TAKE YOUR KIDS HIKING. EASY WALKING ADVENTURES
Real Hiking: You can find hiking trails, hidden away in most areas. Check out Americal trails.org for state by state hiking guides or Localhikes.com for hikes near metropolitan areas.
In the Neighborhood: You can take a neighborhood hike. To make this an authentic hike, dress in hiking clothes, bring a backpack with a light snack and (if you think this is a good ideas for your family) let your kids use a walking stick. Walk somewhere you would usually drive, perhaps to a park or even a store. The focus here is on enjoying the hike, rather than getting to the destination.
Taking a Walk for Family Fun. If you only have a short amount of time and want to squeeze in some family fun, you can take a walk. Try taking one of these walks with your kids. Nature walk: This is a truly fun activity for kids. A nature walk can be taken anywhere. A nature walk in the city can be exciting, because every bit of the natural world that pokes through can be seen as an amazing discovery. Look for plants that spring up in the cracks of the sidewalk, birds nesting, bugs, spiderwebs and animals of any kind. Squirrels and even dogs and cats can be imagined and talked about as though they were wild animals. Adventure Walk: This walk is adventurous family fun because you never know where you will end up. When you come to a corner, flip a coin (twice) to determine which way to turn. You will either get two heads, two tails or a head and a tail. You can decide ahead of time which will be left, right or straight. Discovery Walk: For some interesting family fun, walk a route that you would usually drive with your kids. Look for things that you have never noticed before. Point out interesting sights. Encourage you kids to use their best observation skills. You can add to the excitement of this activity for your kids by responding enthusiastically to each discovery that is made. Sensory Walk: During this walk, pay attention to all five senses. What do you see, hear, smell and feel? Challenge your kids to stick out their tongues to see if they can taste the sunshine or the wind. |
Taking your kids hiking does not need to be complicated or intense. You need comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, drinking water and appropriate clothing (layers for cool weather, long sleeves if mosquitoes or poison oak, ivy, sumac are a concern)
Local Parks: Many city and county parks have hiking trails, so even a walk in the park can be turned into a hiking adventure.
State and National Parks: Most State and National Parks have established hikes on cleared and safe trails. Many trails are even paved, making it very easy to give your kids the thrill of being a hiker.