There is no bad weather: a short guide to dressing children in layers
The question we hear most at forest school is "what should I dress them in?". The three-layer rule, why cotton chills, and fixing the small crises at the door at 08:15.
There is a saying often heard in Scandinavia: "There is no bad weather, only unsuitable clothing." At Yaban we repeat it to parents every September, because what most shapes a child's day at forest school is what they put on before leaving home. A child who is cold, wet or sweaty focuses on their body, not on play. A well-dressed child can sit at the log circle counting cones while it snows.
Here is a short dressing guide for families. You will find the detailed list by season and weather in the packing list tool on our website; here we explain the logic.
The three-layer rule
The layering system used by climbers and skiers works for children too. Three thin layers instead of one thick coat keep them warmer and can be adjusted as the weather changes.
- Base layer (next to the skin): its job is to move sweat away from the skin. Wool (especially merino) or synthetic is best.
- Mid layer (warmth): fleece, a wool cardigan or a thin padded vest. It traps body heat and comes on and off with the weather.
- Outer layer (protection): keeps rain and wind out. At forest school this is usually a one-piece rain suit.
Why does cotton chill?
A cotton T-shirt is warm and comfortable, but when it gets wet it holds the water and takes a long time to dry. Wet cotton clings to the skin and draws heat away fast. When a child runs and sweats, or water gets in at the collar of the rain suit, a cotton base layer chills them quickly. Wool keeps warming even when wet; synthetic fabrics dry quickly because they do not hold water.
So in winter and on wet days we have one rule for the base layer: no cotton. No brand or expensive item is needed; affordable synthetic base layers from sports shops are enough.
Feet and hands
Children first say they are cold through their feet and hands. A few simple rules prevent most of it:
- Buy boots one size up; a foot squeezed by thick socks gets cold faster because circulation drops.
- Wool socks, plus a spare pair in a sealed bag in the backpack.
- Two pairs of waterproof gloves in winter: when one gets wet, the other.
- A neck warmer instead of a scarf: it does not snag or fall, and the child can put it on alone.
Let the child dress themselves
At 08:30, with fourteen children dressing at once, a teacher cannot reach everyone. So when choosing clothes ask one more question: "Can my child put this on alone?" Big zip pulls, velcro boots and wide-cuffed gloves beat tiny buttons and laces. In the Meltem group we work on this from September to November; by November most children put on their rain suit by themselves.
When are we inside?
There is no bad weather, but there is dangerous weather. Lightning, storm warnings, wind chill below −10 °C, air pollution alerts and midday hours above 30 °C are when we do not stay outside. Teachers make this decision together every morning; the "Today in İncek" line on our website also shows the day's outdoor hours.
