10 Top Tips for children and young people to stay warm

10 Top Tips for children and
young people to stay warm
In 2010 Children in Wales visited schools across
Wales to talk to children and young people about
the causes, effects and solutions to fuel poverty.
Here are some tips based on what they told us on
how you can keep warm:
Wear the right clothes
Around the house wear thick jumpers, warm socks and slippers
Outside wear a warm coat, hat, gloves and scarf
Lots of thin layers are better than one thick layer
Eat hot food, drink warm drinks - heating from the inside out
Try eating porridge for breakfast or having warm milk on your cereal
Warm up leftovers for lunch
Drink cups of soup or warm squash
Exercise
Jog to the shops rather than walking
Run up the stairs when you go up for something
Even doing housework or exercises sat down will help keep you warm!
Keep a blanket handy
Pull a blanket over your knees or shoulders when you are sitting still or watching TV
Make it easy on yourself and keep a spare blanket on the sofa or in your room
Use a hot water bottle/ electric blanket
With electric blankets you pay to heat your bed rather than an entire room
or house. One flick of the switch and your bed is toasty within 15 minutes
Hot water bottles are great and can be used on your lap, sofa or in your bed.
But be careful of HOT water - if you’ve not used one before ask an adult!
Keep doors and windows closed
Sounds simple but make sure all windows and doors are kept shut
When you leave the house make sure that you close the door as quickly
as possible to keep all of that precious heat in
Help your family prepare for winter
In the summer start putting money aside for your heating in the winter
In the autumn make sure you are well stocked up with wood,
coal or oil if you use it
Look out for free wood throughout the year if you have a wood fire
Look out for government grants for you and your family.
You could get help with some of the following
Budgeting / paying bills
Insulating your home
Installing an energy efficient boiler
Spend your money wisely
Every penny your family saves is another penny towards
keeping warm in winter – do you really need that latest TV?
Keep one room warm
 Heating one room only will save you money
 Make sure there are no draughts and try and
stay in there as much as possible
This poster is part of our Keeping Warm this Winter project. To view the DVD or read the report visit www.childreninwales.org.uk or www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales