Kid nature armor
July 1, 2024 11:34 AM Subscribe
We live on the edge of some beautiful fields and woods, and I'd like some advice for how to armor up a sensitive kid so he feels more comfortable exploring nature.
He has pretty sensitive, easily scratched/irritated skin, so protection against thorns and prickers would be great. He reacts strongly to various types of bug bites, and is afraid of bees (he had a really bad experience in the past), so anti-bug coverings would be good. He also has some sensory issues, so he doesn't love the feeling of lots of vegetation against his skin. Of course, he won't enjoy baking to death in the summer, so it has to be reasonable cool and breathable. I'm imagining some kind of set of long pants / long-sleeved shirts made of thin, breathable, but very tough woven fabric that will stop most thorns and bugs. Maybe a hood or hat too for gnats and mosquitoes.
He generally prefers to go around in flip flops, athletic shorts, and a t-shirt, so he doesn't love thick, heavy clothing. I'm not sure he'd be willing to wear jeans...like I said, he has some sensory issues.
If you know of solutions or brands or products, I'd like to hear about it. Thank you!
He has pretty sensitive, easily scratched/irritated skin, so protection against thorns and prickers would be great. He reacts strongly to various types of bug bites, and is afraid of bees (he had a really bad experience in the past), so anti-bug coverings would be good. He also has some sensory issues, so he doesn't love the feeling of lots of vegetation against his skin. Of course, he won't enjoy baking to death in the summer, so it has to be reasonable cool and breathable. I'm imagining some kind of set of long pants / long-sleeved shirts made of thin, breathable, but very tough woven fabric that will stop most thorns and bugs. Maybe a hood or hat too for gnats and mosquitoes.
He generally prefers to go around in flip flops, athletic shorts, and a t-shirt, so he doesn't love thick, heavy clothing. I'm not sure he'd be willing to wear jeans...like I said, he has some sensory issues.
If you know of solutions or brands or products, I'd like to hear about it. Thank you!
Insect Shield has a whole section of boy’s clothes. You wouldn’t need a full suit of clothes saturated with their bug repellent, but a bandana and maybe some pants might help him feel more confident.
Ripstop is a good fabric to investigate. Take him to an REI or similar store and have him touch different kinds of hiking/climbing clothes so he can explore their textures and see what is okay and what’s not. Ripstop is lightweight and kind of rustly but it’s strong and great protection from poky things.
Work with him on socks because that’s going to be important. If he is a flipflop kid he might hate the ankle and calf constriction of socks, or maybe the toe seam. Taller socks might be surprisingly better, because if they can rest right up under his knee there is less pressure around his calves or ankle. Turn socks inside out if the toe seam is a problem.
He might approve of the socks & crocs combo. If he can pack extra socks on his explorations, crocs make it very easy to recover from stepping in something gross or a rogue puddle. They are lightweight and easy to clean and ubiquitous. Only do this if it’s really just rambling around, he should get better supportive footwear for hikes and longer walks.
Get him a couple trekking poles or otherwise arm him with a good walking stick. One, he can pretend it’s a sword. Two, it will help massively with stability so he doesn’t face plant in the dirt. Three, he can use it to move branches and brambles out of the way without touching things. Four, if bugs need to be told to skedaddle, they can be prodded at from a safe distance.
posted by Mizu at 12:09 PM on July 1 [4 favorites]
Ripstop is a good fabric to investigate. Take him to an REI or similar store and have him touch different kinds of hiking/climbing clothes so he can explore their textures and see what is okay and what’s not. Ripstop is lightweight and kind of rustly but it’s strong and great protection from poky things.
Work with him on socks because that’s going to be important. If he is a flipflop kid he might hate the ankle and calf constriction of socks, or maybe the toe seam. Taller socks might be surprisingly better, because if they can rest right up under his knee there is less pressure around his calves or ankle. Turn socks inside out if the toe seam is a problem.
He might approve of the socks & crocs combo. If he can pack extra socks on his explorations, crocs make it very easy to recover from stepping in something gross or a rogue puddle. They are lightweight and easy to clean and ubiquitous. Only do this if it’s really just rambling around, he should get better supportive footwear for hikes and longer walks.
