Ten Tips for Hiking & Walking with Young Children
We try to get out for a walk every day, even if it’s only a short walk in our campo (countryside). We have the luxury of wonderful weather, most days (yes it does rain in Spain) and spectacular scenery. We have always enjoyed walking and hiking and really hope that we can pass on our passion for the great outdoors to our children.
At the moment with a two and just recently turned four year old, the longest walks we attempt are 6km circular routes. We carry the two year old for some of the walk, the longest he has probably walked is 3km. Our four year old walks, the whole way. It might not be a long walk for some but it took us quite a journey to get here and we’re really proud that we can go for family walks together.
So here’s our top tips for walking and hiking with young children:
1. Motivation
Without doubt the biggest factor for failing. If your children are unmotivated they won’t enjoy their walk. Motivation, praise and encouragement always go a long way to ensuring a successful walk. Our eldest loves to map read and lead the way because, why…because of course he’s simply brilliant at spotting the signs and following the route! For some strange reason unbeknown to both of of us, the boys are both so much happier and focused when they are holding something in their hands (go figure!), or take a backpack with toys. Always take toys, even if they protest, when it comes to picnic time they will love the fact that you have packed a few lightweight toys to play with. Try a few alternatives and do whatever works for your children!
2. Snacks
If all else fails, feed them. A child will always be happy with snacks, well our two are anyway! We always pack a complete range, from the healthier options of bananas (ours could eat their own bodyweight in bananas), apples, dried fruit and rice cakes to the occasional sweets or crisps. Our two love these Fig and Nut Energy Bars as a boosting healthy snack. Snacks are rarely turned down and always seem to lift ailing spirits.
3. Picnics
This obviously carries on from above but the promise of a picnic when you reach the top of the hill/mountain always goes down well. You can spend some time discussing the content of the picnic and how welcome it will be when you find the best ever picnic spot to devour your prize. We also get the boys to help us find the best spots, follow their lead and you might end up picnicking in the strangest of places!
4. Clothing = Layers
Children are the the worst at expressing their discomfort if they are too hot or too cold. The best way we have to alleviate this is to always have options available. Our boys don’t have big winter coats, they have fleece lined water proofs a size bigger than needed, that way we can use the waterproofs all year round and add layers underneath if needed. Waterproofs are also lightweight to carry, if Daddy is carrying one child and Mummy all the gear and snacks, every gram counts!
5. Games
These can range from any number of things that spark our imagination on the walk to the good old tried and tested.
Spot the…tractor, where we live there are lots and you get points for spotting it first and naming the colour. Bonus points if you can say the correct colour in English and Spanish!
Motorbike/dirt bike racing, generally making silly noises pretending to change gear, skid around corners and always, always weave in and out of trees when available.
Muddy puddles, ditches, gates, water pipes, flora and fauna and any animals or insects are all great talking points and great spot the…games.
Without fail both Chaos and Mayhem love to find treasure. This involves keeping your eyes peeled whilst looking for anything intriguing or just out of place. Our treasure haul includes sticks, anything plastic, bottles, lids, ancient spoons, ancient pottery tiles, old toy cars, acorns, stones and doggie poo poo-which is not to be touched but laughed at and jumped over whislt shouting out poo-poo ka-ka balls!
6. FUN
If your walks are boring you will experience the whinge-factor and make the walk a complete disaster for everyone! We have learned from our mistakes that if the walk is one level, same terrain and with too much uphill without a rest then none of us will have an enjoyable walk. Look for walks that are circular, have interesting views, monuments, sculptures, sights or history. Somewhere your toddlers can be involved in the navigating following maps, finding signposts and navigate the way. A walk that you can help make fun and will capture their imagination and keep them interested. Our newest way to quash the whinge-factor is to sing. The Grand Old Duke of York is the BEST way to get your children up a hill! A good old-fashioned sing along, who can be sad when singing I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I’m H-A-P-P-Y, I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m H-A-P-P-Y. Oh and skipping. Skipping is sooo much more fun than walking and being silly always lightens the mood.
7. Options
When four year old Chaos started to enjoy walking we used to give him he option to go in the carrier if his legs got tired. We stopped taking the carrier with us, initially on short walks, then on longer and longer walks. If he wanted to get home he had to walk. On the very rare occasion that the whinge-fest became too much to bear and if we genuinely felt that he was too tired, or ill to walk, we would piggy-back him home for the sake of our own sanity. Luckily, this was very rare. Usually he stepped up and using the above tips we had him motivated enough to carry on walking.
8. Leading the Pack
Involve your children at all time following the route of your walk. From reading the map, to looking out for and searching for signs. If you involve them and get them excited about what they are doing and where they are going next, what they are trying to find, they are much more likely to enjoy themselves!
