ENABLIN G E N V I R O N M E N TS O U T D O O R S
Wrap up!
In the first of a series on outdoor play in winter, Julie Mountain looks
at what nurseries need to think about to help keep children warm
photo at Willow cottage nursery, witney, by justin thomas
T
he temptation to hibernate indoors over winter
is powerful – particularly
when forecasters expect
this winter to be the coldest since 1947 – but with
the right clothing (for adults and
children alike), winter outdoor play
can be wonderful.
Images of rosy-cheeked children
running around outdoors lead many
adults to believe that children feel the
cold less than adults; in fact, young
children are more prone to heat loss
than adults. Children also frequently
change the pace of their play, making
layered clothing the most effective
way for them to regulate their body
temperature. It is vital, too, to keep
young children’s – and in particular
babies’ – heads warm for comfort and
heat retention.
Fabrics do make a difference; cotton and wool are poor performers
in wet weather, absorbing moisture
rather than wicking it away. Synthetic
fabrics such as fleeces are now preferred as they absorb little water, dry
quickly and retain insulating properties when wet.
However, although f leece is
designed to wick dampness away
from the body, it won’t work underneath waterproofs that aren’t ‘breathable’, so choosing combinations of
clothing is not as simple as it might
seem.
When investing in wet weather
gear for the children in your setting,
choose quality over quantity and
build up a collection over time. Quality varies greatly across suppliers, but
in general the ‘Scandinavian’ styles,
while more expensive, are more
robust and durable than cheaper
alternatives, which are often ‘showerproof ’ rather than ‘waterproof ’. Look
for breathable fabrics and taped or
welded seams that will resist water.
Separates (that is, jackets and trousers) can be more flexible than all-inones. Dungaree-style over-trousers
in a couple of different sizes can be
www.nurseryworld.co.uk
The fabric of clothes can make a real difference to comfort
adjusted to fit almost any young child
and will also work well on a warm
wet day, when children don’t want to
be bundled up and sweaty in an allin-one. Children will often have their
own coat, but most won’t have waterproof trousers, so if you do go for separates you’ll need to invest in more of
the latter than the former (another
way of keeping the costs down, too).
Children attending Little Explorers
pre-school at Highway Farm Activity
Centre in Redruth spend most of the
day outdoors, all year round. Owner
and manager Martin Besford recommends padded all-in-ones.
‘The thin ones don’t keep children warm and in winter they usually need coats over the top, which
we think defeats the object,’ he says.
‘We have found that once you teach
children how to put on an all-in-one,
it’s actually quite simple for them to
do. We teach the children to lay the
suit on the floor and then sit on it.
Next, they wriggle their feet and legs
through leg holes, lie back and slide
MORE
INFORMATION
l Highway Farm, www.
highwayfarm.com
l Kozikids, www.
kozikidz.com
l Raindrops, www.
raindrops.co.uk
l Rain-shine, www.
rain-shine.co.uk
l Viking Kids, www.
vikingkids.co.uk
l Waterproof
World, www.
waterproofworld.
co.uk
l Cosy Direct, for
planters, trellises
and willow panels to
create windbreaks,
01332 370152
their arms in. Finally: sit up, stand up
and zip up!’
TOP TIPS
l Write a ‘winter kit list’ for parents
and include it in your prospectus
or website. Make clear your
intention to be outdoors all year
round, and negotiate a discount
code for parents with your clothing
supplier – several specialist
suppliers will do this.
l Ask parents to layer their children’s
clothing on cold days – a vest,
long-sleeved t-shirt, zipped hoody
or fleece and a jacket, along with
warm trousers or thick leggings
– and to provide a full set of spare
clothes.
l Keep a box of spare hats, gloves
and thick socks close to the exit
and welly store, but avoid woollen
gloves, which absorb water
instantly.
l Lined, thick-soled boots are
warm but often awkward to put
on. Wellies are easier to use but
notorious for resulting in frozen
toes. Children stay warmer if they
wear wellies one size larger than
their own feet, with two pairs
of thick socks. Wellies with
pictures on the outside can help
children know when they are on
the right feet.
l Make outdoor ‘nests’ for babies:
lay a plastic-backed picnic blanket
over a tarpaulin, then throw fleece
blankets over outdoor cushions
or beanbags. Make sure hands
and heads are well wrapped up in
snowsuits, and consider an extra
pair of socks or booties over the
suit’s feet.
l Take time to show children how to
partially remove clothing to allow
toileting. A pathway of newspaper
to the toilets will reduce the need to
remove footwear.
l Make a weather chart with Velcrobacked laminated pictures of
weather systems and clothing. Use
this all year round to help children
identify the day’s weather and
make informed choices about what
to wear.
l Ensure staff are properly dressed
for outdoors. Settings can help
by supplying good-quality
waterproofs.
l Be responsive to children’s
interests and energy levels. Martin
says, ‘If children aren’t happy,
they won’t learn, so know when
to enjoy outdoors and when to
retreat indoors.’ n
2-15 December 2013 nursery world 21