Nothing is more magical than playing in the snow, but figuring out how to keep your kids warm without breaking the bank is an arduous task.

Here are our favorite tips and top picks for kids winter clothing.

1. Layer like an onion

Dress your kids like a bushel of onions—in layers, that is. You may have heard the tip a gazillion times, but here is why it works: layering creates pockets of warm air between garments, providing fabulous insulation. Old Navy has a great selection of waffle tees and henleys that are fun and affordable.

2. Fabulous fleece

Fleece jackets provide the perfect insulation –they’re soft, stretchy, and they don’t itch! The material will hold up fabulously in the throes of a spin cycle and is easily zipped into an outer protective shell. Stores like Old Navy, Target and Wal-Mart have the best fleece prices in town in a smashing array of colors and designs.

Kids' Snow Wear3. Crawl into a shell

Choose a snow jacket that has ribbing or elastic at the wrist to help lock out snow. Be sure to look for a longer length jacket so torsos aren’t exposed when building snowmen or sledding head first down the hill.  C9 by Champion makes a great puffer jacket for boys, and we are more than partial toward the Cherokee brand Puffer Jacket for the little ladies.

4. Put mittens on your kittens

While gloves offer more finger dexterity for building that snowman, mittens actually allow more warm air to circulate around little fingers. Seek out mittens with elasticized wrists and longer cuffs to prevent snow from sneaking in. Sierra Trading Post, has a great selection of kids winter accessories and they’re famous for their low prices.

5. Sun babies

It may be winter outside, but kids can still get sunburned, especially when sunlight reflects off the snow. Slather your children with SPF 25 or higher sunblock and lip balm, in addition to UV blocking sunglasses or goggles.

Cheryl Says

Team up with your friends who have kids and trade up snow gear that has been outgrown. Outerwear that has only been worn for one season will be like new…and will be extra friendly to your wallet!