15 Tips for Hiking with Kids!
So, you want to hike with your kids, but don’t want it to deteriorate into a whining crazy town? Me too! Whining is one of those things that drives me absolutely crazy and I practice just about every proactive strategy known to man to prevent it. Do I have an issue? Probably, but guess what? My hate of whining is going to make your hiking trip much more fun thanks to these 15 tips (you’re welcome).
Do me a favor and check out these 15 tips for hiking with kids so you can actually enjoy (or at least tolerate) your time outside.
15 tips for hiking with kids
- Start small. I mean, like really small. If you think your kids can hike 4 miles, start with a 2 mile hike. If you have little littles, look for “Nature Walks” in your area that are about a half mile long. Look for out and back trails and turn around to hike back when the kids are still smiling. Remember, this is a long game. You have to build endurance and capacity (for you and your kids). My oldest could hike 3 miles and 3 years old so I made the prideful assumption that all of my kids would be able to hike their age in miles. Boy was I wrong. It was like pulling teeth to get another one of my kids to hike a mile at 3 years old and it was PAINFULLY slow. Every kid is different and starts at a different endurance level. Start slow so that you all enjoy hiking and can continue to grow as your kids get older. If you make them hate it from a young age because you push them too much, you will never be able to hike long distances as a family.
- Build endurance: Isn’t there a quote that goes something like, “the real reason people go hiking is for the food.”? Well, I am a big believer in this! I learned from an experienced parent that little treats (M&M’s, skittles, gummy bears, fruit snacks, raisins, yogurt covered raisins etc) go a long way to help kids build their endurance. We often tell our kids that they can get a piece (yes, only one), of candy if they are ahead of us for 3 blazes (trail markers) or until an obvious landmark. The key is that they have to be AHEAD of us and you absolutely cannot compromise. They have to be walking (or running or hopping or whatever) to earn the skittle. Believe me, this works! Especially if you are trying to train little littles (2-5 year olds). This also works for older kids because I learned this from someone whose youngest was in Kindergarten (and I think she had 3 kids).
- Pack good snacks: Okay, this may seem obvious, but snacks are GOLD for boosting energy, helping kids learn delayed gratification (we can eat a snack when we get to the big rock, log, waterfall etc), and motivating kids to carry their own packs. Sugar and / or carbs provide quick energy on the trail and protein helps prevent a sugar crash. While we try to eat pretty healthy, I definitely give my kids candy, cookies, and anything I need to get rid of from my pantry while hiking.
- Think outside the “Hiking Snacks” box. I took family friends hiking with us once and they didn’t bring any snacks. I offered to share ours and she was pleasantly surprised when I pulled out cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and cold grilled chicken. I also had goldfish, trail mix, and candy :-). Don’t limit yourself to packing things that are traditional hiking snacks. You don’t have to go out and buy a bunch of things either. Use Stasher bags to pack snacks you have in your fridge or pantry since they are light weight and won’t blow away. Kids don’t know the difference! Make sure you pack snacks that you will eat (don’t forget to fuel yourself) and that they will eat and look forward to eating. Keep in mind the weather too. I love to bring M&M’s in the winter and in cooler weather, but skittles are best when it’s super hot out since gummy bears and chocolate melts. It’s also nice to have something juicy and cold (like fruit) to help quench thirst and something salty (electrolytes). You don’t have to be fancy. Besides, letting go of “Hiking Snacks” allows you to say yes more often because you can just go!
- Bring enough water: I was raised in the desert and this was drilled into me because people literally died if they didn’t have water. I cannot be serious enough when it comes to water. Make sure you have it. I pack at least one water bottle or bladder full of water for each person (think half their weight in ounces) and I have cold water waiting in the car (thank you Stanley and Hydroflask for keeping ice cold). If your kids are whining or struggling to hike, getting a drink, eating some food, or resting for a minute will do wonders to redeem your trip!
