{"id":54497,"date":"2019-05-21T15:50:36","date_gmt":"2019-05-21T22:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=54497"},"modified":"2020-05-22T12:30:33","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T19:30:33","slug":"how-to-make-hiking-fun-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-to-make-hiking-fun-with-kids","title":{"rendered":"How to Make Hiking Fun with Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

Going on a family hike is a great way to encourage kids to be active and connect with nature. But sometimes the reality isn\u2019t Instagram-ready. Parents and caregivers, we\u2019ve been there. There\u2019s occasional whining, and getting through a hike may take a little bribery and a whole lot of cajoling. It doesn\u2019t always have to be that way. Here are 15 tips to make hiking fun for kids:<\/p>\n

Plan Your Hike Together and Talk Up the Adventure<\/h2>\n

Let kids have a say in choosing what type of hike you\u2019ll do. Even if they\u2019re too young to pick the location, you can give them choices: Should we walk by a river today? Climb some rocks? Search for the biggest tree? Build up anticipation for the adventure while giving them a sense of ownership over the trip. No one wants to feel like they\u2019re being dragged along. Browse a guidebook or an app like the Hiking Project<\/a> to help you plan together.<\/p>\n

Assign Your Kids a \u201cJob\u201d<\/h2>\n

Kids love having meaningful jobs. On the trail, assign your kids responsibilities. Let them take turns leading the group. Give your child a printed map and put them in charge of navigating. Or dub them the medic and let them carry the first-aid kit.<\/p>\n

Bring a Friend Along<\/h2>\n

Other kids can be the best motivators on the trail. Invite your child\u2019s friends or another family to go hiking with you. Kids will become so busy exploring with their buddies they\u2019ll likely forget to ask you how much farther it is. If you run into other kids on the trail, be open to letting your kids connect with them.<\/p>\n

Incorporate a Navigation App<\/h2>\n

While the goal is to get kids unplugged and outside, using a navigation app on your hike can teach as well as motivate your kids. Hiking apps allow them to see where they\u2019re going, where they\u2019re at and mark their progress.<\/p>\n

Go at Their Pace<\/h2>\n

Let your kids set the pace of the hike, even it\u2019s much slower than you would go. For kids, the journey is often more important than the destination. Factor in plenty of time for the hike so you don\u2019t rush and have the luxury to check things out. A slower pace will allow you to see things at your kids\u2019 level. They\u2019ll want to touch and feel things and they\u2019re inevitably going to find marvelous things that you have missed.<\/p>\n

Expose Them to Different Hikes<\/h2>\n

Kids, like adults, may need several different experiences before hiking becomes second nature. Take your kids on a variety of hikes and gauge their reactions. If meandering through a dense forest doesn\u2019t do the trick, find a boardwalk trail or a hike that starts high and gives you sweeping views. Or grab flashlights, headlamps or cheap glow sticks and hit a local trail at night.<\/p>\n

Pack Lots of Snacks<\/h2>\n

Kids burn off calories faster than you think. Pack a variety of snacks. Ask your kids what they want to eat and have them help you pack snacks or carry some snacks in their packs. This may be a good time to break out favorite treats they have only on special occasions.<\/p>\n

Make a Game of It<\/h2>\n

Whether you\u2019re geocaching, playing \u201cI Spy,\u201d doing a scavenger hunt or playing 20 questions, use your environment as a prop for trail games. Tell a story or create an imaginary scenario on your hike; maybe you\u2019re all superheroes who have to reach the \u201cenemy base\u201d before sunset and the only way to charge up your power is if you identify certain objects along the way. Use your imagination. Print out free scavenger hunt worksheets from the internet before you go. Read more in our article on Geocaching with Kids<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Offer Rewards<\/h2>\n

Consider giving your kids a reward like a small treat, hand stamp or sticker when you reach certain landmarks along the trail or if they identify a certain number of plants, trees or other objects.<\/p>\n

Plan an End-of-Hike Reward<\/h2>\n

Let your child pick where to go for an end-of-hike reward whether it\u2019s frozen yogurt or a favorite lunch spot. If their spirits are low, you can dangle this reward and talk it up as you\u2019re walking. Tell them, \u201cI can\u2019t wait to go get ice cream. What flavor are you going to get?\u201d You may get them talking on this topic for a while.<\/p>\n

Leave No Trace<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s never too early to teach your children about the principles of Leave No Trace<\/a> to minimize their impact on the outdoors. Encourage them to look and touch but leave things where they are. Challenge them to see how they could apply the seven principles\u2014for example, respecting wildlife, disposing of trash properly or being considerate of others\u2014while you\u2019re hiking. Find games and activities<\/a> that you can do with your kids outside.<\/p>\n

Chronicle the Trip<\/h2>\n

Take along a journal, sketchbook or a camera (instant cameras are great) and encourage your kids to explore and record their hike.<\/p>\n

Let Them Carry Their Own Gear<\/h2>\n

Even the smallest kids enjoy carrying a (small) backpack. Give them just a few items like snacks or a whistle. Older kids may want binoculars or their own trekking poles.<\/p>\n

Read Your Kids\u2019 Cues<\/h2>\n

You know your kids best. If they\u2019re hungry or tired, read their cues and take a snack or water break. Be aware of how far you are from the trailhead and decide when is a good time to turn around\u2014even if you haven\u2019t reached your destination.<\/p>\n

Challenge Your Kids<\/h2>\n

Kids are often more resilient than adults may give them credit for. Start small at first but don\u2019t be afraid to try longer or harder hikes as your family logs more miles. As you spend more time hiking with your kids, you\u2019ll get a better sense of their abilities and will find that sweet spot between pushing them too hard and keeping hikes challenging enough to pique their interest.<\/p>\n

Learn More: Hiking with Infants, Toddlers and Kids<\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Going on a family hike is a great way to encourage kids to be active and connect with nature. But sometimes the reality isn\u2019t Instagram-ready. Parents and caregivers, we\u2019ve been there. There\u2019s occasional whining, and getting through a hike may take a little bribery and a whole lot of cajoling. It doesn\u2019t always have to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":54520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[387],"tags":[707,758,1044,66],"internal-tag":[1442],"class_list":["post-54497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hike","tag-hiking","tag-how-to","tag-kids","tag-tips","internal-tag-seo"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-to-make-hiking-fun-with-kids","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"How to Make Hiking Fun with Kids","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-to-make-hiking-fun-with-kids","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/how-to-make-hiking-fun-with-kids"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/05\/Tuttle_101318_0236_fun_family_hiking.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/05\/Tuttle_101318_0236_fun_family_hiking.jpg?fit=1400%2C575"},"articleSection":"Hike","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["hiking","how to","kids","tips"],"dateCreated":"2019-05-21T22:50:36Z","datePublished":"2019-05-21T22:50:36Z","dateModified":"2020-05-22T19:30:33Z"},"rendered":"