Help me get layers for forest school right....

[AnotherRunofthemillusername]

Today my little one had her first day at forest school and I got the layers wrong, she was cold.

She wore merino long sleeved top + leggings for baselayers, thermal socks, a cotton top, jeans, a knitted cardi and waterproofs and wellies. As well as Gloves (Plus a hat & scarf in her bag although not worn). It was 8 degrees, meant to be 9 degrees next week so similar.

She does have a Didriksons snowsuit I could put on her next time, but it seems a bit excessive.
I could put her coat over her waterproofs, or possibly ditch the normal clothes and put on a second layer of baselayers instead?

What do you recommend?

Joggers warmer than jeans imo.
What about a body warmer/gilet?

Did she get wet?

Ditch the jeans! Get some thick joggers or fleece trousers instead. Jeans are horrid in chilly weather, they never feel cosy.

Wet feet I meant! Are the wellies leaking?
Agree jeans not good for warmth.

No coat?!

H and m do brushed fleece leggings which were great when my little one was at forest school

Try bogs boots not wellies, they are warmer

And for feet, get some Bogs or similar, and stick a sheepskin insole in them. Wellies are very cold footwear, I can't wear them for this reason.

My kids spend a lot of time outdoors. We use soft shell trousers that are fleece lined in the winter, plus I'd ditch the cardigan in favour of a hooded fleece.

I agree...jeans are not great for play wear. They don’t provide adequate warmth or enough flexibility for climbing etc. I’d say you really need a base layer, then a jumper, then fleece lined all-in-one waterproof. Or buy separates, fleece lined sallopettes and a fleece lined coat.

Thank you everyone, looking online now. All I needed today was a cardi so I was surprised she was cold, tends to run warm. No she didn't get wet.

At this time of year I used to put a fleece lined waterproof coat over some waterproof trousers, over some jogging bottoms, over some thermal leggings. And on top a thermal top, plus a normal top (DS had a polo neck soft cotton one) plus a fleece. Our thermals were from Decathlon and our waterproofs from some swedish company, but the fleece lined jacket was either Boden or M&S. You can get fleece gloves and hat from Decathlon. DS also wore goretex waterproof shoes rather than wellies.

Base layers, top + brushed H&M leggings, fleece, gilet, waterproofs. Changing wellies to baby bogs or winter boots... That okay? Or maybe wellie liners if they'll do the job?
My partner is from New York so insane winters and he insisting she will be too hot.

Synthetic gilets worth looking at. Also neck warmer or buff

‘Warm welly’ boots, expensive but worth it- buy a size bigger.
M&S thermal tops over the merino wool, windproof fleece and joggers.

Vest
Long sleeved top
School jumper
Waterproof coat
Jeans
Waterproof trousers
Hat

How old is she? Is this a part of preschool or school? Or do you drop her and collect her?

If this is going to be a regular thing, invest in some merino wool base layers. You can get kids sized ones reasonably priced from Go Outdoors. Also wool mix hiking socks. I spend a great deal of time outdoors year round. Merino wool is key.

No jeans
Thick tights under joggers and socks ?
Hat is a must, one of those soft neck things...
Vest ..long sleeve t shirt ....fleece ....gilet.....waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers to pull on if wet ?.

For ds I would usually go with
Tights
Joggers or leggings
Vest
Long sleeved t shirt
Jumper
Wet suit
Coat if cold
Wellies
Hat

And not jeans. Joggers (not 100% cotton,,/ bit of polyester add warmth and durability abs stops them soaking up so much water).

Jeans are useless outdoors.

Base layers +
Fleece layer +
Waterproof shell

Should be enough for this country. If cold then add another thin base layer.

Gloves are the most important thing, Need to be properly waterproof. Goretex is the best. Good socks also important. Smart wool are great.

Ski salopettes over leggings and base layer/tights. Fleece over base layer then waterproof.

When you say ‘waterproofs’, what do you mean? I think you need waterproof trousers. And also a reasonably warm coat, not just a raincoat type thing.

It's worth bearing in mind that there's probably a fair bit of sitting/slow movement, and it will be shady and very cold at the moment so she may well be chilly.

In the class with the tinies in the school I work in, the children introduce themselves with their forest school name each session, and are encouraged to say aloud what changes they have noticed since the last session. So sometimes a good 15 minutes of sitting and listening. There might be a mud kitchen too - lots of lovely, cold, mud to play with.

Ours have been asked to bring in joggers, long sleeve top, a hoody, - to go over their uniform- a hat, scarf, gloves, warm socks, wellies/snowboots and waterproofs large enough to go over their clothes. (All labelled too.) It takes ages to get them ready .

Sherpa fleece is very fluffy and warm, joggers are good, and snow boots keep feet warmer than wellies.