There are so many benefits to travel and hike with kids, but it can be challenging and the experience might be ruined if you don’t adapt it for the kids.
Nature can do miracles to tranquility, overcoming challenges, self-development, nature care, skills, and more. Whether it is part of a longer trip or just picking a “day in nature” it helps to adjust to “family-friendly mode”. There are some tips so the hiking with kids will go as smooth as possible, fun, contributing and positively memorable.
1.
Choose a family-friendly trail that is suitable to your child’s age or to your capabilities to carry a child on your child carrier backpack.
Family-friendly also means different types of points of interest, different vegetation and flora, animals may be, and “challenging but fun” points to cross.
Carry a trail map if available.
2.
Carry food and snacks that your kids like, choose and, can help prepare.
Take a surprise snack or food which your kids like and didn’t know you are taking with you.
3.
Make sure you have enough water or there are points to load water again (purifying water, buying water bottles, etc…)
4.
Rivers, waterfalls, caves, are considered to be natural rewards kids really like.
5.
Make the kids hunt for points of interest.
For example, challenge the kids to track a special bird or other wildlife that there’s a chance to meet along the hike.
6.
Join like-minded friends who have kids as well to your daily adventure.
7.
Consider the weather for the clothes
Let the kids dress light and have the backup coats or other clothes inside your bag, just in case.
8.
Check the weather forecast, and adjust accordingly for the trail you choose, the time you start, and the target to be back.
9.
Be ready to carry.
Considering the nature of traveling with kids, be ready and plan for adults to carry all load, if not from the beginning so later on in the trail.
10.
Plan for games and storytelling
11.
Consider many rests and shades point, taking the rest time into account for the finish time of your day.
12.
Carry the right first aid kit, remove unnecessary items and carry items you are likely to need while traveling with kids.
13.
Carry hand-cleaning gel and wet wipes.
14.
If available, carry a walkie-talkie, it’s fun and can be useful for safety matters.
15.
Consider trails with exit points, and circuit trails.
16.
Make yourself comfortable and safe by having free hands, don’t carry nylon bags or other stuff with your hands. Carry only the needed and arranged inside backpacks.
17.
Allow kids curiosity and the desire the take things back home J
Bring if possible and not a too heavy, binocular and magnifying glass.
18.
Sometimes kids don’t like photos, so find the right timing for photography, don’t make it a burden, and shoot photos naturally and unexpectedly.
19.
Bring a rope. It is a versatile tool that can be used for games, making a swing, and safety matters as well.
20.
Take the right shoes-bring those that fit the hiking type.
They don’t need to be a new pair. Bring light sandals or other as a backup shoe. Also, extra socks can be very helpful.
21
Conclude the hike with a reward. It will leave a good taste to the hike, even if it was difficult with the kids all along the way.
22.
Plan for alternatives. Either due to weather, trail condition, or other difficulties, Be ready with possible alternatives for the main course you planned.