9. Holding Hands
If in doubt, hold their hands, support them and encourage them physically. Just the touch of Mummy and Daddy is both encouraging and comforting.
10. Go at their Pace
Probably the most important point on our list of tips that can make or break a walk or hike. If you try to rush your child, they will rebel, or worst still, wipe out! Give them time to stop and smell the roses, literally. If something takes their interest stop, admire, discuss and take time to listen to them. A child who is involved is much more likely to enjoy whatever you are doing.
We hope you have some success getting your outside and walking and hiking more. Have you any great tips for motivating and encouraging your children to walk and hike?
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It’s so lovely if little ones can learn to love walking – great tips! #kcacols
Thanks, there are so many benefits for their little bodies and minds.
We love to go for walks in our local woods, we make it an adventure. The walks are not that long, but we can build it up as they get older. Great tips. We find when we go with our friends, they will walk for longer and less fuss. Thank you for joining us at #SharingtheBlogLove x
The woods are great, so many discussion points and adventures to be had, just don’t get lost. Encouragement from others can really get the children moving.
I love been outside and walking. I spent a lot of time outdoors while on maternity leave and I plan to carry on as Rory gets older. As he’s only just started toddling it’s still quite easy to strap him into the pushchair but I’ll definitely be putting your tips into practice once he’s walking properly #KCACOLS
Thanks, keep up the walking, ease into it when he is ready. Good luck .
Ah what a great post. I love getting out walking with my two year old. I’m not sure how far we walk but she’s a really good walker. Walking is a great way to get out of the house and is great for fitness too. #marvmondays
If your two year old is walking you are definitely doing something right, well done you!
Some great tips here not sure anything will make my five year old twins sleep all night great read #triumphanttales
Oh no, please tell me they sleep through at 5! I hope so, even if we’re on the go all day my 2 year old still wakes up, my 4 year old generally sleeps like a log, think it’s just who they are… Boo!
Our Doll is only 1y9mo and baby #2 is due in a week so walks are a little out of our (or at least my) league just now. Not to mention all the snow and ice! Once baby is here though we plan to get more active. These tips are great, I’ll be sure to implement them!
#TriumphantTales
Congrats, hope it all goes well and in time with #2. It is more difficult to be active with little ones, when ours were smaller we just carried them in carriers/slings. The extra weight gets you even fitter! Actually, it’s also really nice to have them so close!
Wow, I am impressed! 6 km is a good long walk for little legs. You’re absolutely right – finding the right motivation is absolutely crucial. We used to pack special treats that we normally won’t have as a reward for the end of the walk and that usually helps. Great tips. Thanks for linking with #bigpinklink
Thanks for hosting and commenting..Ha ha, yes special treats are always great motivator… What is it about kids and sugar, total addicts and will do anything for it!
I’m very impressed by all your walking! I have yet to take my almost-two-year-old hiking – she gets tired after walking for too long and she won’t go in a carrier, which means I end up carrying her a lot. I’d love to take her on more walks once she’s a bit older – if the Scottish weather lets me! #DreamTeam
Thanks, plan something short with plenty to interest her, you can try and build up the distance if you want to. It’s a good bicep work out carrying them in your arms but it’s not the answer.
This is great, we have loads of woods and huge parks near us, that we’ve often been caught out in with the little ones. Some great tips here. Yvadney #DreamTeam
Woods and huge parks sound ideal for getting the little ones out and about, thanks
I think I need tips on how to walk, my two left feet try to kill me daily! #DreamTeam
Ha Ha, just put one foot in front of the other 😉
Some great tips here! I love walking, so I’m hoping Jacob will too. #TriumphantTales
Thanks for commenting, I’m sure your enthusiasm will rub off on Jacob.
Some fab tip here. I completely agree that you always need to pack snacks! Mine love to map read too – keeps them busy. #KCACOLS
Thanks, we try not to let them get hungry/ thirsty and include a map for them to look at then make up a story to go with it.
[…] a walk and take him along – obviously bearing in mind his little legs. I found this list of Tips for Walking and Hiking with Children really helpful – a lot of it’s common sense, but there were lots of things on there […]
We get begged for snacks as soon as we set off on a walk! My 6 year old will walk about 5 miles on a good day – usually alternating between loving it one minute and hating the next! #sharingthebloglove
Yes, they just love the snacks, ours are the same! Just keep feeding them and get them walking.. Ha! Your five year old sounds like our four year old!
Great post! My daughter hates walking though so I haven’t got much chance there. She’s always very dramatic about how tired she is when we haven’t even left the car park… hahaha #SharingtheBlogLove
Ha ha our eldest is the same, such a drama queen! He is gradually getting better because we walk so much he’s getting used to it… He has to!