Wee Folk Forest Kindergarten Clothing Guide

“There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing.”

 At Wee Folk Forest Kindergarten, we want to set our children up for success in the forest! Making deliberate clothing choices for our children allows them the freedom to engage with the natural world, without spending their energy on feeling physically uncomfortable due to inappropriate clothing choices. If you have good tips or tricks that we could incorporate into our recommendations, please tell us! The following recommendations are based on a combination of sources, including CedarSong Preschool (nature-based) in Washington State, Tinkergarten Early Childhood Program and advice from saavy parents.  

We encourage you to hunt for bargains on craigslist, or join a local parents’ group through Facebook or email (such as Boulder Rockin’ Moms, a yahoo group) to post your clothing needs and see who might be ready to pass them along to you! We’ve also had some success with Childish Things Consignment store in Boulder. 

The rule of thumb with gearing up for outdoor play (for adults and children) is layering. We follow a three-layer system during cold weather, which includes a base layer, mid-layer and outer, waterproof layer.  

Even though many of us still believe that all our heat can be lost through the tops of our heads, its’ actually the case that we lose most of our heat through our cores, and protecting our core is our biggest defense against getting too cold. It’s also important, although not widely discussed, to honor the body’s own insulating layer of warmth that surrounds the skin; although the base layer should be right next to the skin, nothing should be too tight—and please avoid doubling up on socks inside of boots for this reason too. 

A wise parent practice is to keep an extra set of clothes in the car to use on an as-needed basis. Sometimes it’s all we need just to switch into a pair of warm, dry socks or a dry pair of mittens for the drive home.  You can even place a plastic drawer organizer for dry clothes in your trunk, if you’re the organized type! And don’t forget plastic grocery bags or reusable wet/dry bags to stow clothes that are wet/muddy (like Planet Wise Bags).  

Please Note: We have partnered with Oaki.com so that our Wee Folk Forest Kindergarten families and staff will receive a 10% discount on all purchases. Just use the discount code: oakischool 

Wet, Cold Weather (above 40 degrees )

Colorado’s somewhat unpredictable weather is also somewhat forgiving, in that we don’t often experience torrential downpours for days at a time, or snow that collects and stays around for months. But it’s important to be prepared and anticipate weather, such as rain, which can come during many months of the year (although we always seem to want more of it!).

Boots

Although they are cute, we only recommend children’s standard rain boots for mud play, and not for cold weather. Our top boots recommendation are Bogs brand boots, which are waterproof, insulated, and seem to last and last, even through siblings! For smaller feet, check out Kamik or Sorel boots, which are insulated for the smallest folks. You can also check out the insulated Neoprene Rain/Snow Boots at Oaki.com.

 Layers 

The two layers you’ll want for wet, cold weather (above 40 degrees) are:

·      Base Layer (cotton, wool or silk long underwear or regular clothes)

·      Outer Layer (waterproof one piece rain suit)

For base layers in wool, you can look into: EllasWool.com or we know that LittleSpruceOrganics.com carries wool, silk and cotton options as well.

For more cotton layers you can check out: http://www.polarnopyretusa.com/

For socks and hats, check REI or other online discount outdoors sites (ex: SteepandCheap.com)

To purchase your child’s one piece rainsuit, please check out Tuffo Muddy Buddy Suits or Oaki’s Trail Rain Suits. We know Oaki.com also carries toddler and child sized waders for all your creek wading needs.

Hat

We recommend a regular warm winter hat, even in the rain, as we can always pull a hood from a rain jacket up over the hat, and stay warm and dry. You probably don’t need to worry about an actual waterproof hat.

Mittens

A lightweight, waterproof or fleece pair of mittens can still really help on rainy days, just for keeping fingers warm.  More heavy-duty mitten choices are discussed below.

Cold, Winter Weather (below 40 degrees)

Layers are the key to having fun in cold, winter weather! For children who are reluctant to put on layers of clothing, we recommend a staged approach: Base layer goes on right after waking in the morning (or is already used as pajamas to skip a step). Second layer goes on after breakfast, or at some other natural transition point in the morning. Outer layer goes on in the minutes before you get into the car—or upon arriving at the forest.  We are also not above using incentives! Once we get your pants on, let’s read that story together or we can play chase for a minute, etc….

Here’s your cheat sheet:

·      Base Layer (cotton, wool or silk long underwear + socks or tights- preferably wool, like Smartwool socks)

·      Second Layer (comfy pants or second base layer, sweater)

·      Outer Layer (coat, hat, mittens & waterproof snow pants or one piece snowsuit)

·      Boots!

For base layers in wool, you can look into: EllasWool.com or we know that LittleSpruceOrganics.com carries wool, silk and cotton options as well.

For more cotton layers you can check out: http://www.polarnopyretusa.com/

For socks and hats, check REI or other online discount outdoors sites (ex: SteepandCheap.com)

Sweater

For your sweater under the outer layer, you can go for cozy wool, or even a polar fleece or down sweater like the ones made by Patagonia.

Jackets

For jackets, there are a lot of great options out there. In general, you are looking for something tough, water resistant, really well insulated, with a hood.  You can do a two-part jacket, like a Columbia Bugaboo Interchange jacket, or you can do a ski jacket like the ones made by Oaki.com. A puffy jacket might be great if it’s water resistant, but make sure it can handle being “snagged” by tree branches. If you go with a down jacket, you will want to purchase an outer waterproof and windproof shell as well.

Snow Pants/Snow Suit

Snow pants with suspenders are superior for staying up and keeping snow out! And for little ones, a one-piece snowsuit is awesome. You can check Oaki.com or there are lots of great brand options at REI or online discount outdoor stores. Look for well insulated, waterproof options.

 Mittens

For playing in cold, winter weather, at least two good pairs of waterproof mittens is critical. We have heard good things about the mittens at LBow.com, which fit over the elbow and on the outside of your child’s jacket to prevent snow from getting in. They also have an Easy Dry Insert option if you need to dry sweaty mittens at the end of play.

 You can also look into Snow Stoppers Waterproof Mittens, available at Amazon.com. These are the most popular mittens at our school, and they are very affordable…

Neck Warmer

If it’s a windy, cold day, you can add a neck warmer (fleece) that can be pulled up over the mouth if needed. We also recommend spreading a layer of Aquaphor or coconut oil over any exposed skin prior to spending time in windy, cold weather-to protect the skin and prevent chapping.

Hat

Any warm hat that covers the ears completely should be a good choice. You can choose from wool, cotton or fleece, and you might want to look at hats with ear flaps if that will work best for your child. For the really young ones, getting a hat that fastens under the chin is super helpful for preventing the inevitable “hat flinging” game that young children love.

 A Little Extra Help

For really chilly days, if your child is needing a little extra motivation, we recommend using hand warmers/toe warmers such as the air-activated variety made by HotHands.com.

You can also bring a thermos of hot tea, for warming up from the inside out. Blueberry or peach herbal tea like the ones made by Celestial Seasonings are great choices!

Did I overdress my child?

Feel your child’s upper back, and if it’s sweaty, they are overdressed—just remove a layer. Some children run hot! Just keep this in mind if you have a little heater living in your house.