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This study used meteorological monitoring, subjective thermal perception surveys, and activity records to explore the factors that affect children's outdoor thermal comfort in China's severely cold regions. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) was used to determine children's thermal benchmarks and calendar, based on which a strategy to improve thermal comfort was proposed. Results showed (1) significant differences in solar radiation and wind speed, but not in air temperature and relative humidity between different areas. (2) Different Microclimate parameters affected children's thermal perception in different seasons: solar radiation (G) in winter, air temperature (T a) in summer. (3) Children tolerate the UTCI changes in winter than in summer. (4) Children's neutral UTCI in winter and summer were 9.7 °C and 17.6 °C, respectively, and its ranges were 2.3–17.1 °C and 13.6–21.7 °C, respectively. The thermal acceptability range by 80% of the interviewed children was 2.1–16.3 °C. (5) Based on these results, a thermal comfort improvement on two dimensions—children and the environment—was implemented. This study enriches basic research on children's outdoor thermal comfort and provides a reference for the construction of urban child-friendly spaces. • Outdoor thermal comfort was investigated in a children's park in Harbin, China. • Children's thermal sensation votes are positively correlated with activity intensity. • Neutral UTCI and its range were compared between boys and girls. • The thermal environment and activity facilities impact children's attendance rate. • Prolonged living in cold climate regions increases tolerance to lower temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]