NATURE PRESCHOOL FASHION WEEK
You don’t need to travel for this year’s New York Fashion Week in the middle of a winter storm – not to mention during a global pandemic – to catch the latest fashion. See what styles and trends our Nature Preschoolers have to offer for winter 2021. We may not know what the next few months will look like weather-wise, but at least we can ride it out in style (pro-tip: layers!).
THE BASICS
Some things never go out of style and going back to basics can help keep us grounded. The trick to being a successful Nature Preschooler is layering. Layers let you be the dynamic preschooler that you want to be without slowing you down. Too warm from building a fort? Shed that jacket! Too cold in the windy prairie? Grab a hat. (Just remember that some things do go out of style…bell-bottomed pants should not make a comeback.)
THE GEAR THAT POPS BUT DOES NOT MESS AROUND
With the outdoor world as the classroom, a preschooler must be able to roll, climb, jump and splash without being confined to maintaining societal standards of cleanliness. These yellow pants and orange raincoats provide protection from the elements of rain and snow, as well as the elements of an unplanned mud slide or walnut dye experiment. The baggy pants allow for unhindered movement, and make it easy to pull over shorts, leggings, jeans or other pants. The drawstring makes the waist comfortable and provides opportunities for practicing knots and bows with nimble fingers. And who doesn’t love velcro? The adjustable velcro at the bottom lets you pull the legs tight over the ankle, making it easy to stuff your feet and legs into boots. Put a pep in your step as you sport bright orange and yellow when trotting through the forest and prairie. Bright colors also help us educators spot a preschooler in the wild. And the best part of fashion is when the tag says “machine washable.” So after a day of tromping, romping and…omping…just throw the coat and pants in the wash!
POCKETS FULL OF FUN
The natural world is a scintillating place for inspiring the next engineer, poet,
writer, artist, mathematician or scientist. When ideas are jumbled in your head or your hands are itching to document the perfect flower petal, pull out that notebook, pencil and other supplies from your handy knapsack. The sporty green and gold compliment the orange coat and yellow pants nicely, making outfit planning a cinch. The backpack has multiple pockets for holding whatever tools you need for outdoor exploration. Forget your worries of never having enough pockets or deep enough pockets in your outfit: strap this pack to your back like the strapping trail blazer you are!
JAZZED HANDS
Winter often makes us shy away from outdoor play. But no more! Arm yourselves with knitted gloves, fleece mittens or waterproof mittens to satisfy your snow, ice and mud play desires. Choose between the flexibility of a glove or the warmth of a mitten based on your day to day needs. Mix and match or wear both: you can wear gloves underneath the waterproof mittens for extra warmth. These waterproof mittens are a closet must for picking up ice chunks and throwing them into a semi-frozen pond. They come with wrist straps that snap in place to prevent the mittens from sliding off. No one likes to lose the snowball with the mitten mid-throw or it’ll throw off your aim.
WARM HUGS
Wind has a knack for getting into all nooks and crannies. Sometimes it wraps us up in a welcoming hug, but other times it’s a little bitter to the touch. When channeling your inner nature preschooler, even the wind can’t stop you when you’ve got a fleece neck wrap and hand warmers. Sometimes fast fashion is cute and trendy, but often sacrifices quality, costs more in the long run, and isn’t great for the environment from constant turnover. Swap those one-time-use hand warmers for our reusable hand warmers that let you play fast, not litter fast. Customize your own fleece neck and hand warmers with fabric of your choice! Who says practicality can’t be hip?
PANDEMIC DOESNT MEAN BLAND-EMIC
The outdoors isn’t a cure-all for COVID-19, but it is a lot safer to be outside than inside during the pandemic. But to make sure no one falls short of their maximum potential for outdoor fun by falling ill, wear a face shield and/or a face mask. The shield allows for facial expressions to be seen, making it that much easier to relish in each other’s joy when a new ice ornament is created, a sweet-smelling millipede is spotted or a kitchen concoction of rock soup is made. But sometimes the rain will dot the shield, or our warm breath will fog it in the cold. That’s when these handy face masks come to the rescue with adjustable ear straps. Now the outdoors can be a fun and safe space for all.
CUTESY TWO-BOOTS
Last but not least, you gotta have the right footwear. Rework these essentials seasonally, as the days evolve, letting your style evolve. When life brings you rain, bust out those checkered rain boots. When life brings you sunshine, wear those sleek tennis shoes. We’re all about versatility here, so don’t flop or flip by making the mistake of wearing your flip flops to Nature Preschool. Learn to dance and move with each new adventure: climbing trees, hiking trails and wading in wetlands requires the right “dancing” shoes.
NOT YOUR TYPICAL PRESCHOOL STYLE
These tried-and-true essentials are not only classic, but offer new stylings and pairings with the turn of the seasons. The bold, solid colors provide a background for adding your own spunk and originality in your wardrobe. But most of all, these clothes keep our bodies protected for whatever outdoor adventures lie ahead.
For more information on our Nature Preschool program, visit this webpage or read these stories:
