The purpose of this review is to highlight differences in thermoregulatory
responses during activity of children and adolescents compared with adults.
Some differences are due to movement inefficiency and physical size such as body
surface area to body mass ratio, and body composition. Identified physiological differences
in sweat rates appear to alter with maturation, at least in boys, but the
research remains incomplete. A number of findings from hydration studies with young
people exercising in the heat are also discussed. The research on clothing is adultbased,
but key concepts from this research also apply to children. The final section
addresses the limited research on acclimatization of children to hot conditions. Specific
recommendations for children who are active in the heat conclude this review.