Kids and the Outdoors: How to Raise a Hiker
The outdoors is one big world of YES. Kids can be loud and magnificently rambunctious. There are fewer stops and moreGO! Outside they can stoop and race, climb and swing. There are few things to break, they can’t be too loud, they’re are given permission to jump as high as they like and land hard. Kids can yell and scream and play chase and tag. There is less adult hovering and more self-governed play. Perhaps most important of all, the outdoors is where the best childhood memories take place.
I won’t bore you with the hard science that supports why the outdoors makes us all feel more relaxed, healthier, more peaceful, human beings, but the data is there, and it’s real. Nudging your child to spend time outdoors is one of the greatest gifts parents can give their kids, and it begins with you. Limiting screen time, having the right clothing (rain gear, warm layers, gloves and hats in cooler seasons), and going outside with your kids can make all the difference between a forced march and a lovely meander that makes that precious memory.
How to Raise a Hiker:
Start them young! Carry your infant in a pack or wrap, and progress to short forays on the trail when she learns to walk
Shoe her in comfortable footwear. Outdoor moccasins are especially comfortable for little hikers. Buy a one-piece waterproof rain suit to stay warm and dry in all seasons
Children can carry their own little backpack with cool tools: headlamp, compass, or walkie-talkie, in addition to water, snack, and an extra layer
Embrace their pace! Walk at your child’s speed. Support detours, investigations and curiosity. Allow them to play with sticks and rocks and splash through mud puddles
Hike with friends who have children of mixed ages. Kids do better with peers and older kids they’ll want to keep up with. Check out the website https://hikeitbaby.com/ for hikes with other families in your region
In the beginning choose trails wide enough to holds hands side by side, one that is well defined enough to race ahead if they want to, and preferably a loop or a trail with a feature at the end: a creek, a lake, a waterfall
Carry a first aid kit with bandages, sanitizing wipes, insect repellent and sunscreen
Place a whistle in their backpack to use if they get lost
Bring water and snacks, an extra diaper, hand wipes, and dried fruit for low blood sugar crashes
Teach trail etiquette. Say hello to passing hikers, don’t take shortcuts on the trail. If your child needs to poop, teach her how to do it properly and bury the business in a 6” hole then covered with dirt. Pack out the toilet paper in a Ziploc bag
At night in bed at the end of hike day, recap the adventure: what you saw, the narrow misses and his speed or strength on the trail. This is a quiet but powerful tool of affirmation.