Hiking with toddlers and young kids can be a fantastically rewarding experience, but if you approach it from the wrong angle, it can be a nightmare for everyone. Following a few simple tips can make it a great day out with everyone yearning for more.
Abandon All Hope of a Destination
While you may have a beautiful destination in mind, remember that to young children, everything outside is a giant playground and classroom. Don’t be surprised if your child finds 30 minutes of fascination from a boulder, or wants to stop and smell every flower.
Kids at that age are the epitomy of “the joy is in the journey.” Don’t get impatient with them and don’t try to move them along too quickly. Let them have their fun. After all, if they’re having fun outside then you’re already doing something right.
Want to get in on their fun? Point out the more subtle things around you: a unique bug or insect; birds; interesting patterns in nature; whatever else you find interesting. If you find it interesting and show interest, odds are they will too.
Don’t Choose a Hike Longer Than 3 Miles
Expect your child(ren) to not go more than a few miles in any one outing. Even they do cover a full 3 miles on their own, for example, they’ll be very happy when the car comes back into sight.
Shoot for fun and interesting hikes that are closer to 2 miles, give or take a mile. That way, when the time comes to carry them (and all the supplies), you won’t be over-exerting yourself either.
Keep it short, easy, and simple by adult standards.
Play a Game
At some point you’ll want to continue walking, so a great way to keep them motivated on the trail is to play a game with them using your surroundings as the inspiration.
For example, you could count how many different kinds of birds you see. You could also have races with them since every kid loves running (assuming there aren’t too many obstacles in the trail).
One of my daughter’s favorite games that keeps her inspired and entertained is to find the colors of the rainbow in nature. See if ya’ll can find red, then orange, and so on.
Bring a Friend
Kids are much more likely to walk on their own when they have a friend to play with. Having a friend alongside keeps them much more entertained so that a certain distance can be much easier to achieve. Their attention on each will help them keep a good pace going until they need a break, which leads into the next tip.
Bring Water and Lots of Snacks
The hike may not be a big deal to you, but for a child’s little legs, they’re expending a lot of energy which will need to be refueled.
Keeping them hydrated with happy bellies will help them recharge and keep going.
Count on at least several rest breaks along the way where everyone can rehydrate and fill empty stomachs. Their bellies are much smaller than adults’, so count on them to get hungry at some point and welcome the break to keep them happy and comfortable.
Expect an Accident
As toddlers, frequently around potty training age, they’re likely to get distracted and neglect the call of nature. This can turn into an accident, so you’ll want to be ready with a change of clothes and supplies to keep them clean so everyone can push on in comfort.
If they’re out of diapers, recommend using a restroom at the trailhead if there is one. As natural as it is, some kids may feel awkward about going outdoors. If you’d like to push them in that direction, make sure the weather is conducive to such an experience. However if it’s cold, rainy, or especially snowy, they’ll likely be much more hesitant to give it a go.
Hike Along Water
Hiking along water will keep kids infinitely entertained. Kids love water, and often times, they love throwing things in water even more. Find rocks to let them throw in and watch their amazement and joy at something so simple. If it’s safe, consider even letting them get in, provided you’ve brought along all the necessary gear (towels, swimsuit, etc.).
Include Hills, If Possible
Use this one at your own discretion. However, if there’s one thing kids love, it’s going up and down hills. If you’re comfortable with letting them run up and down them, and the scene looks safe enough, let them rip loose and they’ll make more progress than you ever expected them to. Of course you don’t want them to get injured, so again, this one might depend on the trail conditions and other similar obstacles.
Enjoy the Journey!
Relating back to the first point, remember that they’re going to be distracted and entertained by virtually anything they pass. As such, you’ll want to adopt a similar mentality and just enjoy seeing the landscape through their eyes.
When they point out something that fascinates them, marvel at it with them. If you know some fun facts about it, there’s your window to teach them more about it.
Similarly, if you really want them to see a particular destination, inevitably they’ll get tired and you’ll need to carry them at some point. That’s your window to cover a little ground.
But in either case, let them passively dictate the pace and places to stop. Handing over control to them in that way will make the experience much more fun for everyone.
Conclusion
Following these tips will help everyone have a great day out. If I missed anything though or you have questions about anything, feel free to let me know!