Get him a couple trekking poles or otherwise arm him with a good walking stick. One, he can pretend it’s a sword. Two, it will help massively with stability so he doesn’t face plant in the dirt. Three, he can use it to move branches and brambles out of the way without touching things. Four, if bugs need to be told to skedaddle, they can be prodded at from a safe distance.
posted by Mizu at 12:09 PM on July 1 [4 favorites]
Gardening sleeves are lightweight, slip-on protection against scratches, thorns, etc. for your arms; if they don't specifically have children's sizes then maybe women's sizes would fit? Lots of colors/patterns to choose from to fit his personality.
posted by jpeacock at 12:20 PM on July 1 [3 favorites]
posted by jpeacock at 12:20 PM on July 1 [3 favorites]
oh hello, this could have been my kid (even including the bees thing)
Our approach was:
Big Hat - like a bucket hat or similar. Apparently a lot of things are easier with a big hat. At one time he messed around with a Bug Net Hat that his uncle had in storage, but in general the Big Hat was fine.
T shirt with permethrin treated lightweight hoodie over the top (we bought this brand but there are tons out there)
Ripstop long pants would work but we also worked hard to find "long shorts" that came down past the knee - this was easier ten years ago but not be so easy now. Basically we got longer shorts that had coverage to mid calf, and accepted some calf exposure both because it was cooler and also because the longer inseam shorts were more comfortable for him. We got ours from Boden, but if you hunt around you can perhaps find something similar. I think at some point I also just started altering his pants.
Sturdy sneakers (with elastic laces instead of tie laces) and white socks. The socks were not negotiable. Fortunately we live in a very Tick prone area so he'd gotten tick education from a very young age, and the idea of getting bitten by a Tick was more daunting than wearing the socks.
We always made sure he had lightweight gardening gloves he could stuff in a pocket, but I'm not sure he used them much.
More than anything, for us, it was having structured time in the outdoors that helped. He was never a kid that you could just say "go play in the yard", so we found reasons to be outside doing things with him. As an adult now he still prefers to stay inside, but he has the skills to enjoy outside time if you can find a reason for him to be there.
posted by anastasiav at 12:27 PM on July 1 [2 favorites]
Our approach was:
Big Hat - like a bucket hat or similar. Apparently a lot of things are easier with a big hat. At one time he messed around with a Bug Net Hat that his uncle had in storage, but in general the Big Hat was fine.
T shirt with permethrin treated lightweight hoodie over the top (we bought this brand but there are tons out there)
Ripstop long pants would work but we also worked hard to find "long shorts" that came down past the knee - this was easier ten years ago but not be so easy now. Basically we got longer shorts that had coverage to mid calf, and accepted some calf exposure both because it was cooler and also because the longer inseam shorts were more comfortable for him. We got ours from Boden, but if you hunt around you can perhaps find something similar. I think at some point I also just started altering his pants.
Sturdy sneakers (with elastic laces instead of tie laces) and white socks. The socks were not negotiable. Fortunately we live in a very Tick prone area so he'd gotten tick education from a very young age, and the idea of getting bitten by a Tick was more daunting than wearing the socks.
We always made sure he had lightweight gardening gloves he could stuff in a pocket, but I'm not sure he used them much.
More than anything, for us, it was having structured time in the outdoors that helped. He was never a kid that you could just say "go play in the yard", so we found reasons to be outside doing things with him. As an adult now he still prefers to stay inside, but he has the skills to enjoy outside time if you can find a reason for him to be there.
posted by anastasiav at 12:27 PM on July 1 [2 favorites]
Crocs are easy to jump in to, and surprisingly sturdy, comfortable, protective.
Lemon-eucalyptus bug dope is way less gross than most others.
A fanny pack and some Guides is a good start. Get the fanny pack in a neon color, and add a hunter orange bandana, and a whistle, because, safety. Freeze bottles of water, tuck one in.
Lightweight binoculars; put a neon orange strap on them because kids misplace stuff. They make cheap binocs for kids, this set has a magnifying glass and compass, both fun and handy. I got a nice set at a yard sale, maybe check a Buy Nothing group. Owning binoculars turns out to be nice and technology has improved quality and reduced prices.
