The Art Of Rucksack Packing And Forest School

Today, I take a look at Rucksack Packing and Forest School.

Packing a bag for Forest School may seem like the easiest thing, but it is a staple of independence and self sufficiency at Forest School.

Simply a child being able to take care of and look after themselves. And crucial for a child’s enjoyment.

Also as I spoke about in the episode Number 1 Forest School Time Saving Tip it is great to do the night before a session.

The Key Benefits To Your Child Having A Bag.

You may ask well why is a bag so important Mark?

Being self sufficient and independent at Forest School allows a child to look after their own basic needs, so developing their ability to self regulate.

Simply this is a child’s ability to monitor and manage their energy states, emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.

If a child is able to meet their basic needs their behaviour will be stable, learning can happen and they’ll be happy.

If their basic needs are not met such as being cold or hungry or tired, their behaviour can fluctuate and they will be upset. Therefore, what is suggested and provided in a child Forest School bag is an essential item to their success and as said before, enjoyment.

But I Don’t Know How To Pack A Bag.

First up lets outline the contents before moving on in which order to pack.

In the bag a child should have a durable set of waterproofs. Now, a great shout here, as always, is the Spotty Otter Range.

We have teamed up with Spotty Otter in creating a super attractive offer of four free bonuses with any Spotty Otter purchase through the website ecootter.co.uk. If I were you I’d check that one out.

Next, should be a warm top or fleece, then spare socks and some spare trousers in winter. Ultimately these items should form the base of a completely spare outfit incase the worse was to happen, in that they became completely soaked or caked in mud.

Finally in the clothing line, if your little one is still toilet training then it is recommended that there is a spare change of clothes popped in just incase of any accidents.

The amount of socks you should put in is dependent on the time of year. For the summer months 1 extra pair is good. For winter at least 3 pairs, especially if your child is wearing wellington boots.

Next to be included will be a lunch box or snacks, and water. It is essential children carry water as it is the fuel of life. Whether they are with us for half a day or a full day. Proper hydration is key to a happy and healthy child.

What Order Should I Pack The Items In?

Alright lets move on to the order of packing.

The rucksack you use is your choice, and ideally should be age appropriate. Unlike when I was a child, do pull the straps as high as they can go, instead of having it hanging by their knees.

This is so the weight of the pack is supported by the shoulders, back and neck muscles allowing your child to keep good posture and have their weight centralised, so it is less likely they take a tumble due to the uneven weight.

At the bottom of the pack should be a level layer of clothes. Feel free to play clothes Tetris here of socks, underwear, trousers, warm top or fleece and any other spare item of warm clothing. This will form the base of everything else to go on top.

The Heavier The Item The More In The Middle It Should Be

The next layer will typically be the lunch box, snacks and waterbottle.

In general these items are the heaviest and so should be in the middle of the rucksack to even the weight distribution out making it easier to carry.

Sometimes this isn’t possible due to the age appropriate size of the bag, in which case your child should carry the lunch box in one of their hands.

Easy Access To Waterproofs For Those Off-Guard Showers!

Then finally on top of this should be placed your child’s waterproofs.

These are placed here for easy access if the weather should begin to turn. There may be spare space left at the top depending on the age of your child, with more or less available depending on a number of factors.

Some bags have a separate pouch in the lid of the bag, which can be used. In this space a child may place sunscreen or insect repellent or a book or something they have found on their journey or carry with them everywhere they go. These could be known as extras.

Don’t Forget The Bin Bags

A key added extra would be a bin bag for any muddy or wet clothes to easily be placed inside and to not make the clean, warm kit into the same state.

I hope this really helps you and your child in packing for forest school and as always;

You’re Just One Session Away.