Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2016 17:13:18 GMT -8
Want to give and receive some tips for Adventure with kids!
1. Instead of racking up miles Go slow and let them climb rocks, wade streams, picnic and just enjoy time out there
2. 8 yrs old is a good age for kids to kayak a river in their own kayak
3. Let them help Plan the trip and use maps
4. So they do not ask how much farther, I just tell them we are spending the whole day in the mountains/woods/etc. and we can go to as many destinations on the way as we feel!
5. More info on Children and Nature Website
Suggested Reads
Last Child in the Woods (nature deficit disorder) Richard Louv
Coyote Guide to Mentoring |
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 22, 2016 20:47:08 GMT -8
Good thread topic, Eric.
From back when our kids were small:
1. Having a non-family-member along reduces whining.
2. M&Ms are "hiking pills."
3. Kids have two completely separate sources of energy. The little one is for hiking. The boundless energy is for play, once they get to camp.
4. Keep their packs light when they are little. And sometimes, it's okay to take the pack and let them fly free. Whatever it takes to keep the joy in it for the kids.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 22, 2016 20:48:26 GMT -8
I also found, having a kid with some sensory issues that made him VERY fussy about food: always be prepared to feed him granola bars, etc. if dinner is "inedible" (even though on the last trip he slurped it down).
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foxalo
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Life is infinitely stranger than anything the mind could invent.---Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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Post by foxalo on Feb 23, 2016 14:56:28 GMT -8
All great tips! I find my kids have a lot more fun when I don't force constant walking on them. The rockier parks are their favorites, because they love to climb. I'll let them pick trails to follow when we have plenty of time.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 24, 2016 8:08:29 GMT -8
Yeah, the boys had the most fun with things like camping at Indian Cove in JTree (Wonderland of Rocks. No further comment needed!). But we wanted to backpack, so we did sometimes drag them along a bit. We just always have kept mileage modest, with plenty of camp time for play, and that still holds. We are almost always in camp, even still, by about 2 p.m. (except on the first day of a trip, when we may start rather late. Last summer we were pleased to find we were able to start after 11 a.m. and still did 9 miles before dinner and camp; our longest day in a while. The kid was not the limiting factor there, being by then 17 and carrying some of my pack weight for me).
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Mar 7, 2016 13:47:39 GMT -8
And yet some of your suggestions apply to me to this day.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Mar 21, 2016 11:55:54 GMT -8
And yet some of your suggestions apply to me to this day. I still like getting into camp early and having time to play  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2016 11:23:40 GMT -8
Thanks for the advice all. Will keep it in mind for when my copilot gets older. For now she is just happy every time we get out. 
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jun 28, 2016 16:02:33 GMT -8
Aww, that's adorable, walkingwest!
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tarol
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Post by tarol on Aug 8, 2016 7:35:17 GMT -8
Let them bring a lightweight toy or two - my son brings at least a couple of hotwheels on every trip
Bring a lightweight frisbee ring for playing in camp
Give them their own version of gear - hiking pole, headlamp, camera etc.
Bring their favorite nutritious food, even if it weighs a little more than dehydrated backpacking fare
Bring extra socks and shoes if you're going to be around water
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Aug 8, 2016 8:37:38 GMT -8
Let them bring a lightweight toy or two - my son brings at least a couple of hotwheels on every trip Bring a lightweight frisbee ring for playing in camp Give them their own version of gear - hiking pole, headlamp, camera etc. Bring their favorite nutritious food, even if it weighs a little more than dehydrated backpacking fare Bring extra socks and shoes if you're going to be around water Excellent advice, Tarol. We used to let the boys bring 2 little cars and a stuffie on each trip. Thus a lot of photos of them with the heads of their wolfies sticking out of the tops of the packs. Our boys weren't interested in cameras, but always had headlamps, and we got Second Son his own poles when we realized that would help with his discomfort going downhill, especially on steep or slippery stuff. Food has always been an issue at our house, and my fall-back has always been lots of granola bars and treats they can have when the dinner they've eaten a dozen times before suddenly tastes gross to them. We've never had extra shoes (actually, we mostly never had more than one pair for each kid anyway), but socks. Lots of socks. Extra undies, too, for little kids who may not be tops at handling toilet chores. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 9:25:09 GMT -8
One good tip not mentioned:
Don't let them become a danger (or nuisance) to others.
Yeah I now, this bums people out. People get offended because "they're children" etc etc.
Last year I was hiking out on Mt. Hood, and a family (a very loud, obnoxious family) was crawling up my rear, so I let them pass in hopes of quieter times. The trail zig-zagged up a rocky slope. When they were about 3 "zags" ahead (and above) me, one of the many rugrats rolled a rock, not a huge one, down the slope causing a mini avalanche of many bigger rocks in my direction. No "sorry about that", "are you ok", nothing. Had I not been paying attention, that could've been bad for me. Had I been in a bad mood, it could've been bad for "dad".
It's weird to me that people with children always act like children have a pass to be little jerks because "they are curious" or whatever. And that's fine. In YOUR house. In YOUR yard. But nobody wants to go on a hike to get away from the noise, just to listen to someones children yelling, screaming or to have their skull crushed by a child that wasn't being looked after because mom and dad had more kids than they can handle.
My parents were not overly strict with me, and they didn't hover over me. They did teach me manners and respect for other people though, especially while enjoying the outdoors.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 6, 2016 17:31:34 GMT -8
Don't let them become a danger (or nuisance) to others. Hand in hand with teaching them LNT as they grow. That, BTW, isn't easy for kids. They like to modify their environments! It requires a delicate balance, and at least some time spent in places where it's okay to dam the creek, build roads, etc. |
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Post by mamabeargreen on Sept 17, 2016 12:04:45 GMT -8
Mine doesn't walk yet, so my advice is for hiking with babies.
* Clip the pacifier, hat, and sunglasses to them or else they will get lost in the woods
* Bring along an extra sheet so the baby has a place to sit/lay other than the tent
* Fleece sleep sacks can work as a sleeping bag for a baby
* Wear shoes with super good tread because your 40lb load may be incredibly unbalanced and/or moving a lot.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Sept 18, 2016 13:57:21 GMT -8
Oh, yeah! I remember that shifting load. That was when I started using trekking poles.
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