(Cosy) Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes
As we extend a warmly gloved hand of welcome to the winter months, our collective thoughts have turned naturally to kit. Specifically, good kit.
Kit that will last and instil in us a sense of confidence and capability, and that will buffer our warm-blooded selves from the capricious meteorological whimsy of the Scottish woods.
Ideally, and certainly in the case of the smaller amongst us, kit that will utilise stylish motifs such as stars, trees or crustaceans. (Note to manufacturers: there is nothing un-grown-up about liking these things!)
Gloves are essential of course. Fleece, (quick to dry) wool (still warm even if they get a bit damp) and waterproof mittens with a fleece lining (singular winner in facilitating realistic shark impressions) are all excellent options.
A special mention must also go to wrist warmers, which may seem a perplexing choice as they apparently leave little digits in the cold, however for anyone with circulatory issues, keeping the pulse points warm in turn warms the hands, and for vital experiments such as ‘Can raindrops caught gently from a branch be balanced on each of my fingernails?’ (Yes) they are unbeatable.
Putting on a pair of gloves is a logic puzzle that ultimately can only be solved by the wearer, and solving it can take a while! All an assistant can do is offer encouragement, reposition fingers that have fused together in the dark alleyways of effort and model the useful habit of looking at what you are doing…this is an excellent season to practice.
On to the neck and shoulders. Double-scarfing is a canny way to keep snug without overheating. One ‘buff’ style scarf (which can be pulled all the way up under a hat) in a thin, breathable material underneath a thicker snood will keep wind and chills out and supports delayering when What’s the Time Mr Wolf? reaches its aerobic crescendo.
I can personally vouch for the adult’s snood from here, there are also lots of nice kid’s woollen options and they seem to understand the necessity of the fleece lining for maximum warmth and minimum ‘argh it’s itchy’:
Is that a hat? No, it’s a unicorn/hedgehog/banana!
Undeniably, very good fun while standing around singing, but unfortunately, they can prevent the wearer from celebrating their own alter-egos once in the woods, owing to the tendency of the dangly bits hanging off to hinder play and dip into soup flasks etc.
Fleece or woollen beanies or headbands, easy to shed and re-don, are a valuable addition and any wish to be seen as a hedgehog/unicorn/banana by anyone in any headgear, will always be honoured.
For the top layer, avoid cotton as much as possible. Cool and lightweight, cotton is perfect for a summer day but has no heat retention skills and will act like a wick if exposed to wet weather, sitting uncomfortably next to the skin, stealing precious warmth.
Ideal base layers would be a good set of thermals, often available in discount supermarkets at this time of year, online or from outdoor shops.
I realise that some people have mixed feelings about wearing synthetic fibres such as polyester, lycra, spandex or nylon, and while I’m not going to deny that they do work and are effective for trapping heat, merino and bamboo are viable alternatives and widely available. Ultimately it’s a very personal choice, here are some sites that may be useful for making a decision around which ones would suit you or your child:
https://www.totallywarm.co.uk/thermal-fibres-1-w.asp
https://www.britishthermals.com/
For layers atop the thermals, Secret Garden staff favour a wide range of materials.
Cashmere, fleece, thick or boiled wool in either jumper or cardigan format are all good. Sherpa and teddy fleece are much-loved by the little ones, cosy and quick drying.
On the bottom half over the thermals, thick fleece trousers or fleece-lined leggings are a good option if you are going down the waterproof trousers or waterproof dungarees route.
If you are opting for a waterproof snowsuit lined in fleece, (a fantastic and extremely warm piece of kit) it is very unlikely that this will be removed during the day over the winter months, as even on a day of windless, crispy wintry joy, mud happens, wet leaves happen and feeling damp can cloud the bluest of blue skies.
So if your child is prone to overheating a thinner pair of trousers or leggings may be a better option to go underneath this.
Waterproofs need to be reliable and sturdy, in a material that is up to the task of exposure to prolonged rain and with good wind proofing. Always look at the seams of waterproofs if you can, as the ones that look as if they have been sewn together with sellotape in the least merry Christmas decision imaginable need to be cast aside immediately.
Some good tips and examples can be found here:
https://www.littleadventureshop.co.uk/blogs/news/what-to-know-before-buying-a-kids-waterproof-jacket
Many kid’s waterproofs have a fleece lining which can be great, though I would argue the quality of the external material is the most important factor, and several warm layers underneath a good quality jacket may be better to maximise dryness and prevent overheating.
Finally, the feet. Snow boots are a clear winner with both adults and children at this time of year, providing warmth, protection and sturdy waterproofing from the elements.
https://www.sorelfootwear.co.uk/
https://muckbootcompany.co.uk/
Wellies are still a good option for exceptionally wet days, provided they fit well and you have extreme confidence in your sock choice. There is an argument to suggest having one pair of warm socks instead of two can be more effective for keeping feet warm, as the second pair can cut off circulation. Has anyone tested this theory, on a short excursion perhaps, with spare socks in hand? I suspect many factors are involved, the lining of the wellies, the quality of the socks, whether you have insoles…do let me know if you have any wisdom in this area.
Personally I favour mohair socks, which are a little pricey, however they are exceptionally warm and comfortable, don’t retain odour even after walking 16,500 steps and therefore only require washing every two to three months. It’s true! See below if you’d like to test this idea…
https://www.thecambridgesockcompany.com/
Some other links that could be useful when searching for kit for various ages:
https://www.turtle-doves.co.uk
https://www.snowandrock.com/c/kids.html
Miscellaneous:
If any of you kind people were considering gifting a headtorch to a Secret Gardener for Christmas, may I please urge you to bring this forward as now is the time to pack them for use at the end of the day. After Solstice on the 21st December the light will be returning (hooray!) and by the time we come back for the new term there may be little use for them then.
Having warm things to eat and drink makes all the difference on a chilly day. We strongly recommend a warm breakfast as well as a warm lunch. Beans, pasta, soup or stew are all good options. If cold food is all your child is willing to eat, a warm drink such as hot chocolate, warm milk or tea would be a good accompaniment.
I have had some disastrous experiences with ‘thermal’ containers so hopefully you don’t have to. In this case original really does seem to be best, so long as the seal doesn’t get lost in the washing up:
https://thermos.com/collections/food-jars/products/stainless-king-food-jar-16oz
I hope this has been at least partly useful! Please let us know if you discover something wonderful, or terrible, that you feel should be included or excluded from the kit list.
Finally, the Secret Garden has several plastic boxes of spare kit which we are always happy to lend out to families until children grow out of it. There are several families who have already started an informal swap shop with clothing, and this is something the nursery is keen to support. Children grow so quickly and good quality kit can be expensive, so passing things on when your child outgrows items and then receiving the next size up from another family, is a great way to reuse valuable items and reduce our consumption.
Many thanks to the Secret Garden community for providing insights and ideas on what to include in this post.
Mazz Brown, November 2021
