Outdoor Adventuring with Kids – A Beginner’s Guide
A Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Adventuring with Kids
In our fast-paced world, outdoor adventures are often the first thing to go. But more than ever parents and kids need more unstructured time in nature. While I could easily rattle off a bunch of statistics on the benefits of outdoor play, I think we can all attest that life is just a little bit better with some fresh air and sunshine!
Unfortunately, having kids can at times derail us. Before having kids I spent most of my free time playing outdoors; but once I got pregnant that all seemed to screech to a halt. It wasn’t long before the OB was saying “no” to mountain biking and my climbing harness wouldn’t fit over my growing belly. I will admit that for a time I lost myself in motherhood. Thankfully it didn’t take long for me to realize that I could adventure outdoors AND be a mom. In fact, playing outside with my family has been my greatest adventure yet!
What is Outdoor Adventuring?
There is something about putting the words “outdoor” and “adventuring” together that brings to mind a host of death-defying feats. Add “with kids” to the package and most parents envision climbing Mount Everest with a baby strapped to their back.
Well the good news is that adventuring outdoors doesn’t have to be that complicated or that extreme. In layman terms, outdoor adventuring with kids is nothing more than getting our small humans out of the house and into nature.
Now that’s not to say you can’t spice things up a little by trying different activities with your family (e.g. snowshoeing, hiking, camping, skiing, etc.). But doing an extreme sport is not what makes it “count” when it comes to outdoor adventuring with kids.
How to get started with Outdoor Adventures?
To begin with, it helps to understand why you want to do more outdoor adventures with your kids. Is it because you enjoy being outdoors and want to share your love of nature with your children? Are you concerned about your kids not getting enough vitamin D or physical movement? Do you want to create more memories as a family? Or are you just bored and want to try something new?
Whatever it may be, it’s important to pin down your “why”. This is helpful in three ways: 1) it makes it easier to pick activities if you understand what it is you are trying to accomplish. 2) It is easier to find the motivation to put in the work to make the adventures happen. And 3) it makes it easier to stick it out when the going gets tough.
Tips for Success in Adventuring Outdoors with Kids
Now that you understand your why, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of how to plan and execute a successful outdoor adventure!
Tip #1: Start small
Whether you are an avid hiker or homebody, when it comes to that first outdoor adventure with kids, it is best to start small. For an avid hiker that might mean finding a short kid-friendly hike (1/2 -1 mile round trip) and for the homebody that might mean going to the park. It is better to have a short and sweet adventure than to bite off more than you can chew.
Tip #2: Pick an activity that YOU enjoy
That’s right! For your first outdoor adventure pick something that you (the parent) enjoy doing. This will increase the likelihood of the activity being successful and your kids having a good attitude. Why?! Because your kids will follow your lead. If you have a good attitude and are excited about the activity they are more likely to have a good attitude and be excited about the activity. And given that as the parent you are the one putting in all the work, it’s a lot easier to make the effort if you are doing something that you already enjoy.
Tip #3: Bring friends
Inviting friends is not only easy but super helpful. Even the surliest of teenagers will be up for an activity if their friends are coming. Some other benefits of friends tagging along are:
- Your child(ren) may be willing to try different activities or do things they find scary.
- It makes it easier to stay out longer.
- You are more likely to keep your cool if things go amiss.
- And if things don’t go as planned (e.g. scrapped knee or blow out diaper) you have another adult there to help you with damage control.
Tip #4: Do Your Homework
Before you go it is always good to do some research on your chosen activity. If you are taking a hike, look up blog posts on the hike or if possible hike it by yourself first. If you are going to a new park, stop by the park one day without your kids or talk to other parents that have been there before.
Now this may sound like a lot of work, but believe me you won’t regret it. And the good news is as you do more outdoor adventures you will begin to create a shortlist of activities your family enjoys doing.
For some awesome apps to help you research your outdoor adventure check out my post 10 Must-Have Outdoor Apps
Tip #5: Be prepared
Now obviously you don’t want to pack the whole house for your adventure, but there are a few things that I would definitely recommend bringing. No matter what time of year it is you will want the following: sunscreen, water, snacks, diapers/wipes (if you have kids that aren’t potty trained), small first aid kit, and an extra layer. If you have multiple kids and are worried about carrying all that stuff, have your kids help.
This is crucial! Nothing makes an outdoor adventure go sideways faster than not having one of these items.
Looking to get a daypack to hold all your stuff but not sure how to pick one?! Check out my post How to Pick a Daypack: A Beginner’s Guide
Tip #6: Prep the night before
To reduce stress on the day of the activity, I would recommend packing all your gear the night before. This is the best way to ensure you don’t forget something and will help you not feel rushed the day of. Nothing is worse than starting your chosen activity already frazzled and/or fighting.
Tip #7: Remember it’s about the journey not the destination
Kids tend to experience nature differently than adults. For example, you may have a toddler that insists on picking up every single rock on the trail or a child that wants to stop at every tree to give it a hug. This is when it is important to remember that the purpose of your activity is to spend time in nature with your kids. It wasn’t to finish the hike, make it around the pond, or to stay at the park for a certain amount of time. The more you are able to stand back and allow child-led exploration the better experience everyone will have.
