What’s the Worst That Can Happen?

“My child refuses to wear a jacket to school. What should I do?” Many parents have asked me this question, and I laugh every time. My strong, healthy 25 year old son last wore a jacket when he was ten years old. Well, maybe eleven, but you get the idea.

When my son refused to wear a jacket on a cool, rainy day in fifth grade, I pointed out to him that if he chose not to wear a jacket, he might feel cold and wet. If he chose to wear a jacket, he could always take it off if the rain stopped or if he got too warm. And then I allowed him to make his own choice, and to experience the consequences of his choice. I believe that children must be allowed to make some of their own choices and that people learn from making mistakes.

When deciding what choices to allow your children to make, you need to ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen?” I believed that the worst that could happen to my son is that he would be cold, wet, and uncomfortable. I could live with that – I was warm, dry, and comfortable because I made a better choice than he did. I also believed that my son was smart enough to learn from his mistake…if indeed he felt it was a mistake.

When I ask parents what’s the worst that can happen if their child does not wear a jacket, I always hear “My child will catch a cold”. Today I found an article that supports my answer of “No, they won’t!” Children’s Health at EverydayHeath.com says “bad weather does not cause colds” and indeed, “cold weather appears to activate the immune system”, actually boosting your child’s ability to fight off a cold.

So this fall, let your child to leave their jacket at home if they make that choice, allow your child to discover for themselves if that was a good choice or bad, and rest assured that the worst that can happen is not so bad after all!