Coupon For Car Rental - Kid-Friendly Hiking Tips for Families on the Go

By Allie McComas

Exercise while exploring the natural world, hiking is a great way to combine quality family time with the benefits of fresh air. It's a big playground just waiting to be explored. The beauty of the natural world elicits wonder and curiosity, to kids in general.

You can take a cue from them and build a real appreciation and a love for the outdoors with our children, with their sense of wonder and their short attention span, they are slower and their legs are smaller and closer to the ground so by taking the time to look at the world through their eyes. Think about it from their perspective. It's about the journey itself, it's not about how long the journey is; for most children.

Attach a plastic whistle to the backpack so your child can summon help if needed, also. Some water and a spare layer of clothes, give them their own pack to carry just the essentials at first: a snack. Let them set the pace. But that's okay, it may only consist of only hiking a half mile over the span of two hours. This is a great time to just slow down to their pace and enjoy the hike.

They will, and at some point. You must be prepared to carry them when they get tired, most importantly. And be ready to make alternate plans at a moments notice, your job is to be sensitive and aware of their energy and attitude, as a parent.

Here are some helpful hints and things to keep in mind when preparing your children for hiking.

It will give them a boost of energy. Nuts or trail mix and crackers about every half hour if they are walking to keep their blood sugar level up, offer things like bite-size pieces of fruit. Make sure you pack snacks in small plastic bags so your child can munch as you walk. 1.

And don't bury disposable diapers, don't pitch them in the forest. Be considerate of others. Bring spare diapers and a sealable plastic bag to store them when soiled, for small children. 2.

A time to run around a bit, or for toddlers, remember to stop every hour or so to allow for rest. 3.

Make sure it is at least SPF 15 and protects against UV rays. Apply sunscreen to your child. 4.

Children will become cold long before adults will. Keep your child bundled up, if the weather is cold. 5.

Especially if you are hiking in open country, attaching a small umbrella to the backpack can be quite handy to use for shade. That is if you can keep it on their heads and not thrown along the trail somewhere. Wearing a hat is a good idea. A T-shirt and shorts are suitable for kids to wear, if the weather is hot. 6.

Dress your child in bright colors to make him or her easier to spot, also. Make sure you stress the importance of remaining on the trail and staying put in the unlikely event you become separated, before taking your kids out on a hike. Establish safety rules for your children. 7.

He or she will determine the pace, whether your child is riding on your back or tramping at your side. Scale back your expectations. 8.

As a family, together, but starting early will allow you to work up to that point, the mileage and the view from the top even more, they will begin to enjoy the hike, as they grow. There is a real sense of joy in re-discovering nature through a child's eyes. Even an ant hill can be fascinating, a butterfly, a crawling bug, dew drops, spider webs. It is the sense of wonder that will to stay in your memory, or destination, children don't seem to care about mileage.