I know that we are not alone in this sometimes challenging adventure of trying to get our children to fall in love with hiking. I often say that, in my own family, there is always one of the six of us who isn’t especially “feeling” the adventure on any given day, whether they are a bit tired, a bit hungry, or just NOT. INTO. HIKING. Some of my children fall into the latter category more than others, but I will not name names. After all, we all have our things, and I can appreciate that hiking might not be the “thing” for all four of my children.
That being said, after years of hiking with our kids, sometimes successfully and sometimes not, we have come up with some ideas about how to make hiking with your children more fun, or at least more bearable. In some of these cases, they might even forget that they are hiking because they are having so much fun out on the trail!
KEEP IT EASY & ADVENTURE-FRIENDLY – Make sure that the hike you select is not too long or too strenuous. One of my favorite family stories is when I selected a hike at Lake Louise in Canada that I THOUGHT was a 1200 feet elevation gain, and later realized it was a 1200 METER elevation gain (dang Canadian conversion!). My kids HATED this hike, because it was just too hard. Lesson learned there! If you can, try to mix up your hikes so that they include interesting features along the way for other adventures (rocks for bouldering or climbing, lakes or rivers for swimming, animals for scouting)
DRESS FOR SUCCESS – Make sure your family dresses appropriately for each hike, including the required layers to make the hike comfortable. Our number one recommendation is to get each person in your family proper hiking shoes, which will ensure success on the trail and wherever they might climb.
SNACKS AND WATER – Always bring ample food and water. Each person in our family carries their own hydration pack or Camelbak, and snacks can be critical for energy along the route. In addition, make sure you bring some jelly beans, or small candies, that you can whip out if you really need additional reinforcement.
GET YOUR KID A CAMERA – Whether you let them borrow your camera, or even your phone, or purchase a simple point and shoot specifically for them, this is a surefire way for them to engage with their surroundings on a hike. There’s something about them being able to document their OWN experiences along the way, including the things that they are enjoying about the hike or the adventure (my daughter likes to get REALLY up close and personal with flowers or plants on our hikes), that will keep them engaged and motivated much longer than if they didn’t.
GET YOUR KIDS WALKIE TALKIES – Our kids LOVE to communicate with each other on the trails with walkie talkies. In many cases they often even forget that they are hiking because they are so focused on talking to each other as we move along. These are also really fun to use at the campground.
BUY A PAIR OF BINOCULARS – Being able to see things up close will allow your hike to take on a whole new dimension. Whether you use the binoculars to spot wildlife up close, or see the details of the landscape before you, both you and your children will enjoy using these on your hikes and outdoor adventures.
GET READY TO ASK QUESTIONS – When my kids get tired on the hiking trail, I often hold their hand to keep them at a decent pace (which can sometimes be the pace of a snail). In addition, I start asking them questions. Typically, I’ll quiz them on their “favorites,” asking them about their favorite movie, favorite food, favorite trip memory, favorite book, favorite thing to do with Mom, etc. This gets them talking, and, again, they almost forget about the fact that they are hiking. In addition, I love asking questions about things they are interested in. One of my kids, for example, can spend hours on the trail telling me about sea animals, LEGO creations, Marvel characters, and his remote controlled car. Another can talk for hours about her friends, her plans for the coming year, and her current opinions on things. It’s a surefire way to pass the time with weary hikers.
PLAY MUSIC OR GAMES ON THE TRAIL – We love to hike with our portable bluetooth speaker attached to one of our hiking backpacks. Our family typically plays one of our Road Trip Playlists, and the music gives really great background for our hikes. We also like to sing along! In addition, playing games as you hike can also help make the trek more fun. Take turns being the “leader” on the trail, and play “Follow the Leader”as you go. Some other easy games are “I Spy,” scavenger hunts, or “20 Questions.” Also, you can try to spot wildlife.
