Clothing & Gear

Expect your child to go outside every day! Children must be dressed in adequate layers and prepared for the outdoors every morning. At Trillium Christian Nature Preschool we believe that there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing choices. It is the family’s responsibility to ensure their child(ren) has proper clothing for school at all times. We want children to be comfortable and confident outside and being properly dressed is the first step to accomplish this.

Students are involved in many types of activities while attending Trillium Christian Nature Preschool and should be dressed accordingly. Hands-on nature-based experiential education requires freedom from restrictive clothing. Students need simple, comfortable, practical clothing that will not interfere with their active work. Students need comfortable, protective shoes with gripping soles for running, jumping, and climbing. Sneakers or hiking shoes work best, and close-toed sandals with a heel strap are fine for warm weather (no flip-flops, clogs, dress shoes, or backless shoes please). Please provide your child(ren) with clothing and indoor shoes that they can manage independently.

Your child’s bin must include:

• 2 pairs of underwear
• 2 pairs of socks (1 pair wool or synthetic)
• 2 pairs of pants (1 pair can be shorts depending on the weather)
• 2 shirts (short or long sleeved depending on the weather)
• Indoor slippers (no flashing lights please)
• 1 winter or sun hat
• 1 pair of waterproof mittens (when seasonably appropriate)

Thoughts on Layering
Children do their best work outdoors when they are warm and dry! Layers are critically important, especially in wet and/or cold weather. Layering allows you to modify your body temperature and adapt to changing conditions. Two lighter layers are better than one heavy layer. Layering also allows you to adjust clothing to match your activity level.

Good Fiber Choices for Wet and Cold Weather
The best fibers to dress your child in for wet and cold weather are polypropylene or fleece – some silks and wool work too. Please no cotton! When cotton gets wet it has no warming or insulating ability and keeps your body wet and cold. The best plan is to wear water-resistant clothing that does not absorb moisture-such as polypropylene, fleece, silk, and wool. Save cotton t-shirts, pants, and socks for warm weather.

Getting Dirty
You should expect your child to get dirty! Please do not send them in anything you do not want dirty or wet. Make a plan for managing laundry as there will be plenty of it.

~ Recommendations for Outdoor Gear ~

Please send your child in outerwear that fits. When clothing is too small or too big it does not provide your child with proper protection or comfort.

Rain Pants
Rain pants are vital! Make sure they are waterproof and not just water-resistant. Wind pants do not provide the same protection as rain pants. Puddle pants work amazingly well at keeping children dry in serious mud and puddle play. Brands I would strongly recommend: Polarn O. Pyret, Abeko (of Sweden), Helly Hansen, Grundens, Playshoes, Columbia.

Snow Pants
Bib snow pants work well as they do not allow snow to sneak in at the waist. They also act as an additional core layer. L.L. Bean makes high-quality snow pants for children.

Socks
It is just as important for us to keep our feet warm and dry as it is for the rest of our body. Suggested brands are the following: Smart-Wool, Wigwam, Darn Tough, Fox River, and any sock without cotton! Remember that when cotton gets wet or cold it keeps us wet and cold. One thick, warm pair is better than two pairs. When we start layering socks blood flow becomes constricted and feet get cold. Please, no cotton in cold, wet, or cool weather.

Base Layers
Most outdoor clothing stores (EMS, REI, LL Bean, Patagonia) make their version of a base layer. You can now find base layers for children at Sierra and Walmart. The important thing is to purchase a base layer that is made from wicking materials and not cotton.

Mittens
Waterproof mittens (vs. gloves) work best for kiddos this age. Their hands stay warm and dry and they can usually sort out how to get their mittens on and off with very little help compared to gloves. I strongly recommend that your child own a pair of winter mittens AND a pair of rain mittens. Options we like include: REI (Timberland Mountain Mitter), Obermyer (Thumbs up), Marmot (Kids Split Mitten), Dakine (Yukon Junior Mitt), Abeko (Rain Mitten), and P.O.P. (Rain Mitten)

Hats
Again, keep good fiber choices in mind. In addition to a hat, please consider a neck gaiter or balaclava-style hat, both of which work well to keep necks and chins warm in windy, cold winter weather. Suggested brands: Turtle Fur, LL Bean, Columbia, EMS, and REI also make these.

Boots
Most boots list their “comfort test” temperature…look for boots that are comfort tested to 0 degrees or better. Bogs and Muck Boots are great brands because children can be independent when getting them on and off. They also work well for water and snow. Kamik (Scotty) and Oakiwear (Neoprene Rain/ Snow Boot) make their version of the Bog boot. These boots are expensive, but great deals can be found at second-hand stores, garage sales, eBay, and Facebook marketplace.

~ Layering Details ~

Insulation
Clothing keeps you warm by trapping warm air near your skin. When cotton gets wet, it ceases to insulate you because all of the air pockets in the fabric fill up with water. When you hike or play hard outdoors, you perspire, and any cotton clothing touching your skin will absorb your sweat like a sponge. If the air is colder than your body temperature, you’ll feel cold because your cotton clothing is saturated and no longer provides any insulation.

Wicking and Layering
In addition, wet cotton does not wick water away from your skin. Wicking fabrics move water from wet areas to dry ones using a process called capillary action. For example, a wicking base layer shirt made out of polyester, Capilene, or Techwick will move moisture from the surface of your skin to the outer layers of your shirt leaving the part of the fabric touching your skin dry. This is why layering is such an effective clothing strategy for hiking and playing outdoors, because wicking fabrics move water away from your skin and up through your layers one after another, enabling the fabric near your skin to trap insulating air and retain your body’s warmth.

Wool
Wool does not wick as well as synthetic garments and will absorb up to 36% of its weight in water. Unlike cotton, it does insulate when wet and is considered an acceptable fabric for hiking clothes.

Rain Gear
When it comes to shopping for rain gear, look for details such as “welded seams” and PU (polyurethane). For us, “breathable” does not matter and is not necessarily desired. In our experience the breathable clothing is not waterproof, only water resistant. We want waterproof! Bibs add further protection. Reinforced knees hold up longer.

Clothing items that are essential for your child to be at Trillium Christian Nature Preschool and enjoy each day fully are listed in the table below:

~ Where do I Get All of This Gear? ~

New Gear
P.O.P.
Oaki
REI
Eastern Mountain Sports
Norm’s Ski and Bike Shop, Keene, NH

Used Gear
Consignment Shops & Salvation Army are also great places to look for used gear in good condition. Whippersnappers in Brattleboro, VT has a good selection. EBay and Facebook Marketplace can provide good resources as well.