Tip #8: Dress appropriate for the weather
This tip is important all year long, but especially for the winter months. Nothing will make you or your child miserable faster than not dressing appropriately. The goal should be to dress in such a way that you are able to stay outside for at least a couple of hours even if you only plan on staying out for a short time.
For more information on dressing for cold weather check out the following blog post Best Winter Gear for Kids
Common Questions/FAQ About Outdoor Adventuring with Kids
What if my child doesn’t like going outside?
For parents that love the great outdoors, it can be confounding to find that your offspring is not a huge fan. But don’t let that discourage you! Getting kids outside is a lot like getting kids to eat vegetables. In the wise words of Jennifer from Kids Eat in Color the surest way to make sure your kids never eat vegetables is to never give them any. The same goes for kids that don’t like going outside. Just because your child doesn’t like being outside doesn’t mean you should let them stay inside all the time. In fact, that is the surest way to ensure they never learn to like the outdoors. So what is a parent to do? Here are a few quick tips!
- Try a variety of activities. It might be that your child doesn’t hate being outside so much as they may not enjoy the method in which you are playing outside. Need some ideas, check out my post: 19 Affordable Winter Outdoor Activities
- Keep it short. In the beginning, the goal is to end on a good note. So that means ending the activity while your kids still have energy and are happy.
- Provide opportunities for experiences and then let them decide if they want to participate or not. Pressuring your child into doing something they don’t want to do isn’t helpful when you have a kid that doesn’t want to be outside to begin with.
- Invite friends. I talked about this earlier, but kids are often more likely to enjoy an activity when their friends come along.
- Make it special. You can do this by coupling the outdoor activity with something your child enjoys. Whether it is a special treat or a favorite activity, find ways to incorporate it into your outing.
We live in a big city, what are some ways to get out in nature more?
For families that live in big cities, sometimes spending time in nature feels like something you only do on weekends or on vacation. The great news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, finding nature in an urban setting isn’t as hard as it may seem. Here are a couple of ideas:
- Focus more on enjoying green space than the destination. While it would be awesome to take a stroll through never-ending woods, that isn’t always feasible for city dwellers. The good news is finding green space in a city isn’t very difficult. It can be found at local parks, community gardens, even on a balcony with some household plants. The important thing to keep in mind is whether you are in the middle of a forest or sitting on the grass at a park, you and your children will experience the same benefits from being in a green space.
- Look for nature in your neighborhood. That might be spotting a ladybug on the sidewalk, looking at cloud formations, or noticing the trees as the seasons change.
- Make getting outside a regular habit. Even if all you can manage is a walk around the block, your family is still reaping wonderful benefits for being outside. Daily exposure to sunlight is great for your overall health and well-being.
What are some other outdoor adventure activities I can do with my kids that isn’t hiking or going to the park?
In this post, I use quite a few examples related to hiking and going to the park, but in reality, there are SO many fun outdoor activities you can do with kids in tow. Below is a short list to get you started, but seriously the possibilities are endless!
- Snowshoeing
- Skiing/Snowboarding
- Fishing
- Mountain Biking
- Rock Climbing
- Swimming
- Sailing
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- Camping
- Backpacking
- Geocaching
- Geode Hunting
- Archery
- Horseback Riding
At what age can my kids start doing different outdoor activities?
Age 0-2:
- Hiking (in baby carrier)
- Camping (Check out: The Ultimate Guide to Camping with Little Kids)
- Snowshoeing (in baby carrier)
- Playing in the snow
- Swimming
Age 3-5:
- Hiking (on their own)
- Snowshoeing (with their own snowshoes)
- Horseback Riding
- Skiing/Snowboarding
- Bike Riding
- Geocaching
- Fishing
- Rollerblading
- Ice Skating
Age 6-8:
- Geode Hunting
- Rock Climbing
- Canoeing/Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddle Boarding
- Backpacking
Age 9-12+:
- Archery
- Mountain Biking
- Sailing
What are some outdoor activities I can do in my backyard?
Sometimes it isn’t always feasible to pack up all our kids and take them somewhere for an adventure, but that shouldn’t stop us from getting outside. Below is a list of some fun outdoor activities you can do in your backyard!
- Water Table
- Kiddie Pool
- Pouring Station
- Bubbles
- Puddle Jumping
- Fly Kites
- Climb Trees
- Run through Sprinklers
- Jump on Tramp
- Sidewalk Paint
- Gardening
- Water Balloon Fight
- Star Gazing
- Bonfire
- Backyard Camping
- Bird Watching
- Outdoor Kitchen (mud pies and stone soup)
- Nature Scavenger Hunt
- Build a Fort
- Look for Bugs
- Picnic
- Outdoor Movie
- Jump in Leaves
- Shovel Snow
- Build a Snow Cave
- Frozen Bubbles
What are some ways to make going outside more fun?
One way to make going outside more fun is to do an outdoor challenge as a family. There are a variety of challenges you can do such as the 52 Hike Challenge, 1000 Hours Outside Challenge, and Team Sierra Challenges which come with badges for your kids! For more outdoor challenge ideas check out my post 7 Challenges to Get You Outside More.
There are also some fun outdoor organizations you can participate in with your kids, such as Free Forest School, Tinkergarten, and Hike It Baby.
The Last Thing You Need to Know!
While getting outside with your kids can at times be a lot of work, it is totally worth it! Your experiences may not always be Instagram worthy, but you are still creating memories that you and your kids will remember in the years to come.
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