Hiking With Kids

My husband and I often take care of our youngest grandchildren (a
three-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl) and we are really trying to
get them interested in the outdoors and confident about being there. We
often take them for walks.
There are, of course, several important things to remember--to bring
water
and snacks, to not overdue and kill their enthusiasm, etc., but I think
many parents "overthink" it. In other words, taking kids outdoors
doesn't
need to be a highly planned event. It really is more about just getting
out
there and being open to exploration.
Our grandson loves to play hide and seek, so we turn walking through a
grove of trees into a game and that keeps him moving. Our 5-year old
granddaughter is motivated by winning, so we show her how shortcuts can
get
her to our destination ahead of someone else.
Young kids who seldom get to freely run and play don't need structured
events in order to have fun--they enjoy being able to throw rocks,
splash
in the water, collect acorns, and slide down dirt slopes on their butts!