Hiking with Kids

It’s no secret my husband and I adore hiking with our kids.

We have two children, currently age three and one.

We have hiked short local trails close to home and longer, inclined trails in South Dakota.

We are by no means professional hikers. We enjoy the outdoors and sharing natures beauty with our kids.

Here are a few life lessons we have learned while hiking with kids:

•Have little to no expectations. 

You might take two steps from the car and your kiddo decides today isn’t a day to hike. That’s okay. Find a safe area to play where you are and come back another time for a hike. 

•Bring snacks and water for your kid(s) and yourself. 

If members of the group start to get hangry, pause and refuel. 

•It’s not a race.

Kids walk, run, and hike at different paces. Stay uplifting and encourage your kiddo to keep moving and enjoying the journey.

•Turn around if needed.

If your trail is a loop or a straight away, turn around if needed. 

•Play safe games 

I spy is our favorite. Invite in other senses - “What do you hear? What do you smell? What temperature are you feeling?”

Kids adore collecting items, so keep them safe and let them collect as they wish. We tell our three year old he has to carry his collection so there is a boundary established for his collection.

•Sing songs and hold hands

Keep things light hearted and fun by singing songs. You are outside so don’t stress about volume or tone, just have fun.

•Research the trail

Check out All Trails for difficulty and the length of the trail. Start with easy and work at your own pace. 

•Be prepared to carry your kiddo.

Depending on age and ability, your kiddo might get tired and quite literally, refuse to walk. Sometimes a piggy back ride is necessary to keep the hike moving.

•If needed, offer an appropriate experience for finishing the hike. 

Our family enjoys ice cream, so we cheers to a good hike with a sweet treat. You can pick and choose what and if you want to offer an experience for finishing the hike. (We are a minimalist family so we keep the rewards to consumable items rather than physical items.)

•Age appropriate gear.

Our one year old is carried in a hiking pack, our three year old has hiking boots, and we adults have our own hiking boots. 

Maybe you enjoy bird watching so a set of binoculars might be handy. 

The gear doesn’t have to be new or the latest trend. Check out reviews and used options before hitting the trails. 

Remember, your kids are capable of so much more than we give them credit for. 

We have watched our son rise to the occasion many times during hikes and it’s a beautiful site to witness him excelling and enjoying the great outdoors.

We hope to inspire you to get outside and enjoy quality time with your family.

If we can offer additional support, please reach out. We are here to help.

TANCKS for reading.

Custer State Park, SD June 2022