We’ve been asked a lot lately about what it’s like to hike with kids, or, even more ominously, how to get kids to hike. Loree is working with a group to put out an introductory course late summer on this very topic, but until then, we thought we would share some of our favorite hiking hacks to get your kids to get out there and actually have fun.

There are three main sub-division vibes when it comes to kids and hiking. The first is games/conversations. The second is all about snacks. The third is gear focused. They all work together perfectly, but if you only have time, money, or headspace for one or two of the options, this is an important breakdown. Shall we begin? Let’s go!

GAMES/CONVERSATIONS
We play a lot of games. Not even just trail or camping related. As a mater of fact, I’m currently 15 minutes late for family game night and I am being yelled at accordingly. It’s my own fault. Fair is fair. But, while I’m here and being softly verbally abused by some toddlers, I figure it’s a great time to let you in on the games and nonsense we partake in to distract and avoid trail meltdowns. The first is game based. We like to play a variety of games and they are all made up silly-ness. Game 1, when you are walking through a location, find the best area to live IF you are a fairy. Picture this, you’re just a little sprite, bffs with Tinkerbelle, 9-5 job at the magic factory, where are you living? My spot is always moss covered, mushrooms looking tall, a beautiful hole in a log or tree, frogs are needed because how else am I going to ride into town (frogs are ubers in our world), and it’s just peaceful. Just silent green vibes. Play this game even if you don’t have a child with you. There will be great arguments and conversation. Second game, we are all just little bunnies being cute, but some grown up or big kid happens to be a dinosaur that only eats rabbits or whatever animal your sweet little child is. Guess what? We running. We play this every single time, but we also change the rules and sometimes one of the little rabbits happen to be dinosaur trainer and we work together to take out the other evil rabbits. It’s all nonsense and silly. Roll with it. The second sub station here is about conversation. We play a lot of “would you rather” and “what is you favorite”. So with would you rather, it is just the silliest comparisons or propositions imaginable. Would you rather fight one duck that is the size of a horse or one hundred horses that are the size of ducks? Would you rather sing your words every time you speak or turn invisible every time you talk to a stranger? Another favorite is the simple, “what is your favorite vegetable?”. It’s a bunch of silly vibes, but it’s free to google and sometimes comes up with great conversations. I think our biggest conversation starter has been “would you rather stop all future extinctions or bring back two animals from extinction”. A lot of discussions revolving around the recent dire wolf revitalization were brought to a forefront. Even with little kids, this is useful, as our babies wanted to both stop extinctions and also save the woolly mammoth and unicorns. Either way, it’s a fun, albeit, silly, discussion.

SNACKS
Snack, snacks, snacks, snacks, snacks, snacks, snacks, EVERYBODY. The highlight of every time I leave my damn house. I prefer to treat myself after any adult activity (i.e.; checking my lab work) with an iced coffee and something made of just carbs. Give me the bread. I’ll treat it well…ish? Anyway, snacks. I’m not a perfect parent. I will bribe my children with guacamole or lunchables. I don’t really care if that makes me lazy or naughty. I literally just confessed that if I have a day of big adult things and a bunch of phone calls or appointments, as small or as large as they may be, I reward myself with a little treat. My treats are usually iced coffees from a place that sizes things stupid and puts whipped cream on everything, or I’ll buy pretty socks or something with a mushroom on it (this could be earrings or a shirt, I don’t care, give me the cute shrooms). Either way, treats are fair. I don’t reward them every mile, but while we are out there, I don’t see any harm in telling them that they need to finish out a mile, or get to the halfway point, or whatever, before they can have a slim jim or a tuna sandwich. The point is to hype up or even romanticize the prize. You’ve earned this, you’re a baddie, let’s get this reward together. We are so close! They appreciate the instant gratification, and I’m aware that this is an argument against their generation, but they have been raised with this, even if we have sheltered them. Instant rewards is a valid conversation. How is this different from bingo with grandma? It’s not, just let them enjoy a treat. You are still a great parent for even having them out there trying.

GEAR
Gear is a beast and probably the most expensive one. But we can make it cheap and accessible! Nothing needs to say Columbia or be purchased from REI. Ozark, Magellan, Facebook Marketplace, and yard sales all exist and deserve to have space in this conversation. Let’s delve in. Our youngest two are 2 and 4 years old at this point. We bought them toddler sized bags for this last Ultra. Do they need them? Hell no. I end up holding the baby’s bag on any hike more than 1 mile. I am her servant and it all feels kind of dehumanizing and illegal. I’ll bring it up to my lawyer later. But for now, I do not regret the purchase. Once they have those bags on, they mentally feel older, more prepared, more independent. They attempt bigger hikes with less whines. The babies also had a similar reaction when we bought them “super trail shoes” from Walmart for a combined $50. The older two are harder to trick, but buying them adult women pants, water filters, bags, they feel some type of way. They feel, and authentically are, a serious and essential part of the team. If something happened to me, I know that my teenager has the gear and knowledge to go get help, my pre teen has the gear and knowledge to administer first aid, and therefore, help me. Now, they had the training, conversations, and knowledge before the gear, but the gear being in their hands, not just “get this from mommy’s bag”, makes it more official. Think of how you felt carrying something important as a teen or child. You were given something in the expectiation of trust and dependency, yeah man, kids still feel that. We weren’t special. Kids like to occasionaly feel needed. They want to be mature sometimes. Don’t make them mature and needed beyond doubt if you can help it. Just let them enjoy it as needed/wanted. Kids still need to be dumb…or just kids. Silly imagination time matters so much.

So that’s my soap box speech. I have a lot more to say and more specific details stashed away for our hiking with kids seminar. But I thought these were crucial conversations to get people and families started. I’m not even trying to hype myself up when I say that this is the most common question we get in our inbox. Like guys, what the hell, ask me about my cool pack, why is it just about these kids?! Anyway, I kid, I kid. We hope you have all had a great start to June and Summer and we will see you out there!

Hiking…With Kids

Camping with Kids