Hiking with Children

Taking your children hiking is a great way to combine family fun with exercise and exploring the world around us. However, hiking with children is not without some pitfalls. A poorly planned hiked can turn into an experience that neither parent nor child will enjoy. Read on to find out what you need to know to make hiking an adventure your whole family will enjoy.

Make it age-appropriate and fun

Pick your hiking trail with some thought. Obviously, if your children are small, you don't want to take them on a 5 mile hike that involves climbing precariously down a rugged mountain. Even if the trail is fairly sedate, little legs are going to tire if the hike is too long. Research is essential in order to fit your outdoor adventure to your children's age and abilities. Look for hiking groups in your area. For instance, in my local area, there's a group called Asheville Hiking Mom, a small group on moms that takes weekly hikes. Talk to the leader of the group or other parents to find trails that are suitable for your child. If you're planning a hike within one of the many national parks, the park rangers are an excellent resource. A lot of parks offer guided hikes, many of which are geared towards families. Follow up on any recommendations by getting online and searching for trail reports.

Look for trails that offer something fun or exciting. Your child is more likely to get excited about the hike if they know there's something to look forward to along the way or at the end. Even if it's something as simple as a picnic by the creek, it can be something for your child to look forward to. My daughter loves waterfalls hikes, especially ones where she can go wading.

See if there's a geocache along the trail. For those unfamiliar with the term, a geocache is an item or items that are hidden, usually in a weather proof container, for others to find. It's a treasure hunt of sorts. Geocaches usually contains a logbook for finders to sign and other items that you are free to take. Just remember that if you take something, you need to leave something or equal or greater value. Some caches also include trackable items such as Groundspeak Travel Bugs or Geocoins. Travel bugs are attached to items in the geocache to log its travels. Geocoins are trackable coins. They're a great way to see how far your item has traveled from its original home. While a GPS is necessary to find many caches, there are some that can be found with a little research. According to geocaching.com, there are 786, 748 active caches worldwide so you're sure to find one near you. If your trail doesn't have a geocache, why not make one as a family? Be sure to register it so others can find it too.

Get your children involved in planning the hike. When my family plans a hike, my husband and I select a few likely trails, then we let our daughter choose the one we go on. She also helps pack our backpacks, including her own, with snacks, water and other essentials. Get your child a small backpack of their own to carry. It makes them feel important and more a part of the adventure.

Make it fun and sneak a little education in while you're at it. Bring along a book to help you identify plants, flowers, trees and birds. If a trail has historical significance, let them know. Keep it light and fun, though. You don't want it to turn into a full-fledged lecture. Make up silly songs about what you're seeing along your hike. Make up games like who can count the most birds or who can find the most items of a certain color.

Play it Safe

Make sure everyone is dressed appropriately, including sturdy footwear with ankle support. Bring extra layers of clothing, including raingear. Weather can change rapidly and you don't want to be caught unprepared. Apply sunscreen before your hike and bring the bottle along if you plan to be out for a while. If you're sweating a lot or go swimming, you'll need to apply it more often. Take along a first aid kit.

Bring snacks and drinks. Water or Gatorade is always a good choice. For small children, Cheerios or some trail mix in a bag is almost always a hit. I try to bring a little more than I think we'll need. That way if we're gone longer than planned, we're prepared. Stay on the trail. While there may be worlds of adventure off the trail, it's best to not have the children along until you know what's out there. If you're hiking a less-traveled trail, let someone know where you're going and an approximate time you'll be back. Bring along your cell phone. If something goes wrong, you don't want to be waiting for someone to come along and find you.

Dress everyone in the same color and if possible, take a snapshot of your child with your phone or camera before you hit the trail. Consider purchasing a disposable ID bracelet or temporary tattoo ID for your child to wear. If your child has allergies, it's a good idea to include that with your contact information. You can find the bracelets and temporary tattoos at mypreciouskid.com. While we all hope nothing will happen, it's better to be prepared if your child gets lost.

Teach your children to respect nature. Bring along a bag to carry your trash and if you see some along the trail, pick it up. Aside from ruining the beauty of the great outdoors, trash can be harmful to native animals.

Hiking with a Baby

If you're hiking with a baby, there are some special considerations you need to keep in mind. Unless the trail is stroller-friendly, you will want a good quality comfortable carrier. I personally prefer a carrier with lots of support that allows for different positions. It's always a good idea to try the carrier out a few times with your baby before hitting the trails. It not only lets you get comfortable with the weight, but also lets you determine the best position for your baby. My daughter, for instance, hated riding in any position other than facing my chest, until she was 9 months old. Once she hit 9 months old, she would happily ride in any position we put her in. If your little one has been riding facing forward and starts getting cranky, she may be getting over-stimulated. Try turning your baby towards your chest.

Feeding is something to keep in mind. If your little one is hungry, she's not going to want to wait until you're home again. As a nursing mom, this was never a problem for me, but if you're formula-feeding, be sure you have a couple bottles, formula and water. If you don't want to bring the whole can of formula along, buy the single serve packs or carry the formula already in the bottles so you can just add water, mix and feed..

Be sure you've packed enough diapers and wipes for the trip. Believe me; you don't want to be a mile from your car and out of diapers. Don't forget to bring a changing pad or blanket for changes. Since facilities for washing aren't always nearby in the great outdoors, make sure to bring along anti-bacterial wipes or lotion to clean up afterward. Babies' skin can be very sensitive. Check them frequently for diaper changes. Apply sunscreen and put a hat on them.

By implementing these tips, you can be sure that your family hiking trip is safe and fun for both you and your children.

Sources:
personal experience
www.backpacking.net/featured4.html
www.americanhiking.org/AHSimg/detailimage/Detailimage29f.pdf