Visiting nature as a family is a good way to share moments and experiences with the little ones at home. Do you know how to go hiking with children? Take into account the following tips so that your children enjoy this adventure and have unforgettable memories.
Hiking with your children is a great way to connect them with nature at an early age. However, as parents, it can be a bit intimidating. But don’t worry, following these tips will have an incredible experience.
As in most of the activities that are practiced outdoors, the taste is acquired when we are small, and it is usually our parents or grandparents who are in charge of this noble task.
How to go hiking with children?
Start close to home
Find paths near your home. You need to be aware that you will not always finish the tour when you go with your children. Whether because of tiredness, boredom, because he fell, he lost interest. You will also waste less time arriving at the place. Imagine traveling for 2 hours by car.
Select the path carefully.
Ensure that the path you plan to travel is appropriate for the children’s age and physical condition. Try to keep it simple. Please find out about the route you plan to take so that they can endure the journey and make it interesting and fun at the same time. Is there wildlife, caves, waterfalls, rivers?
Remember the 10 essentials.
Experienced hikers can finish their tour, even if they forget an important item. That does not apply when you go with children. The difference between finishing the walk or returning is to bring all the essential items for the children. Make sure you have at least: sunscreen, food and water, first aid kit, raincoat, hat or cap, insect repellent, and changes of clothes.
Walk early
We all have more energy in the morning. If you get up early, you will avoid the heat of the sun or the afternoon rains. There will be fewer hikers, and above all, children complain less in the morning than in the afternoon.
Take breaks, lots of breaks!
Make sure your kids have energy throughout the tour. Take breaks every 15 to 30 minutes to drink water and eat a snack. You can also take advantage of the stops to take pictures and show them an animal you meet during the walk. Don’t be in a rush to get to the destination; enjoy the moment!
Bring enough food
Since children are developing, they consume more energy than adults. Make sure to bring enough food and snacks so that they can endure the tour, and above all, they are motivated. For example, my son is the least of those who can become very grumpy if he gets hungry and does not eat.
Bring the right gear.
You want your children to be comfortable and safe. Make sure you wear the necessary clothing for the place you are going and, most importantly, good hiking shoes. Make sure your shoes have a good grip, so they don’t slip while you walk.
Prepare for the questions.
Children are naturally curious and explorers, so prepare yourself psychologically to be bombarded with hundreds of questions. They will want to know about each of the plants they see, the ants, the birds that are singing, all the stones they find, and the animals’ tracks.
Have your camera ready
No hike is the same, and you never know when you will need your camera to take an amazing picture. Don’t miss out on those opportunities! Besides taking photos in key places, be sure to take photos red-handed; you will capture your children being them and in a natural way.
Pay attention to the weather, and wear enough clothes.
Constantly check the weather forecast, in addition to being attentive to nature. Don’t be afraid to cancel the tour if the weather is bad. This can be very hot, very cold, rain, remember that all this is dangerous for adventurers, and more if they are children.
Attentive to the signals of your children
One secret on how to go hiking with children is understanding their non-verbal language. Please pay attention to their behavior, their body signals, etc. A tired child is more difficult to control and is more likely to have some accident. There is no point in continuing if you are not having fun. If you have to go back, do it!
Take the time
You need to know how long they have walked to ensure that your children will have enough energy for the way back. If you are going to walk for an hour, take time to turn around when the clock strikes half an hour.
Assign roles to your children
The key to success is getting them involved. Children like to be taken into account and to be important. If you go with several children, switch roles every X time—the leader, the one looking for animal tracks, the one carrying the food, etc. You have no idea how motivating this can be for them. Make sure the leader has a compass so they can tell which way to go.
Walk to reward
It is normal for young children to lose interest very easily. To maintain the motivation and enthusiasm of the children. Look for walks with rewards that motivate the child to continue – you don’t need to be at the end of the trail, For example, a pool where they can splash if the day is hot.
Let them have fun
One way to keep them distracted and entertained is with games. Makeup games about the route, for example, guess what is after a curve, guess what animal the footprint is, find a squirrel, etc.
Remember that when you go on an excursion, you connect with nature and your children.
Now that you know how to go hiking with children, remember: Leave no trace and share the adventure!
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