Tips on how to dress your children, no matter the weather!
Children learn through messy play. Due to the nature of outdoor play, please only send your child to forest school in clothes they may get muddy, wet, painted, torn, spotted/dotted and in general…dirty.
Tip #1 - Fantastic Elastic
Pants with elastic waistbands are more comfortable for children (and easier to pull up and down for going to the bathroom) instead of ones with buttons or snaps.
Tip #2 - LAYERS!!!
Some days are 1-layer clothing days, some 2-layer days, and others are 3-layer days. It is much easier to take layers off as needed than to warm a child that has already gotten chilled. The children’s needs throughout the day are often unpredictable and will depend on the weather conditions, the child’s body temperature regulation, and activity level.
"Learning in nature generates a sense of purpose, personal growth, and environmental awareness that research has shown to have lasting effects." (Braun & Dierkes, 2017).
Tip #3 - Under Things that Cling
Wearing a layer of wool long underwear underneath a thick wool sweater and fleece pants is the most effective way to layer children under their rain gear to keep your child warm without feeling too bulky. Tight fitting and flexible base layers made of polyester, Merino wool, or silk work best in cold weather.
Tip #4 - Tie-dying helps clothes look decent even when they have become stained.
This is an excellent way to instill the art and appreciation of transformation in your child. What was once pristine now has the audacity to have a stain, yet this is NOT the end of the line for this article of clothing. Take some time and add some new personality into the cloth and voilà! You have now extended the life of your child's clothes!
Tip #5 - Maintaining Gear
Rain Gear
Can go in the wash by itself when you get home on the rinse cycle (without soap - to preserve the waterproofing a little longer)
Drip dry is best, but you can put it in a low-heat dryer cycle.
Jackets may be slightly less muddy than pants, so you may get a few days of wear out of them before needing to rinse them.
Wool
When aired out at night, wool does not hold odors and when worn under other layers, only needs to be washed every few weeks.
When you do...wash on cool and let it drip dry.
Boots
Boot dryers can get your child’s boots ready by the next day.
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