Hiking with Kids

Be sure to bring your hat on a desert hike!
Saguaro National Park

One of the reasons we embarked on this journey was to share our love of the outdoors with our children. While our kids (ages 4 and 7) love being outside, teaching them to enjoy hiking has not been without its challenges. There is nothing like a tantrum when you are miles away from your vehicle to make you reconsider hiking with kids. We have learned as we have walked and would not trade our adventures on the trails for anything. Here are some tips for hiking with little ones:

• Start them young! We have been hiking with both kiddos since they were born. We love the Ergo carrier for little ones up to around 3 years old. It is easy to take them in and out if they feel like walking for part of the trail.

• Do the math! To estimate how far your child can hike, author and outdoor adventurer Peter Brown Hoffmeister (Let Them Be Eaten by Bears) recommends taking your child's age and dividing it in half. So your 6 year old should be able to comfortably hike 3 miles initially. 

• Get prepared! You should always hike with a day pack that includes the following:
• Water
• Snacks (almonds, granola, and apples are some of our favorites)
• Diapers and wipes (if your child needs them) or a set of dry clothes if they are older (especially if there is water along your hike) 

  

  Don't forget to take a break!
  Big Sur, California

• Phone (if you want to really get back to nature you can lose the phone but be sure to let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return)
• Map
• Sunscreen and/or hat
• Small First Aid Kit (we had fun building our first aid kit with our family- make it a project!) 

• Plan some fun! You know your kids... are they climbers? Do they love water? Try to incorporate some time for play in a creek or on some rocks. 

• Get over YOUR fears. As a parent, it is totally normal to worry about your children and their safety, but don't let that stop you from exploring the world. Think about what scares you about venturing outside and take steps to mitigate those fears. Worried that someone will get hurt? Take a first aid course. Concerned about bears? Read up on what to do if you are confronted in the wilderness and teach your family. 

Wildflowers make a hike magical!
Joshua Tree National Park

• Slow down! You will not be hiking for speed, at least not initially, so relax. Let your child pick up leaves, skip stones or climb a tree. Remember that time spent in nature is good for everyone's physical and mental health. 

• Turn your hike into an adventure! Maybe your child is a detective, walking through the forest to solve a crime. Perhaps pirates are chasing you up the trail. Making up some fun has saved us many a time on the last mile of a hike. Give it a try!  

What are your tips for enjoying nature as a family?