Children's hardening is the primary element of health promotion for young athletes. The most common method is water hardening (rubbing, bathing in cool water, wiping with wet towels). This type of hardening plays an important role in the development of the immunity of healthy children, as well as babies with developmental disabilities. Properly organized children's hardening is based on the ability of the body to gradually adapt to non-standard conditions, in particular, temperature extremes. It is important to gradually make the transition from delicate hardening procedures to more aggressive ones, so as not to frighten the child and not to chill him (especially in the initial stages).

Properly organized hardening has a beneficial effect on both the physical and psychological health of babies. It strengthens the nervous system, improves blood circulation, stabilizes metabolic processes. While hardening, a number of conditioned reflexes are formed, which subsequently help create protective reactions. As a result, the baby quickly adapts to changeable weather and does not get sick at the first cold snap, as before. Regularly tempered children respond well to changing weather conditions. Thus, a delicate, but effective adaptation of the child to low temperatures gradually occurs.