1. Be Prepared to Take Your Time
Parents who want to share their love of hiking with their small children need to keep in mind that children move a lot slower than adults. Backpacking trips that take an adult just two hours may take a group with children much longer. Young children find lots of distractions that require further investigation along trails and little legs tend to wear out quickly. Parents should travel over easy hiking trails that are fairly close to home, with the trail head close to parking. This way, if an injury occurs while backpacking, getting to the car to go for help takes little time. Parents should also plan plenty of breaks along the hiking trail to prevent children from burning out too soon.
2. Include the Kids When Choosing Your Trail
Hiking trips should include input from your children. After parents narrow the route choices for the backpacking trip, children should get the opportunity to add their two cents about where the family spends the day. Children can mark the chosen route on their own maps, and parents can show them how to read the map while out on the trail. An introduction to reading a compass can also take place on a family hike, with school-aged children carrying compasses of their own. When the trail comes to a junction, allow your children to navigate and to pick which direction to follow. When kids reach school age, they can carry a small backpack in the park with a few light personal items and their own food.
3. Share the Load
Parents should divide the load while hiking with children. Mothers can carry infants in a backpack while dads carry gear in their own pack. Snacks are important to keep on hand while hiking with children, as well as plenty of water. Parents should pack light snacks that require no refrigeration, and they can bring along a few toys for their children to play with during breaks. Hats, sunscreen and a small first aid kit are good things to have on hand. Packing baby wipes or hand sanitizing gel can make cleaning easier on both parents and kids.
Member Comments