Being outside all day is a brilliant thing and a winter forest school session is a lot more fun with the right clothes. Cold weather can make being outdoors more of a challenge if you aren’t dressed correctly, especially for children.
What to wear
Base Layer
The children will be outside, so thermal leggings (long johns) with a thermal long-sleeved top. If you don’t have those and it’s not too cold, tights will do at a push.
Warm trousers – fleecy ones like jogging trousers or tracksuit bottoms.
A long-sleeved T-shirt or thin top.
A fleece sweater (preferably one that zips up).
Socks – a thin “normal” pair (like school socks, preferably cotton) and then a thick pair of ski, thermal or woolly socks.
Outer layer
A warm coat or jacket – one that doesn’t matter if it gets wet or muddy.
Hat and scarf.
Gloves.
Snow boots or warm boots are better than wellies: wellington boots need a couple of pairs of socks inside on cold days, so be prepared to go up a size or two. Their ordinary wellies probably won’t be roomy enough for the warm layers.
Waterproofs – even more important in winter than in summer. Puddle suits or rain suits are perfect. For older children, waterproof trousers and a light waterproof jacket. Waterproof mittens can fit over woollen mittens for dry hands in wet weather.
Extra Kit
Use your judgement on really cold days: send your children to forest school with an extra jumper or base layer if it feels like that would be needed. They can always take layers off but it’s hard to get warm if you don’t have the right kit.
Spare gloves, spare socks and a change of trousers (in case they fall in the snow or water while not wearing waterproofs – it happens!).
"There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing"
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