Fall in Canada means the end of summer and time for kids to head back to school or day care. It also means the beginning of unpredictable weather that creates a challenge when it comes to making sure your kids are properly dressed for the day.
 
T-shirts and shorts may be perfect one day, only to be replaced by pants and jackets the next. Some days start wet and cold only to become sunny and warm by the afternoon.
 
Fall school field trips are also a challenge when it comes to feeling like your child is dressed for whatever the day may bring.
 
And if you do any fall camping or hiking you need to make sure you are bringing enough layers and garments to keep your little ones warm and dry without packing and carrying so much gear that it’s just not fun for anyone.
 
There’s also apple picking, visits to the pumpkin farm, and Halloween to think about.
 
It’s also a tricky time for kids to be inside as many schools and preschools struggle with keeping the temperature just right.
 
So what’s a parent or caregiver to do?
 
Fear not, TREQA has some helpful tips to keep in mind when dressing your kids for fall weather in Canada..

In the fall, temperatures can change up to 10 degrees celcius or more over the course of the day!
 
Just looking at the day’s average temperature won’t give you an accurate picture of how to keep your kids warm and dry.
 
A chilly fall morning means your child will need a jacket to stay warm until the sun has a chance to warm things up.

The best way to make sure your kids are prepared for the unpredictable fall weather in Canada is to dress them in layers.
 
This is especially important if they are going to be going in and out during the day (for recess, lunch breaks, and after school play) or on a school field trip to an outdoor location. You’ll make sure they are prepared for whatever the day may bring. Dressing your child in layers allows you to feel confident that they are prepared for whatever the day may bring, and allows them to remove layers as the temperature or weather changes.

Layers are great, but what do your kids do with all those layers as they come off? How do you send them on a field trip with a jacket that they don’t need to wear right away?
 
The answer is to make sure their outer garments are lightweight and packable.
 
Your kids will not enjoy carrying around or wearing a big bulky jacket that gets in the way of their fun, and you won’t enjoy trying to fit them in a backpack.
 
Instead choose insulated Jackets that are lightweight and compactable so that your kids can have a warm layer no matter where they go.

There’s nothing worse than a jacket that traps in the heat and makes your kids feel like they are wearing a sauna!

They will quickly let you know how uncomfortable they are and off comes the jacket, or they suffer in silence and overheat.

You can avoid this problem by making sure you choose outerwear made from breathable fabric.

Breathable fabrics keep moisture from getting through to your child’s skin, while also moving sweat back through to the outside world.

You want your kids to stay dry in wet fall weather. Not sort of dry, completely dry!

Waterproof means no water inside, period.

Waterproof fabrics can withstand constant, heavy precipitation and are completely impervious to water.

That means your kids will stay dry in the most challenging wet weather.

When it comes to insulated fall jackets, most people think of down as providing the highest level and quality of insulation, but there are several reasons why down is not the ideal insulation for warm fall clothing.
 
On the practical side, down loses its insulating properties when it gets wet – even the moisture produced by sweat can reduce the insulating quality of down-filled clothing. And when you are spending time outdoors you need your warm clothing to stay warm despite the conditions!
 
Synthetic insulation materials are also easier to clean and last longer than down which typically loses its “fluff” after a certain period of time.
 
Many children are allergic to down and other bird feathers and cannot wear down-filled jackets. For those kids synthetic, hypoallergenic clothing is an absolute must.

A cold wind can steal your child’s body heat fast, so it’s important that they have a layer capable of handling wind’s chilling effect.
 
Windproof means no wind is getting through the fabric regardless of how strong the wind gusts.
 
Wind-resistant doesn’t block out the wind completely, but provides much better protection against the wind than other fabrics that are not wind-resistant.
 
Outerwear that isn’t at least wind-resistant is less likely to keep your child warm on even a mildly windy day.

Follow these tips and you’ll have warm, dry, happy kids who enjoy the fall weather and look forward to playing outside!
 
At TREQA our mission is simple: to provide high quality outdoor apparel that is reasonably priced so all family members – including kids – can enjoy the outdoors.
 
You can view our line of children’s outerwear, including reversible and breathable fleece jackets, 100% waterproof outer shell jackets and pants, insulated and packable spring, fall, and winter jackets, versatile 3-in-1 snow jackets, and waterproof snow pants here.