When it comes to outings that are healthy and fun, hiking tops the list. It’s a perfect opportunity to swap phone screens for backpacks and routine play for adventure. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for little ones with lots of energy to run, seek, and explore to their heart’s content.
We recently sat down with Susan Elderkin, author of the upcoming “Best Hikes With Kids: Pacific Northwest” (Mountaineers Books), for her top tips on hiking with kids — and how to make the experience everything you want it to be.
- Be Mindful of Their Little Legs
According to Elderkin, small children don’t have a lot of strength and stamina — they can’t physically walk as far as an adult. “Because of that, it’s important to choose the right hike,” she says.“Choose a hike that’s short. When they’re toddlers and in early preschool, a one- to three-mile hike is all most kids can do. The older they get, the more they can handle, at least on their own two feet. Once they are in pre-K and kindergarten, they can do a little more mileage and some elevation gain. By the time a kid hits 10 or 11, they can do almost anything. But it really depends on the kid. You just start out with something small, see if they can do it, and succeed and then try something a little bit harder.”
- Set Clear Expectations and Use the Right Language
No matter what mileage or difficulty you choose, talking about the hike with your kids in advance can mean the difference between a happy excursion and an unhappy one. According to Elderkin, even little ones will have a better time if they know what to expect.“[That includes] how much time you’ll spend in the car, how long the hike will be, and how much uphill there will be,” she says. Setting expectations early and checking in can also help eliminate whining on trail and the ever-frustrating, often-repeated kid favorite, “How much farther do we have to go?”
And remember that you don’t have to call a hike by that name, which often appeals more to adults seeking exercise than small children bent on fun and adventure. “I often say, ‘Let’s go take a walk’ or ‘Let’s go explore,’” says Elderkin.
- Choose Hikes and Activities That Interest Them
Once you’ve dialed in the right mileage and set clear expectations, it’s important to choose hikes and activities that interest your kids. “Most kids aren’t destination focused,” says Elderkin. “At least not when they’re small. They don’t care about reaching the waterfall or the lake; they only care about the journey. Choose hikes with kid-friendly elements like birds or water. They also like big trees and little plants.”It can also be helpful to bring along activities for your hike, especially ones that involve looking for specific things. “We’ve done scavenger hunts and used bingo cards,” says Elderkin. “Older kids can go geocaching or letterboxing. For those older hikers who are reluctant, bringing a friend along is great. It’s amazing how much more energy kids have when they have a friend along.”
- Pack Everything You Could Possibly Need
As you’re making the final preparations for getting the kids outside, don’t forget to use your imagination and pack for anything you might need.“Make sure you pack well so that if they get chilly or it rains or they go swimming, you have extra layers of clothing. Bring extra socks for when they stick their foot in the stream, which they always do. And have lots of snacks. I bring a mixture of high-energy snacks and also something sugary that they like and don’t get a lot of normally. You can use it for incentive, like ‘When you reach the top of the hill, I’ll give you a Skittle!’”
- Make It a Positive Experience
Skittles aside, Elderkin’s top tip for hiking with kids is to make it a positive experience. Even if you itch to hike far and fast, go slow. And when you get frustrated at having to turn around before the waterfall, remember the big picture: You want your kids to like hiking enough to do it more than once.So cheer your kids on when they’re trekking up a hill; sing their praises when they make it to the top of a summit. Help them feel a sense of accomplishment. Just don’t push them too hard.
“Some kids thrive on [challenge], but most kids don’t. If you do something really hard and they have a really hard time doing it, they’re going to end up hating it. I’m all about having a successful outing. In the end, it’s about getting outdoors and getting moving.” And there’s no better time than the present. “It’s really important to get kids outside from an early age,” she says. “It’s never too early. Babies can sleep on you while you hike and plenty of places have paved trails or boardwalks for strollers. Just do it. It’s never too late to try.”
