​​​Playing in the snow at Lake Tahoe, whether you're skiing, boarding, tubing, sledding or just throwing snowballs, can be great fun. Dressing to stay warm is the secret to a fun day at Lake Tahoe in the Winter. This article explains how to dress your kids for snow play, to keep them warm and dry.  

Dress in several thin layers under waterproof snow pants and jacket 
The first layer should be a wicking material to keep moisture away from the skin These are a good example of a quality base layer made by Columbia.(Youth Midweight Warm Tight) and (Youth Baselayer Warm Absorbent Midweight Crew 2)

For colder days, a fleece top or jacket make a good second layer. 

Kids feet should stay dry too! Moisture-wicking socks work great for this purpose. Kids should wear one pair of socks, not more. Multiple pairs wrinkle and bunch up in the boot, causing discomfort. Waterproof boots are essential. Our favorite waterproof boots areBogs for Kids - Waterproof Children's Shoes.  These boots are very warm.  They're rated for approximately 30 degrees below zero.  Our family has kept warm in these boots for more than ten winters. These boots come in kid and adult sizes.

Waterproof pants & jacket Staying dry while playing in the snow is very important. Once the clothes are wet, staying warm is virtually impossible. Remember, there is a difference between "Water Resistant" and "Waterproof" outer wear (parkas and snow pants). You can't always tell by looking. 

The product descrptions will specify what level of water protection clothing provides. Depending on how cold it is, you might want to have your child's pants and jacket both waterproof and insulated for warmth. In Spring conditions, insulation might be too warm. After trying several brand-name parkas, we finally discovered theBugaboo Collection by Columbia. Each member of our family now wears this parka.  In addition to being a great waterproof parka, it offers a removable liner.  This liner is removable for warmer days and provides an invaluable second layer on colder days.  We've had similar success with the Bugaboo Pants, also by Columbia.   Both the Bugaboo Tech parka and pants are also available in adult sizes.

Waterproof gloves or mittens  Not all kids gloves or mittens are waterproof. The product description will specify if they are waterproof. It has been our experience that mittens are better for young kids.Once kids are old enough to have the dexterity to benefit from each finger, gloves may be a better choice.

Goggles or sunglasses with UV400 Protection  Children may not be as interested as adults are in the fashion aspect of "fashion eyewear". But because kids spend much more time than most adults do outdoors and in direct sunlight, protecting kids' eyes from ultra violet is especially important.
In fact, many experts believe our eyes get 80 percent of their total lifetime exposure to the sun's UV rays by age 18. And since excessive lifetime exposure to UV radiation has been linked to the development of cataracts and other eye problems, it's never too early for kids to begin wearing good quality sunglasses outdoors. Lenses in kids' sunglasses should be clearly marked as capable of providing 100 percent UV protection, with UV400 rated lenses.

Helmet (for skiing, snowboarding, tubing and sledding) 
For all the same reasons your children wear bike helmets, ski helmets are a good idea. If your child wears a ski helmet, remember you may have to raise your voice more to get their attention because a helmet may impede their hearing. Make sure the helmet fits correctly. A ski helmet is not an item you buy for your child to grow into. Educate your child about the benefits and limitations of the helmet. Wearing a helmet doesn't give permission to ski or snowboard faster or recklessly. Most ski schools rent helmets for kids, or include them in the ski school package. Call ski schools to learn more.

A warm hat (only if you're not planning on using a helmet) Kids should wear a hat or headband, 80 percent of heat-loss is through the head. 

Plenty of sunscreen Be sure they wear sun protection, even on cloudy days. The sun reflects off the snow and is stronger than you think! A ski vacation with a sun burn is no fun!