# Am I right to insist on a closed jacket? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 18, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659 "2016-06-18T02:05:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scottish\_Cailyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Scottish\_Cailyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scottish_Cailyn)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/1 "2016-06-18T02:05:58Z")
I have 1 daughter, Rhona (6) but she is really bad for one thing, she does not like her jacket done up, when its really unpleasant outside she will come out of school with it undone and when I ask her to do up the zip, she complains and asks me to do it and when I do, she wriggles/fidgets about. She wo’nt wear hoodies or jumpers so the only clothes she has which has a zip is her jacket plus, she is fussy regarding jackets, she will only wear ones that are Regatta, Northface or Trespass and have zips and velcro. Now my opinion is, if she needs a jacket on then its either cold or unpleasant outside so I INSIST it get done up, im my opinion, the jacket has a zip/velcro for a reason plus I don’t like the jacket flapping all over the place. So, am I right in insisting that the jacket is done up, would you do the same? ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/2 "2016-06-18T02:11:14Z")
You’re her mum, so you’re naturally right. 🙂 Soon though you’ll need to just let her suffer through a cold miserable drizzle since a soaked body teaches best. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/3 "2016-06-18T02:24:13Z")
The human body can tolerate cold a lot better than most moms think that it can. I haven’t worn a winter jacket in years (the most I wear is a sweatjacket - I’m not even sure I have a winter coat that fits any more). I wouldn’t suggest letting her go out without a jacket like I do, since little kids get colder faster than a full size adult like me does. If she gets cold enough, she’ll zip it up on her own. So from a hot/cold point of view, there’s absolutely no reason she needs to zip it up. If it’s raining and you don’t want the clothes underneath to get wet, that’s certainly a valid reason. If the jacket flapping around annoys you, then she must zip it up simply because she’s a kid and a kid must do what the parent says until they are 18. “Mommy said so” is a perfectly good reason for just about anything. But other than rain/wet, there’s no physical reason she needs to zip it up. I personally let my kids wear whatever they wanted. My wife would get upset and say that they needed to wear a jacket or something heavier or whatever, and I would just shrug and say if they get cold, they’ll put something heavier on. If they aren’t getting cold, there’s no need, no matter what mommy thinks. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/4 "2016-06-18T02:30:19Z")
If you tell her to and she complains and makes you do it - are you _sure_ she can do it on her own? If she has trouble connecting it at the bottom, she’ll likely just not bother. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/5 "2016-06-18T03:31:15Z")
Just to be clear, what is the “Great Debate” that is being propose here? ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/6 "2016-06-18T03:40:15Z")
Mace, that’s enough. Yes, it’s worth moving to IMHO. However, if that’s the case please simply report it and leave it to me. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/7 "2016-06-18T03:49:08Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > The human body can tolerate cold a lot better than most moms think that it can. I haven’t worn a winter jacket in years (the most I wear is a sweatjacket - I’m not even sure I have a winter coat that fits any more). I wouldn’t suggest letting her go out without a jacket like I do, since little kids get colder faster than a full size adult like me does. If she gets cold enough, she’ll zip it up on her own. > > So from a hot/cold point of view, there’s absolutely no reason she needs to zip it up. > > If it’s raining and you don’t want the clothes underneath to get wet, that’s certainly a valid reason. > > If the jacket flapping around annoys you, then she must zip it up simply because she’s a kid and a kid must do what the parent says until they are 18. “Mommy said so” is a perfectly good reason for just about anything. > > But other than rain/wet, there’s no physical reason she needs to zip it up. > > I personally let my kids wear whatever they wanted. My wife would get upset and say that they needed to wear a jacket or something heavier or whatever, and I would just shrug and say if they get cold, they’ll put something heavier on. If they aren’t getting cold, there’s no need, no matter what mommy thinks. This. Choose your battles. If she’s cold, she can fix it. If she’s not cold (and doesn’t need to keep dry), there’s no problem here. My job as a parent is to keep my kids housed, fed, and alive. And the middle one is shaky. Otherwise, I will offer my opinion thusly: “I’m going to wear my coat today and zip it up, because the wind is really chilly! Would you like help zipping up?” And if the kid doesn’t want to zip up, fine. If the kid needs my help, fine. Her coat zipper isn’t about survival, therefore it’s her problem, not mine. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/8 "2016-06-18T03:51:12Z")