Hat - a baseball cap will help with sun, spray it with permethrin from time to time, to help with skeeters and ticks.
These pants are convertible to shorts, making them nerdy, but it's a useful feature. Spray clothing with permethrin. Ticks are gross, carry unpleasant diseases, and discourage kids from outdoor fun.
Any long sleeved tee is good, again, spray with permethrin.
Most of all, set an example. Go with him, with a bird book or whatever is interesting, and look at stuff together. I always took my kid out to look at stars, meteor showers, sunsets, etc., and as an adult, he's still interested. There was an amazing display of Northern Lights; I called to let him know, he and his gf stayed out for hours watching it. Maybe go out and research stuff for a treasure/ scavenger hunt, to get him started. As kids, we went all over the place in shorts and tees and keds; special gear is not a requirement.
posted by theora55 at 12:28 PM on July 1 [1 favorite]
Lemon-eucalyptus bug dope is way less gross than most others.
A fanny pack and some Guides is a good start. Get the fanny pack in a neon color, and add a hunter orange bandana, and a whistle, because, safety. Freeze bottles of water, tuck one in.
Lightweight binoculars; put a neon orange strap on them because kids misplace stuff. They make cheap binocs for kids, this set has a magnifying glass and compass, both fun and handy. I got a nice set at a yard sale, maybe check a Buy Nothing group. Owning binoculars turns out to be nice and technology has improved quality and reduced prices.
Hat - a baseball cap will help with sun, spray it with permethrin from time to time, to help with skeeters and ticks.
These pants are convertible to shorts, making them nerdy, but it's a useful feature. Spray clothing with permethrin. Ticks are gross, carry unpleasant diseases, and discourage kids from outdoor fun.
Any long sleeved tee is good, again, spray with permethrin.
Most of all, set an example. Go with him, with a bird book or whatever is interesting, and look at stuff together. I always took my kid out to look at stars, meteor showers, sunsets, etc., and as an adult, he's still interested. There was an amazing display of Northern Lights; I called to let him know, he and his gf stayed out for hours watching it. Maybe go out and research stuff for a treasure/ scavenger hunt, to get him started. As kids, we went all over the place in shorts and tees and keds; special gear is not a requirement.
posted by theora55 at 12:28 PM on July 1 [1 favorite]
A mosquito head net is cheap, compact, and can make life a lot more pleasant in buggy areas.
posted by juliapangolin at 12:32 PM on July 1
posted by juliapangolin at 12:32 PM on July 1
I would look for light coloured cotton pants in thin strong material like a Cotton-Nylon blend, Parachute Fabric, Thick Nylon, or RipStop. Elastic around the ankles. Loose enough that if prickles do brush the fabric, they don't get close to the skin. These Uniqlo Parachute Pants look perfect.
And then a thin long sleeved shirt, again not too tight, like a loose white swimming rash guard shirt. Again, looseness is important for comfort and also to keep pokey things away from the skin!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:38 PM on July 1
And then a thin long sleeved shirt, again not too tight, like a loose white swimming rash guard shirt. Again, looseness is important for comfort and also to keep pokey things away from the skin!
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:38 PM on July 1
My sensory kid is happiest wandering the woods in closed toe water sandals. Keen and Merrell make good versions (in fact I wear Merrell Hydro Sport sandals myself, I have small feet and can wear children's shoes).
My daughter's water shoes are an off brand because she wanted purple unicorns, but I looked for sturdy soles and toe caps, with a lightweight breathable upper and an adjustable Velcro strap.
She's comfortable exploring in them, they're great for wading, and they can go right in the washer and then they'll air dry and be ready by morning.
For bug repellent, she prefers wipes to spray. We pay particular attention to ears - having insects go after her ears drives her bananas.
posted by champers at 12:47 PM on July 1 [3 favorites]
My daughter's water shoes are an off brand because she wanted purple unicorns, but I looked for sturdy soles and toe caps, with a lightweight breathable upper and an adjustable Velcro strap.
