The Best Gear For Forest Preschool
At Oregon Outdoor Kids Forest Preschool in the PNW we see our share of rainy days!
As we like to say:
“There’s no such thing as bad weather,
only bad gear.”
These are our top gear recommendations that will be sure to keep the kids tear free and having fun OUTDOORS at forest preschool!
All of the gear here has been either tested by our Oregon Outdoor Kids families or are the very best recommendations by outdoor experts.
Please Note: As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commision if you purchase through the affiliate links on this page at no additional cost to you. All proceeds are donated to Oregon Outdoor Kids Forest Preschool.
It’s All In The Layers
The key to staying warm, dry and comfortable is all about having quality non-bulky layers.
In wet weather it is necessary to have a fitted base layer (merino wool is the best option) followed by a mid-layer (such as a fleece jacket, and a thicker pair of sweat pants) and then covered in high quality insulated waterproof gear. The base and mid layers should be well fitted so that your child is comfortable and does not feel too bulky, there is no need to size up.
You may need to get at least 2 sets of gear so that your child always has something dry to wear in case the gear was not able to dry overnight before forest school the next day. Some families opt for a premium set of gear, and then a second less expensive set for their backup.
When choosing a jacket for your child please try to stay away from the overly bulky puffy jackets, as those are very difficult to wear a backpack over, and do not usually fit inside of their backpacks if they need to shed a layer.
The best way to keep heat in the body is to pay attention to the head, feet, hands and midsection. If those areas are nicely covered your body will be able to retain warmth.
A Note On Rain Gear
Although one piece rain suits provide seamless coverage, we tend to prefer separate pants and jacket sets as we have found that it is easier for the children to be able to self manage toileting with two piece gear. We recommend insulated rain pants and jackets as they do a superior job of maintaining warmth. When choosing pants make sure that the bottoms around the ankle are equipped with either high quality elastic or straps to keep them secure and prevent them from riding up and water getting in.
Rain Bibs
JAN & JUL RAIN BIB
REIMA RAIN BIB
BIB AND JACKET SETS
Our Forest Preschool families have used all of these brands and have loved them!
Whether you choose to order them from the affiliate links or directly from their website they are a great choice.
CeLaVi Rain Suit
Helly Hanson Rain Suit
Rain Jackets
JAN & JUL RAIN JACKET
OAKIWEAR RAIN JACKET
Rain Boots
When buying boots make sure that they are the high quality insulated ones that have excellent grip on the bottom, as wet areas can also be slippery. It is most helpful to get them as tall as possible to keep the legs dry when wading through puddles, and to have the loopholes for children to be able to pull them on themselves.
These are the brands that are popular with our Oregon Outdoor Kids Forest Preschool families, and have stood the test of many outdoor all-weather adventures. We recommend buying them with enough room for wool socks to be worn, but not too big, as we do a fair amount of hiking and can be difficult to keep up without proper fitted shoes.
OAKIWEAR INSULATED RAIN BOOTS
BOGS RAINBOOTS
MUCK BOOTS
Boot And Glove Dryer
The kids are out playing in the rain, splashing in puddles and wading through creeks, which means that they will come home many times with wet boots. This dryer does a great job of making sure that they are dry and ready to be back out on their adventures the next day! We’ve had families tell us that this was one of the best purchase they have ever made!
DRY GUY GARMENT DRYER
Warm Necessities
Do not underestimate the effect that warm hands, warm feet and a warm head have on keeping your child happy and having fun while outdoors! These items are often forgotten but are extremely important! Make sure to get multiple pairs of these item, especially gloves. They will keep multiple pairs of gloves in their backpacks as this is an item that tends to get wet and needs changed throughout the day. It is good to have a fully waterproof pair of mittens for wet days, and also a few pairs of gloves for when kids want to use their hands to grab and climb with.
JAN & JUL WATERPROOF MITTENS
JAN & JUL RAIN MITTENS
POLARN O PYRET GLOVES
6 PACK WOOL FLEECE LINED GLOVES
WINTER FLEECE GLOVES
TURTLE FUR NECK GATOR
SMART WOOL BEANIE
SMART WOOL TEMPERATURE REGULATING SOCKS
Base And Mid Layers
When dressing your child for the outdoors in the PNW you’ll want a fitted base layer, followed by a mid layer before putting on their raingear. No need to size up on the second layer, they are meant to fit snug and not create the feeling of being overly bulky. Nice fitting quality layers keep your child warm while still allowing them to feel comfortable wearing their backpacks and adventuring with ease.
WOOLINO MERINO WOOL UNDERLAYER- PANTS
WOOLINO WOOL UNDERLAYER – SHIRT
MERINO TECH – MIDWEIGHT MERINO WOOL BASE LAYER
LANDS END HIGH PILE HOODIE
COLUMBIA FLEECE JACKET
Safety Gear
Part of outdoor preschool is learning how to be prepared while out on hikes and adventures. These items are to be kept in their packs and used as needed.
HOT HANDS – HANDWARMERS
FIRST AID KIT
EMERGENCY WHISTLE
Backpacks
A well fitted quality backpack with a chest strap is very important as children will be carrying their packs on their back while out at Forest Preschool. They will be exposed to the elements and used for everything from carrying water bottles, holding layers that have been shed and used as seats out on the trail. Make sure that you get a backpack that fits your child properly, over sized packs make it difficult for them to keep up with the group if they are constantly struggling to keep the straps from falling off of their shoulders.
Here are just a couple of options.
The most important things to consider are if it properly fits, feels comfortable for your child, is one they can easily self manage opening and closing, has enough room for them to get their lunches out and back in with ease, and able to either fit a jacket inside or have somewhere to strap it onto if they need to shed a layer.
OSPREY DAYLIGHT JR BACKPACK
IVY GREEN HIKING PACK
Water Bottle
CAMELBAK WATER BOTTLE
Lunch Containers
A good quality lunch container that is easily opened and closed helps your child to learn independence and is something that the kids take pride in being able to manage on their own. Don’t bother with bulky insulated lunch boxes as those take up a lot of space and are difficult for the kids to self manage. A nice slim, lunch container that slides in and out of their packs with ease is a good choice, or even individual baggies can also work just fine.
PLANET BOX – STAINLESS STEEL BENTO BOX
REUSABLE LUNCH BAGGIES
