How do you weather proof children in Finland?

Parents in Finland face a wardrobe challenge several times a year as the seasons change. It can be tricky to know what to buy, when, and from where.

If you've moved to Finland from abroad it can be a surprise that Finnish children are expected to be outside no matter what the weather.

"The shock is playing outside when the weather looks like the end of the world," said Andrew Hallott, a Brit who moved to Helsinki earlier this year with a three-year-old daughter.

He's happy with the daycare services and ethos, but the range of clothes required is quite different to Sheffield, where he's from.

Autumn surprises

"Those first cool mornings are always a bit of a shock to the system. Every autumn the kids go through the same routine where they resist the return of outdoor clothing after summer's freedom of shorts and t-shirts," said Katja Zevallos, a mother of two in Helsinki.

Finland prides itself on having four distinct seasons, but as parents can attest, most months include some form of precipitation.

A Finnish saying suggests "there's no bad weather, just bad clothes." Kids are expected to be outside all through the year, whatever the weather. But what is the right way to dress in this unique climate?

"Goretex and layers," said Päivi Kuutsa, head of Helsinki English Montessori Preschool.

It's generally time to start wearing outdoor clothing over indoor layers when the temperature drops to around 10 degrees Celsius.

The main objective is to stay dry and to achieve this, daycare staff recommend layering rainproof coats and suits over warm jackets and pants when the weather is soggy, as it's easier to remove clothing than to be underdressed.

Foot focus

Cold and wet feet will quickly ruin any outing for kids as well as adults.

"You absolutely need rainproof shoes in wet weather," said Hannele Oja, a Lapland native who is a leading playground supervisor in Helsinki.

Oja, who runs free outdoor-only playgroups for two to four year olds known as forest clubs (metsäkerho), emphasised the importance of staying dry. In forest school, toddlers spend up to three hours walking and playing in nature.

Unlined rain boots offer little insulation from the cold once fall sets in, according to Kuutsa. She said Goretex sneakers can cut down on the number of shoes tots need, as waterproof shoes "work in any weather."

Parents who prefer wellies should have two pairs to accommodate both warm (late spring and summer) and cold (anything below 10C) weather. Winter rubber boots are insulated and should be roomy enough for an extra pair of socks.

Kuutsa said moisture-wicking thermal socks are her special weapon in the cold and wet, explaining that toes quickly start feeling cold in soaked cotton socks that dry slowly.

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Encouraging independence

Both Oja and Kuutsa emphasised that children need to wear clothes that allow them to move around freely and explore their surroundings in any weather.

Kuutsa noted that "bad clothes" include anything preventing children from moving about freely or hampering their budding independence.

That said, kids should not wear things they can't manage independently, such as laces or tough buttons before they're ready, according to Kuutsa. "We want kids to wear clothes that support their desire to dress themselves and encourage their independence."

That said, independent dressing not only improves kids' self confidence, but also helps prepare them for school.

What about winter?

Daycare centres in Finland used to have a -15C cold weather limit for playing outside, but this is no longer the case, according to Oja.

"The temperature is not the only deciding element. Wind plays a big role too," Oja said, noting that gusty winds are the only factor potentially keeping hardy forest clubs indoors.

To prevent little fingers from freezing, Oja recommends mittens instead of gloves. "Fingers stay warmer when they're together, and in a mitten you can ball your hand into a fist if you get cold."

Parents of toddlers may also find it easier to get one little hand into a mitten than separate five tiny digits into a glove.

Staying dry continues to be a central theme as fall turns to winter. These months can be rainy and snowy all at once, particularly in southern Finland. To keep thermal outdoor clothing as moisture-free as possible, teachers will don rain gear over kids' snowsuits, trousers and coats and even encase gloved hands inside rain mitts.

Embrace pre-loved

The expense of stocking up on all of the appropriate outdoor wear can be daunting, but buying used can save money. A two-parent household will spend an average of 548 euros a year on clothes and shoes per child, according to Statistics Finland, which crunched the numbers for Yle News.

"When you pull those rubber trousers on your kid for the first time after summer, they're often too small," Zevallos explained.

Kids rapidly outgrow things which means neighbourhood buy and sell groups as well as flea markets can be good places to source second-hand children's gear.

Buying used is also a handy way of acquiring "backup sets" for situations too wet to fully dry overnight.

Muddy puddles

The day has now arrived when it has been pouring all afternoon and you've collected your sand-encrusted child from the park.

Sand-child's outdoor clothes are soon in a wet pile in your hallway. What now?

"The best thing to do is to hang the wet rain trousers or suit to dry in a bathroom or on a balcony. When they've dried, shake them out (outside) and wipe the clothes with a damp cloth. There's no need to machine wash outdoor wear every day. Once a week will do just fine," Oja explained.

Spending a lot of time outdoors regardless of the weather may not always sound appealing, particularly to families arriving from milder climates.

On this front, Oja pointed to the physical and emotional benefits of kids spending time outside where their imagination can run free. "It not only helps improve children's appetite, but also tires them out so they want to sleep."

Heading outdoors is a mood booster for kids as well as adults, Oja said, referring to the positive mind-body connection of getting exercise in the fresh air. "Venturing outside will often improve a grumpy mood, even when it's raining."

Andrew Hallott agrees. His three-year-old is now getting used to the all-weather play opportunities in Finland after a slightly less active spell in the UK.

"She didn't in England but is now adapting to wet weather play, and she loves it," said Hallott.

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