Hiking is beneficial for everyone, from adults to kids alike. It gets us out into the fresh air and exercises our body whilst stimulating the mind.
To make hiking with kids possible, we will consider how we can make the experience both a practical and enjoyable one that will also aid learning.
Keeping Kids Occupied
When you have kids in tow on your hike, you will want to make it a place where your kids can explore and find out new things. This may require some research beforehand. A typical example might be somewhere that you can head towards where there are old ruins to find.
Other ways of occupying kids might include playing games at certain points throughout the hike, rather than it all being just about hiking. This could be for further exercise or to play mental stimulation games to provide a chance to rest from the more physical aspects of hiking.
Distraction techniques are good for maintaining your kid’s interest. Talking about what you see is a good one if you can sense or they are saying that they are starting to feel bored. Having several kids with you will mean that they can amuse themselves more with chatter or games but do not allow kids to wander off on their own unsupervised try to give them freedom but keep them within your range of sight.
Strategy for Endurance
Build in regular stops with your hike to be mindful that some kids may get tired sooner than adults.
Take snacks to keep everyone’s energy levels up. Kids love eating snacks and you can be sure they will burn off those excess calories, as you will, during the hike. Still avoid junk food, though, so that everyone receives the right nutrients to help them on their hike rather than have them feel more tired. Good foods to eat while hiking include nuts, seeds, granola, energy bars, whole grain tortillas, and ready-made tuna salad pouches.
Have your kids increase their endurance levels by building up to a long hike. Go on shorter walks with them to get them used to greater distances. Try and make some of those routes more rural if possible, although that might be your whole reason for heading out into the country if you do not have those kinds of walks near to you already.
To help with endurance, do not choose the hottest day of the year, and remember to make sure that everyone is hydrating throughout the hike. There is no substitute for water as a drink but you could also carry something more tempting for kids as well, such as juice.
Extra Equipment
Giving kids a backpack will make them feel more a part of the hiking experience. You can keep them light and anything they can carry will be a thing less that you do not have to. Experiment with different weights and find out what your kids can easily manage to carry on their backs.
You can buy a whole range of hiking clothing for kids, from hiking boots and shoes to hiking hats. Also, invest in some sunglasses to protect their eyes. This may be the first time that you have bought them sunglasses and they will love them. Do not buy cheap sunglasses but ones that will protect your kids’ eyes from the sun.
A well-designed hiking hat should cover a kids’ ears and neck. Proper footwear will be important because your kids are not going to walk far if their feet hurt. Hiking will tend to be on more rural and rocky ground and so feet and ankles need to be well protected. Flip-flops will be a no-no. Also, when you get the hiking boots out, there will be a buzz of excitement around the house as the kids start to feel excited about the adventure that you have planned. Make it fun and you will always have your kids engaged in the idea and everything involved within it.
Clothing to avoid will include denim or cotton t-shirts as they are heavy material and will hamper progress. Good socks should be worn to avoid blisters. Explain to your kids why they should be kitted out in a certain way for their hike as this will be educational.
In summary, when taking your kids on a hike, consider how you will keep them occupied, manage the endurance test that faces them, and think about the extra equipment that you might need because of having your kids with you. Their hiking needs will be as great as yours, if not greater.
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