Top 10 Tips for Hiking with Kids
Hiking with kids? Don’t be intimidated. Here are my top 10 tips:
1- Start small. You don’t have mold your kids into super hikers over night. And no matter how epic the destination, expect complaints. So start small, and work up to the bigger hikes. We’ve found that 2 - 4 miles is about perfect for us right now (with an age range of 4 - 10).
2 - Go in the morning. Just my experience—but all kids are happiest in the morning, after a good nights rest and before the other stimulants of the day. Morning hikes have by far, been our most successful.
3 - Do we need a jacket? It’s always the question at hand. And let’s face it, weather changes rapidly and if you’re hiking any sort of elevation you can expect more change. So always opt for layers and a outer rain jacket instead of one thick jacket—then your kids can control their comfort level. Pro tip: Let them carry their own pack to store their own jackets and snacks.
4 - Take picture stops! Kids need breaks, lots of breaks. So embrace them. Stop for lots of pictures. It will make memories and help your kids appreciate the journey as well.
5 - Bring lots of snacks. This kind of goes without saying, but kids love snacks. Even more so when they’re walking. It will keep up their energy levels, but also give them something to do with hands. And can I just say—don’t be afraid to pick something outside of the fruit snack/goldfish box (although those are always winners). But something weird happens outdoors, where all of a sudden a whole carrot is so fun to much on while walking through the wilds. Special treats along the way are also exciting. So find something special you can reserve for that last half mile--ours is Sour Patch Kids. I only buy them for hiking and only bust them out when they need a "boost." So get creative!
Image shot at Aro Ha
6 - Let them go slow. I have had to teach and re-teach this lesson hiking so many times. It’s OKAY to go SLOW. It’s not a race. When my kids internalize this—the complaints decrease and they’re much more at ease. I have one kid who is naturally slow, and she will inevitably feel pressured to go fast. And my other kiddo will go so fast she’ll burn all her energy in the first half-hour. So I have to teach my kids to pace themselves and not compare their pace to any one else’s. And I have to teach myself not to rush anyone. We’re here to be HERE. Also, hiking is not a competitive sport (probably part of the reason why I’m such a big fan…)
7 - Never forget the first-aid kit. Okay—yes for emergencies, you ALWAYS need to bring the first-aid kit. But also, sometimes just a scratch or a bump needs a sparkly band-aid. It's as much physical as psychological. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way. DON’T leave the sparkly band-aids in the car.
8 - Bring along extra activities. Kids are so busy and so curious. They love to have something to do with their hands. Scavenger hunts, I’ve found, are SUCH a good way to get kids looking up and noticing the amazing things around them (which is sort of the point). Cool outdoors accessories are always a winner here too. Kids like to feel like they have tools and are big enough to handle them. So let them!
9 - Celebrate everything. Encouragement is key. You hiked over that huge boulder—good for you! You spotted an eagle? Outstanding! Wow—look at this amazing tree? Celebrate it sister. A rock? Yeah man.
10 - Enjoy the moment. We choose to go out with our kids to find JOY. So choose the joy. They’ll only be this little for so long. So hopefully we can take the good with the bad and focus on the wins. And someday, they’ll be hiking pros.
