Parents have to compete with a lot of distractions. Even if you limit your child’s technology time, it is rare for a child not to have an iPad or use their parent’s phone during those long doctor’s visits. The Mickey Mouse and Minecraft apps are not necessarily bad, but they pull our kids in and make it hard to get them outside. With spring around the corner and plentiful local options for hiking, let’s get into nature and have fun!
I have an elementary school child and a teenager. It takes my creativity as a parent to get them off tech and outside exploring. My little one, who generally wants to hang out with me and explore tide pools or play among the trees, still needs to be enticed on occasion. My teen has schoolwork and sports and his own friends and sometimes needs a little nudging to spend the day on the trails with me. The goal is to have fun, and my goal is to get them to want to go hiking again, and that’s not always easy.
We may envision the picture-perfect hike: the kids running through a meadow (on the trail, no plant or animal species are harmed) with smiles on their faces and the birds chirping. But let’s face it that almost never happens spontaneously. To create those moments, we have to plan.
To set the day up for success, there are a few basics. Wear appropriate clothes and shoes for the weather and the trail. Kids’ feet are just as important as adults’ and need protection. Crocs or slides will not allow them to be comfortable for any length of trail, but hiking boots are not required—a good pair of sturdy tennis shoes is usually fine. Waterproof layers that they can remove work for hikes on a cooler, damp day because being cold and wet will ruin any hike.
Plan your route. They can help decide where to go and what to do if they are old enough. Make it sound exciting, get creative, and sell it! For me, this means I research the location and trail. It is ideal if you have already hiked the area so you can prepare them and tell them about all the amazing things they might see or find. If you don’t know the trail, multiple apps will help you prepare and understand what to expect. I like AllTrails. I can get trail information like mileage and elevation and read the reviews to get the best perspective of current conditions.
Have a well-packed daypack at the ready. The pack should have food, water, and a little first aid kit. Pro tip: pack your daypack the day before. This ensures you don’t forget anything significant in the scramble to get out the door.
Ensure everyone is well-rested with a good breakfast. I don’t know about your kids, but my daughter gets hangry. I know that if we don’t start the day with a good breakfast, she will melt, and there will be nothing I can do to get her back on track.
Plan your rewards. All I need is a promise of a waterfall or climbing a new peak and I am all in. That is my reward, and don’t we all love a good reward—kids included? The gaming industry is designed to activate dopamine, the brain’s reward system. My goal is to do the same but in nature. I want them to want to explore the outdoors, among the trees and tides, and off of tech.
You know your kids best; what will be the best incentive to get on the trail and keep them moving when they’re a little tired or starting to droop? For many kiddos, it is food. My kids are no exception. My daughter loves candy. We never buy candy except for the trail (and Halloween). This makes the incentive unique and not something she gets regularly. My daypack might have Skittles and Starbursts ready to take out at the first “Are we there yet?” On the other hand, my son isn’t that interested in sweets, so I have packed Chick-fil-A or flatbread pizza to reward him on a long hike.
Time to hike. Once you’re on the trail, you may need to get creative and find ways to keep your child’s interest. That can be as simple as counting banana slugs or looking for mushrooms. Jacks Peak, our local county park, is great for this in winter and spring after a light rain. The Forest at Nisene Marks State Park has excellent options for older kids, including finding fossils. Some kids will enjoy taking photos or videos to share later. Again, it’s all about knowing your child and what motivates them.
Seeing my kids smile and hearing their laughter (and maybe a little whining and complaining while climbing the hill!) fills my heart. We are connecting and creating memories together. The rewarding words I have heard are, “Mom, thank you! When can we go again?” and “Mom, that felt good. It was worth it.” And that is music to this hiking mother’s ears.
Dawn Alva is an avid hiker who logs 1000 hiking miles a year including multiple backpacking trips to Yosemite. She is the owner of Rumina Nursingwear and the mother of a tween and a teenager.
Leave a Reply