As spring emerges, so does hiking season for a lot of us. I recently went on a 3.5 mile hike with my 3-year-old and 6-year-old. The 3-year-old is easy because I carry him in a backpack most of the time. Getting my 6-year-old through the hike, however, sometimes can be tricky. Now, I KNOW that he can go at least 3.5 miles. We walk A LOT. We walk to the grocery store, we walk to the park, we walk to friends houses, we walk to the bus stop and then we walk to our destination once off the bus. He went on hikes of at least 4.5 miles last year when he was five.
On this first hike this spring I was reminded of some of the tricks we learned last year to help him through the hike. It’s not coercion, it is persuasion – heck, I will call it manipulation. But, I know that if I get his mind off of the length of the trail or if his legs are “so tired, mom,” then he ends up having a fantastic time.
First, go slow. Remember kids have short legs and walk slower than adults. Don’t make it a sprint!
Second, choose your trail wisely. If you and your child have never hiked over two miles, don’t select a 5 mile loop. Maybe go 2.5 miles and then work up to longer ones if you choose after some shorter hikes. Also, consider hiking for time. A one hour hike, will likely take you and your child about 2 miles. Count on at least 30 minutes per mile.
Third, take breaks. You may even find that stopping to look at a cool rock, a beautiful vista, some scat, or a pretty flower will give you and your children just enough of a break to get to the next point of interest.
Fourth, distract them. Create a scavenger hunt. Look for the rock with the most sparkles. Look for animal tracks. Pick up litter left along the trail. Hand them a camera to take photos of plants. Any of these or similar activities will keep their mind occupied and they won’t focus on discomfort.
Fifth, keep them comfortable. Are they wearing comfortable clothes? Are their clothes appropriate for the weather? Are their shoes good for rocky trails? Are they hydrated? Are they fed? Think of all of the things that keep you comfortable when you are outdoors and emphasize them with your kids. Even if you can take a little sun glare, don’t expect your kids to put up with it. Put a brimmed hat on them and they will be happy and ready to go!
Sixth, go with a friend. Young children will go a lot further, will have more fun, and will not focus on fatigue if they are with a friend their age.
Finally, keep it fun! If you aren’t having fun, don’t do it. But, I think that if you try a few of these tricks, you and your children will have a great time hiking this spring and summer.
