Hiking with your Children: Get Outdoors!

Kids Today! Playing video games, texting their friends... c'mon, let's get outdoors.

I am gratified that my 11 1/2 year old daughter  likes to go hiking with me. Naturally we take easier trails, yet she seems to enjoy the challenge. And it gives us special daddie and daughter time.

On the Australian Hiker Blog (see previous article0, Our Hiking Blog, Frank and Sue write about an American based hiking with children program (go figure - discovered on their Aussie site). Discover the Forest provides locations near you and activities to do while hiking with your kids. Leaf rubbings, identify animal tracks, learn to use a compass and more.

Hiking has become a fabric in my life and it is wonderful to share this with my daughter. Are you hiking with your kids?

Comments

[Eric]

I have been hiking and mountain biking with my 12 and 9 year old sons for the last few years. They still enjoy going out with me on trips.

My kids play video games and I try to limit their time spent playing but I don't try to eliminate it all together because video games are one of the few things that they "connect" with their classmates at school at this point in their lives - I don't think any of my sons' classmates or friends hike or bike.

All I can do is introduce them to want I enjoy doing, hiking and biking, and hope that they will find enjoyment doing the same for a long time to come.