In the first of a series on outdoor play in winter, Julie Mountain looks at what nurseries need to think about to help keep children warm.

The temptation to hibernate indoors over winter is powerful - particularly when forecasters expect this winter to be the coldest since 1947 - but with the right clothing (for adults and children alike), winter outdoor play can be wonderful.

Images of rosy-cheeked children running around outdoors lead many adults to believe that children feel the cold less than adults; in fact, young children are more prone to heat loss than adults. Children also frequently change the pace of their play, making layered clothing the most effective way for them to regulate their body temperature. It is vital, too, to keep young children's - and in particular babies' - heads warm for comfort and heat retention.

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