Best clothes for forest school?

[EverybodyWantsTo]

DC just started reception and will have forest school weekly from next week. A lot of kids seem to be getting all in ones but these are pretty thin and also probably quite difficult to get on by themselves?

Is it best to get a really big all in one so it might go over a fleece as well as a jumper? Or do separate waterproof trousers and a waterproof coat?

Very interested in recommendations for specific items or shops to look at please!

Fleece dungarees from Lidl/aldi, can never remember which. Some sturdy wellies (Viking ones are great) and a coat you don't mind getting muddy.

Agree with you that all in ones are a bit trickier but they cover more and keep them toasty. Both my kids were at a forest school preschool setting from 3, they got the hang of the dungarees quickly enough!

Hope your little one enjoys it and settles in for their first year well!!

I'd go for waterproof dungarees and waterproof coat from Muddy Puddles. They have different ranges of lining and warmth. I'd go for a middling one and bundle up underneath. When it's really cold in winter, a thermal vest and long johns base layer.

Muddy Puddles are the most waterproof clothing I've ever found for children and can't recommend highly enough. I personally prefer the all in one suits but they might be tricky at forest school. Their clothing is also made on the large side so plenty of room for layering up underneath.

I'd also go for a balaclava in the depths of winter over a hat.

As long as he can get it on and off again then an all on one would be better. Even with a coat and trousers it's hard to go to the toilet anyway. At least with an all in one they have to take it off! With a coat they might leave it on and then it's hard to go anyway.

I'd get snow boots rather than wellies. And decent gloves.

My top would be to get him to put it all on and off, including the gloves, numerous times at home until he can do it confidently.

We had the togz wellie weather suits. They still make them 25 years later identical.

Dungarees and a coat. Fleece or puffer jacket for underneath. Spare gloves. Good hat (fleece lined) that stays on.
Wellies they can get on and off themselves - some have a built in hand hole/loop at the top.
Bright colours they can recognise as their own.

DS went to a forest school nursery and they always recommended the waterproof dungarees with warm tops and a waterproof coat if needed. These come up high enough to stop water rising up the back (as with trousers), but if you get the ones with elastic shoulder straps, even small kids can usually pull them on quite easily. As PP have said, if you time it right, Lidl do amazing ones (we had a pair do 4 winters between our kids).

Oh yes, and fleece tops.they dry quickly if the kids do get wet.

My daughter goes to a forest school nursery and the ones from Lidl are the best - dry really quickly. We use a dungarees and coat combo.

Separates.
our nursery doesn’t like all in ones as on nicer days but wet in Autumn they often put just the waterproof dungarees on over jumper and no coat, or the coat goes on and comes off if too hot. If all in one they can’t take top layer off if weathers nice.

Waterproof trousers are best I think. They can go to the toilet fairly easily. I usually get ours in the (very frequent) sales in mountain warehouse. At preschool they recommended jogging bottoms, waterproof trousers, long sleeve t shirt, fleece and waterproof coat. Plus wellies with thick Welly socks.