- Choose kid-friendly trails: the best trails have something for kids to look forward to at the end. Think creek, stream, waterfall, wildlife, canyon, being on top of a mountain etc. This will help keep kids motivated on the trail and it will make hiking rewarding. Don’t rush to turn around when you reach your destination either. Spend some time. Allow kids to rest and play. Remember, hiking is about the whole experience, not just checking a box to say we did it. Allowing yourself and your kids to enjoy time outside is an important part of raising hikers!
- Set an appropriate pace: This might sound simple, but it’s not. See, as adults, we have the end in mind and we may also have time constraints or create time constraints in our head about how long we think things should take. Let go of them. Hiking (especially with kids) is about the journey and not just the destination. Don’t rush your kids. Don’t let them dawdle either. Set a pace that feels comfortable (not too fast or slow) and allows them to stop when they see a cool rock or bug, but doesn’t take so long that you feel antsy and bored (been there). Pacing is also a great conversation to have with kids if you are hiking with kids of different ages. Talk about safety and how it’s more fun when we stay together, but encourage older kids to find ways to entertain themselves on the trail as well. Don’t be afraid to take breaks if you truly need them to eat a snack or keep morale up! I have found that a “walking” snack goes a long way to motivate toddlers and young kids to keep walking.
- Dress for the hike/weather: While my kids don’t mind getting wet in the rain or in a creek now, I have worked hard to build up their tolerance for discomfort. Kids being comfortable (and you for that matter) will make or break your experience. The whining is real! I always have a change of dry clothes in the car for every kid because hiking can be messy (mud, dirt, water), but I do check the weather and bring appropriate layers on the actual hike. I bring raincoats if I think we will need them, fleece jackets if it’s going to get a little chilly, and beach towels if we are going to get wet. I bought wool base layers for my kids last year for the first time and it has changed the game. I cannot recommend them enough. Base layers + snow bibs is my secret hack to getting my kids to stay out in 30-50 degree weather (Fahrenheit). Snow bibs provide cushion, warmth, and an easy way to let kids get dirty without getting wet. If I’m hiking to a watering hole, creek, or waterfall in the summer, I make my kids wear long-sleeved UPF rash guards and make sure to cover them in a reef-safe mineral sunscreen.
- Choose appropriate shoes: Kids can hike in just about any kind of shoe as long as it fits them well and won’t cause blisters. Sometimes it’s worth fighting the battle of which shoes they can wear and sometimes I just tell them to go put on something that meets our hiking needs (protects their feet, keeps them warm, can get wet, etc). Remember, the goal is to get them to love hiking, not to control every aspect of their attire! Choose your battles. However, make sure that you are comfortable in your shoes and that they work for the terrain because you will probably be carrying a lot of snacks and gear (or kids) and you need to make sure you prioritize this for yourself! I hike in my Chaco‘s a lot in the summer and I bought lightweight trail runners with a good ground feel for other hikes. I also have hiking boots, but I don’t wear them unless it’s a strenuous hike or it has a lot of elevation gain and I know I will need the support around my ankles.
- Carry a First Aid kit: This is a no-brainer if you are already a hiker, but I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to carry one of these when hiking with kids. While serious injuries are unlikely, they can happen and it’s important to be prepared. I have a lightweight, waterproof first aid kit in my hiking pack that I bring everywhere. We use it most often for bandaids, itch cream, tweezers (for thorns, ticks, and splinters), and ibuprofen (for me of course). While I haven’t experienced any crazy injuries on hiking trips, we have had normal falls, bumps, bruises, and tears. If you are prepared, it helps your kids become more resilient because they trust that you have their back. Why do kids love bandaids so much? I mean seriously, a bandaid can cure almost anything including foul moods! I also pack a length of lightweight rope in my pack. We have never had to use it, but there was one hike I did that scared me. We were hiking on shale and it was a pretty steep drop with 5 kids 3 and under. I will never hike without rope again (even though no one fell).