> [@Scottish\_Cailyn](#): > > So, am I right in insisting that the jacket is done up, would you do the same? Technically, I suppose, since you are her mother, you are entitled to insist she do up her jacket. I personally did not make my son do up his jacket unless it was pouring down rain and I had a good reason for him not getting wet. A good reason would be, he needs his nice clothes to stay dry until we get to church or something like that. If we were just coming home from school, I didn’t really care. When he got to be around 10 or so, I didn’t even insist he wear a jacket. If he’s cold, he’ll decide to wear it next time, or not. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/9 "2016-06-18T03:59:28Z")
Different dopers have put together what I’d say. Make sure it’s not a problem where she can’t do it. Make sure she realized that she will get warmer if she zips up. And then let her decide if it’s warm enough. Though I’d also suggest maybe compromising, and letting her zip it partway up. Maybe she doesn’t like the restricting movement you sometimes get when you zip too far. I never did. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/10 "2016-06-18T08:59:39Z")
> [@Scottish\_Cailyn](#): > > she is fussy regarding jackets, she will only wear ones that are Regatta, Northface or Trespass A 6 year old gets a veto over the _ **brand** _ of jacket? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/11 "2016-06-18T10:32:00Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > A 6 year old gets a veto over the _ **brand** _ of jacket? Now we may need to move this back to Great Debates, maybe the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/12 "2016-06-18T10:36:28Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > A 6 year old gets a veto over the _ **brand** _ of jacket? I’m understanding it as having been written backwards: kid only likes jackets with zippers and velcro, and those are only available from those three brands. My mother has been trying to get me into jackets for 46 years now (before that I wasn’t able to take them off); there have been very, very few ones I was comfortable with. And anything high-necked, forget about it. I have a feeling this is a case where I would be on the kid’s side. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/13 "2016-06-18T10:42:02Z")
I would make sure she has a singlet on under her shirt, insist on a scarf, and then let the zipping up of the front be her choice! ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/14 "2016-06-18T10:58:07Z")
Why are you insisting on anything? If she gets cold she can zip it or ask for help. She’s six, not two. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/15 "2016-06-18T11:24:04Z")
Guess I was a lousy parent, never even noticing such things. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/16 "2016-06-18T11:40:20Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I’m understanding it as having been written backwards: kid only likes jackets with zippers and velcro, and those are only available from those three brands… fair enough then, I misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/17 "2016-06-18T11:54:12Z")
Perhaps she has made the rather obvious association between zippers and body bags? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/18 "2016-06-18T12:53:49Z")
Of course she doesn’t want it done up; she wants to look cool, like Fonzie. Did Fonzie ever zip his jacket up to the neck? No, not that I can remember or find on Google Images! And if he did, I bet it looked pretty uncool, is the point. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/19 "2016-06-18T13:00:40Z")
Kid’s 6 and won’t cover up, eh? Good luck keeping her off the pole. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659/20 "2016-06-18T13:15:35Z")
Nope. I think my kids get body autonomy from a fairly young age. If I’m bugged by their untied shoes, that is my problem - not theirs - just like its my problem on a strangers feet. I can point out the benefits of tying their shoes (shoes stay on your feet better, you are less likely to trip), but unless its truly risky (and neither a jacket or shoelaces are) or destructive (wearing the dress bought for their Aunt’s wedding to play in before the wedding), I leave it to them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-right-to-insist-on-a-closed-jacket/757659.md?page=2)