Hiking with Children - Part 1 (5 to 12 years old)
Passions are passed on... a phrase that struck me and made me realize even more how important it is tointroduce our children to sports and outdoor activities at a young age. Indeed, healthy lifestyle habits are learned early and this includes the desire to be active. The sooner you start, the easier it becomes with age. They will thank you for it, guaranteed!
But how do you get there and, more importantly, where do you start?
The answer is not so simple. So here are some tips on family hiking based on our personal experiences. We invite you to use them and adapt them to your reality and your limits.
First of all, always respect your limitsas a parent. Sometimes you can try to go outside your comfort zone, but if the challenge is too great, it can demotivate you and diminish your sense of competence for future adventures. For example, it would be good to start with slightly shorter, less steep trails. That way, you'll make sure to make the trip a success and take the exploration further.
We must also listen to our children's limits. They are little human beings who are sometimes completely different from us, who live through more difficult days and who sometimes simply do not have the same interests as us. Thus, introducing them to walking in the forest will have to be done in smaller doses, also respecting their rhythm. Imposing our limits on them without listening to theirs will have the effect of demotivating them to follow you in the future.
In the first part of this article, I will humbly offer you some specific advice for children from 5 to 12 years old which are based on my personal experience.
Here are my top 5 tips to make your experience more enjoyable:
1) Inspire your children to go all the way by arousing their curiosity.
Among a few simple tricks, you can find hiking sites with monuments, waterfalls or other attractions to capture the attention of the little ones.
Young people are curious to see, know and learn about the world around them. Tell them about the plants and fungi you see. Draw their attention to the colours, smells and fresh air in nature or listen to birds singing.
2) Equip them for the hike with a few simple but practical little accessories.
You could, for example, leave them a small backpack in which they could carry their water bottle and a small snack. However, pay attention to the weight of the backpack, they have muscles that do not allow them to support much.
3) Give them big roles. They could be responsible for the weather or guide the hike.
Take this opportunity to introduce them to forest orientation, show them how to find their way using trail markers or how to use a map and compass.
4) Create a tradition during your different excursions.
It could be a characteristic photo at the summit, a special snack once you reach your goal, keeping a logbook of your hikes, or anything else that can easily be repeated on each outing. I have personally given vitamins from Turbo (DreamWorks Animation movie), aka a little jujube, in moments of loss of energy or motivation during the hike. This placebo effect gave us several minutes of energy boost and added a fun aspect to the hike.
5) Give them a challenge.
Our family particularly likes to count the frogs seen on the trail, but it can be finding a feather, being able to observe this type of bird, discovering different footprints or finding the brightest rock. For more "competitive" families, it could be a sporting challenge such as a step goal or a time limit to complete the hike.
In conclusion
In short, fun must always remain at the centre of any sporting activity so that the experience is a pleasant memory and gives a sense of competence and accomplishment. So, if you want to create passions, be patient and enjoy every little success you have as a family.
Josée Lachapelle
Mom and hiker