- Use a comfortable carrier if you will be carrying a kid: A few years ago I wanted to buy a new backpack carrier. We went to the store to try on all of the big brands, but none of them fit me well. I have a very short waist so they towered above me and the weight distribution was on my shoulders and neck versus my hips. It was so weird. I came back home and tried on a backpack carrier we bought secondhand from a friend and it was WAY more comfortable than the big brands at the store. It was a great lesson in contentment. It is SOOOOO important to be comfortable when carrying kids in a carrier! Make sure you know how to adjust your carrier to fit your body and spend the few minutes to do that at the beginning of the hike. Practice getting it on and off by yourself without it falling over or your kid falling out. Make sure they are comfortable and their limbs aren’t going to fall asleep or anything. If you are new to carrying kids, start off by hiking with a friend so that there is another adult there in case you need help figuring it out. When I had young babies, I hiked with a carrier on my front and a normal hiking backpack for snacks. Now that my kids are a little bit older, I use a backpack carrier, but it is much less convenient to get snacks out!
- Teach “Leave No Trace” principles. Pack it in, pack it out. This is true for everything (including things like apple cores that aren’t native to the area). Bring a plastic grocery sack and fill it with all of the wrappers, dropped snacks, and dirty diapers you brought in. Most trails have a trash can in the parking lot so it’s easy to dispose of before getting in the car to go home.
- Teach kids to respect and appreciate nature: Don’t worry if you don’t know much! You can learn it along with your kids! (this is super fun!). The Seek App (find it in your app store) is great for identifying plants! You can also check out field guides at the visitor center wherever you hike, and talk to rangers. Rangers know SOOOO much and it’s a great way to engage in learning with your child.
- End on a high note: The best way to help kids develop a love of hiking (or at least agree to do it again) is ending on a high note. Eat a picnic lunch at the car, play on a playground nearby, listen to great music on the way home, or grab some ice cream together.As with any adventure, there are going to be miserable hikes and the best thing you can do when wrapping up those adventures is by laughing. A lot. Laugh a lot so you don’t cry. Imagine you are watching a movie of yourself packing up those kids in a torrential downpour and think about how funny it is going to be a year from now (it might take that long :-)). Hiking is an opportunity to let go of expectations and just be. Allow yourself to do that and show your kids a side of you they don’t always see in the rush of the daily routine.
How to have fun hiking with kids
Well, those are all practical tips right? But Emily, what do I do when they start whining????
Okay, this might be the hardest tip in this whole list because you really have to think on your feet, but it will make all the difference. My mom grew up at an overnight camp (they went every summer since her parents were teachers), so she is incredible at this and I have learned from her! I also have 10 years of teaching under my belt so I have a lot of practice directing large groups of children :-). Let me share my best tips with you.
When kids get antsy or whiny on the trail, it’s time for a game or song, or story, or joke or something to break it up and get them refocused on the fun. I often sing silly songs that I make up while on the trail. We sing about birds and bugs and backpacks. We try walking like different animals (butterflies, giraffes, bears). We hike backwards. We run and walk and skip and hop. We play I SPY. We race to the next blaze (trail marker), or big tree. Tell a silly story as a group with each person taking a turn making up the next sentence. Try a scavenger hunt! You can just shout out items kids have to find. Start small (yellow leaf, purple flower, gray rock), or challenge kids to find groups of items for a purpose (we need 12 rocks we can use for checkers, a full bouquet of flowers, 5 different types of moss, or 10 different leaves). Count certain types of plants as you walk. Being silly and ridiculous builds good memories for both you and kids.
At the end of the day, you want quality time with your kids and you want them to enjoy hiking. Stay safe, be prepared, and have fun. Trust the process. It’s going to be worth it.
Check out these other posts about adventuring with kids:
- 5 Tips to Become an Adventure Mom
- We Have to Choose
- 1000 Hours Outside Challenge Review
- 12 Sustainable Habits for the Busy Family
