The Golden Rules of Hiking with Kids

​The backpack hung low on his back. It was the smallest backpack we could purchase, but still it seemingly swallowed our son whole. It was a red Osprey cinched up as tight as possible. Inside it held a white blanket with silky borders, called Bindy, and a few small snack bags. We had been chomping at the bit to take our little guy hiking for 3 long years and watching him light up on the trail was warming my heart.

​Since that first hike of one mile, we have learned from the highest highs and the lowest lows of hiking with a child. Below is a list of do’s and don’ts compiled over 11 years of adventuring with our little man in tow...

1. There must be sights. - Unless you want your child to feel like you are slogging out a forced march, kids need to have high interest sights frequently interspersed among the miles. Pick trails that have stream crossings, waterfalls, rock features, cliffs or caves, pine forests, wildflowers, bridges, and more. 
2. Bring snacks- Little people burn far more calories than you think and struggle to maintain blood sugar levels while hiking two steps to your one. Plan to feed your kids snack every 30 minutes to one hour depending on their age and ability to eat larger portions at meal time. Encourage your kid to eat even if they don’t think they need one. If you stay ahead of hunger you’ll have a happy child. If his blood sugar drops, he’ll have bad memories and it will take his body longer to rebound.  
3. Let your kid pick and pack the snacks.- To rev your kid up for that trip, take them on a special grocery run and let them pick snack options just fo the trip. Let it even be items you would never normally purchase. They’ll burn the sugar up and look forward to the next hour of hiking to pick out their favorite item. Use mini snack size ziplock bags to package quick bites they can put in their pocket and munch on as they walk.
4. Bring extra clothes and layers.- Think of all the things little boys can get into in one day even around the house. Now put them in a highly engaging environment outside with intriguing items like logs, rocks, and creepy critters. Layer items for temperature regulation and make the top layer waterproof in as many situations as you can. I remember the first time our son soaked his feet puddle jumping and we were literally saved by the extra pair of socks we had packed him.
5. Give him a job.- Your kid wants to be involved and needs activities to distract him. Maybe you make him the carrier of the map, the finder of new wildflowers, the holder of tent stakes, the user of the knife when something needs cut, etc. Also, use this time to teach him the skills you want him to master to be a successful hiker without you some day. Isn’t that truly our job as parents- to make ourself unnecessary- to teach our kids to be able to handle the world on their own? Filtering the water is a good activity, life skill, and bonding moment. Take that opportunity to teach him about lakes and rivers, water insects or algae.
   
6. Hike as fast as your slowest hiker.- If everyone is going to be happy and safe, you must only hike to the ability level of your weakest hiker. Does that mean you may only go a mile the first time ( a trip you mining not think nearly worth it)? Yes, it does. Just embrace that. Parenting is always an exercise in putting your needs second, and hiking is no different. If you want your child to enjoy it and thus want to go with you for the next 15 years, you must keep them engaged.  
7. Make him a part of the planning process.- You must create a sense of excitement like Christmas morning. Find out what your kid looks forward to the most and make sure you include that in the trip itinerary.

9 years later, as I organize his closet on a grey winter weekend, I run across that beat up red Osprey backpack and it darn near brings a tear to my eye. Now I store it away with the old fuzzy Bindy and ask my son to proofread the list we’ve created and he talks like an old expert. I think we’ve done just fine surviving the blood sugar lows, tired feet, and bear encounters. As we plan the next adventure, I still follow the golden rules of hiking with kids and look now ask myself if I can keep up with him on the trail as I become the member of the party that dictates the slower pace.