lot less efficient now, though.
Dd1 has inherited his central heating - always hot!

Hithere

This newer generation will survive even thrive in this changing environment, despite the very questionable posts in this thread

Why the lack of faith in the adults older generation raised? (Thinking emoji)

But you are the one who said that children should do what they want and parents should support that (page 1). You can't have it both ways - either parents take charge and are responsible, or they don't.

Doodle

No, I didn't say that amd never said that.

Children have input in their lives (clothes, what to eat, what to do) and parents decide.

When my children were young in the late 70’s they all wore plenty of layers and the boys wore tights under their trousers too. Accepted it as what was required and just got on with it. Ps. The boys didn’t have to wear the tights when they went to school!

Hithere

I would expect the kids to wear what they want and the parents support

Not everybody tolerates getting dressed several times/ layers and in dressing layers to match the indoor outdoor weather

For some young kids, it is hard enough to get them dressed in one layer already, or make them wear socks

If parents decide to invest on heating, who is to tell them they are wrong?

You did say exactly that .

Doodledog

Thank for your post and have a great Sunday!

Children and layering depends on the age of the child.

One reason secondary school children round here don’t seem to wear coats is they don’t have hooks or lockers at school, and have to carry their coats round with them all day.

My teenage GC fortunately live near the school, but still get wet on a rainy day.

Anyone here think the liberty bodice might make a come back if it gets really cold {grin}

Why no hooks for coats in schools?

Hithere

Why no hooks for coats in schools?

Because you can split your head open on them. I have the scar to prove it.