We love taking the kids on hikes through the woods behind our house and up near the river. Over the years of hiking with them, we have found some thing that have helped. I wanted to share some of those with you.
1. Remember that whether you are close to home or far away, taking safety measures is a must. Kids can get lost or hurt no matter how close you are to home.
2. Bring along safety items. Attach a whistle to every person in the party, attach safety harnesses to little ones so they cannot wonder off, and if it can be afforded, invest in GPS trackers. When it comes to the safety of our family, there is no such thing as overboard.
3. Let your kids bring along a camera- they will love the adventure of finding new and interesting things.
4. Binoculars are always fun for bird watching, seeing sights in the distance, and even playing I-spy!
5. Make it a science lesson. Teach the kids about animal tracks, plants, habitats, and ecosystems while you are on your hike. Seeing it up close will get the kids more excited.
6. When hiking in the woods, it is always a good idea to wear pants and sturdy shoes- this helps cut down on brier scratches, bug bites, and sore feet.
7. Put bright colored hats on the kids so you can spot them immediately. It is a good idea to color code the kids so that you can easily spot which one you do not see- Tbomb wears bright green and Snapper wears pink!
8. Listen to the world around you- the sounds you will hear are soothing and so different than in town.
9. Let the kids get loud and sing songs, especially if you are in a known bear area- this lets the bears know you are in the area and you do not sneak up on them. Most bear attacks are because the bear was startled.
10. Have fun and enjoy your time with the kids!
I hope this helps and I challenge you to take a hike with the kids this spring!
No comments :
Post a Comment