She's comfortable exploring in them, they're great for wading, and they can go right in the washer and then they'll air dry and be ready by morning.
For bug repellent, she prefers wipes to spray. We pay particular attention to ears - having insects go after her ears drives her bananas.
posted by champers at 12:47 PM on July 1 [3 favorites]
You can add another level of curiosity and side-quest aspect to their Adventures in the Wilderness distract somewhat from What if there is a Wasp? by having them packing an Adventure Satchel with things from your house like
a local identification book or app (eg iNaturalist) to find names for birds, bugs, plants, rocks
notebook for nature journaling (with pencil/colored pencils etc)
other small gear like magnifying glass, bandaids, wipes and tweezers for Small Emergencies or touching something yucky
small snack for a small picnic
trinkets for any geocaches
bag and gloves in case you find trash
homemade or printed scavenger hunt page…
etc etc
posted by slightlybewildered at 12:11 AM on July 2 [1 favorite]
a local identification book or app (eg iNaturalist) to find names for birds, bugs, plants, rocks
notebook for nature journaling (with pencil/colored pencils etc)
other small gear like magnifying glass, bandaids, wipes and tweezers for Small Emergencies or touching something yucky
small snack for a small picnic
trinkets for any geocaches
bag and gloves in case you find trash
homemade or printed scavenger hunt page…
etc etc
posted by slightlybewildered at 12:11 AM on July 2 [1 favorite]
I'm an old coot, but I think he should have boots, or at least high-top sneakers. And a wide-brimmed hat. A pair of cheap leather gloves ($15 at the hardware store) will be welcome if he stumbles into some sticker bushes.
More important, perhaps, is company, someone to be with until he learns the wilderness is not so dangerous.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:50 AM on July 2
More important, perhaps, is company, someone to be with until he learns the wilderness is not so dangerous.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:50 AM on July 2
IMHO it may be too much right now to handle exposure to prickly things (in the middle of summer). The clothes he would need to feel comfortably protected from this would likely be too hot/stiff.
You may want to start out in local parks that have paths that are stroller /wheel chair accessible (especially if your kiddo is less sure on his feet). Then, once he’s more comfortable, graduate to recreation areas that have trails. As an added bonus, is that if your son has a bad experience in one place, you will avoid most of the bad association with the area near your property. Hopefully, your son will feel more comfortable exploring this area come fall.
Consider having kiddo get involved with gardening. Perhaps you have a local area /farm where you can do “u-pick.” (Maybe it’s worth the discomfort to end up with some very juicy blueberries).
Uniqlo may be a good source for clothing on the more affordable end. I was going to recommend Altra shoes, but it seems that they no longer make kids shoes. Therefore, I would recommend barefoot shoes in general. Also look into those fishing hoodies. They aren’t particularly snag proof, but they are generally soft and cool (ex).
Your son may enjoy geocaching.
Consider bringing a hand held or battery powered fan on your adventures. If your son will tolerate it, one of those neck fans might keep the air moving to help keep the bugs away.
posted by oceano at 8:18 AM on July 2
You may want to start out in local parks that have paths that are stroller /wheel chair accessible (especially if your kiddo is less sure on his feet). Then, once he’s more comfortable, graduate to recreation areas that have trails. As an added bonus, is that if your son has a bad experience in one place, you will avoid most of the bad association with the area near your property. Hopefully, your son will feel more comfortable exploring this area come fall.
Consider having kiddo get involved with gardening. Perhaps you have a local area /farm where you can do “u-pick.” (Maybe it’s worth the discomfort to end up with some very juicy blueberries).
Uniqlo may be a good source for clothing on the more affordable end. I was going to recommend Altra shoes, but it seems that they no longer make kids shoes. Therefore, I would recommend barefoot shoes in general. Also look into those fishing hoodies. They aren’t particularly snag proof, but they are generally soft and cool (ex).
Your son may enjoy geocaching.
Consider bringing a hand held or battery powered fan on your adventures. If your son will tolerate it, one of those neck fans might keep the air moving to help keep the bugs away.
posted by oceano at 8:18 AM on July 2
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posted by Salvor Hardin at 11:35 AM on July 1