How to keep warm on your commute to school

There are very few things worse than being wet and cold on a dark winter morning, especially when you’re heading to school or work. It’s important to keep warm and dry to help your immune system stay strong and fight off viruses. 

Start your school/work day right by following our hints and tips below on how to keep warm in winter: 

Layer up

Start with a fairly thin material, like a polo shirt. Then add a warm layer, such as a fleece. Finally, put on a layer for wind and rain protection, such as a waterproof jacket. Wearing three or more layers enables you to remove clothing when you arrive at school but will also keep you insulated. 

Keep your extremities warm

We lose a lot of heat from our heads, so it’s important to keep our extremities warm by investing in a pair of quality gloves, a hat, and socks. Our sister company, Extremities, is a clothing specialist focusing purely on gloves, hats, gaiters, and socks. They pride themselves on a technical understanding of fabrics and materials and how they work best in clothing accessories. Take a look at their range here.

Choose the right footwear

While trainers might be comfortable, they’re also designed to let the air in, so won’t keep you very warm or dry. Smart shoes, meanwhile, tend to have poor grip and might get dirty from salt on the roads and pavements. Ankle-high and water-resistant footwear will protect your feet from the snow and rain. These also have good grip, so you’re less likely to fall over. You should, however, still take the usual measures to avoid slipping, such as keeping your hands out of your pockets and standing up straight to ensure good balance. You can take a shoe bag/pe bag with spare shoes suitable to wear in school. 

Be seen

It might be dark on your journey to or from school, so it’s important to be bright and be seen. If you’re walking near a road, be sure to wear a high-vis jacket or vest or attach reflective straps to your bags and clothes. Make your walk as safe as possible by sticking to well-lit areas that are popular among other commuters. Streetlights will also help you to see what’s coming and ensure you can see any ice or puddles.

Stay hydrated

Whether you prefer hot or cold drinks in winter, it’s still important to stay hydrated with a water bottle or thermal flask throughout the day, which helps regulate body temperature.

Be prepared

Check the weather forecast before leaving for school or work. Storms can pose a serious risk and being prepared by route planning and ensuring you wear the right clothing could prove essential.   

Encourage

Your child might claim they’re too tired to walk to school, but maybe they just need a little motivation! Make the walk fun by talking about your child’s favourite topics or things you’ve done as a family, such as a film you’ve watched, book you’ve read or trip you’ve taken. Travelling with friends and even furry friends prompts children to socialise making it easier to forget how cold or wet it is but gaining that fresh air as well good feeling vibes. 

If you need to top up your child’s wardrobe, shop the Your School Uniform range here.