When living a traditional way of life, children wore national fur clothing. At the age of one to five or six years old, the child was dressed in a pull-over fur coat — a malitsa.

A malitsa is an over-the-shoulder garment worn exclusively by northern peoples, and is worn by people across the vast expanse from Murmansk to Chukotka. It is very comfortable and practical. This clothing best suits both the climatic conditions of high latitudes and the type of economy of the northern peoples. Most often it was sewn in two layers, the fur was inside and outside. A malitsa consisted of a base — a stitched front and back, — a dense hood, sleeves, hem and lining.

Before cutting and sewing a malitsa, it was necessary to select and prepare the material. When choosing the fur its color, as well as the texture and length of hair were necessarily taken into account. Children’s malitsas were sewed only from soft light-colored hides. The film and subcutaneous tissue were carefully scraped off the hide with a special scraper. This process was repeated three or four times, with an interval of drying and kneading skins by hand. Skins were sewn so that in the pattern and direction of the fur they looked like one whole. The malitsa was comfortable because the hood and mittens were sewn to its base, so the garment did not leave any open area of the body. Also, thanks to this design the coat did not fall open during active games and walks. The hood of the malitsa, made from the skin of a deer’s head, preserved the natural outlines of eye sockets, openings from the horns and ears of the animal. All these parts were decorated with traditional patterns, strips of fur, and bright cloth.

Starting at the age of six or seven, girls and boys were dressed in clothes that were already divided into women’s and men’s outfits, both externally and functionally. With these outfits children were given certain social roles and tried to conform to them in their daily activities.