Hikes in the Sierra are a wonderful way to stretch your legs and enjoy nature. It’s even an activity you can enjoy with your kids in the right circumstances. Hiking already requires careful preparation and bringing along kids can add even more to your plate. Luckily, the list below includes easy tips for taking your kids on their first hike. Keep reading to learn how to prepare correctly.
Don’t Rush Them
Schedule your child’s first hike at a time when you can move at your own pace. This is important because kids love exploring the outdoors at their leisure, playing in every eye-catching area you pass. This slows down the trip, but that’s part of what makes hiking so fun—enjoying the wildlife around you. Instead of rushing your kids, support their exploration and safety to make the most of your time on the trail.
Find Suitable Footwear
Dressing for the weather is critical, which includes good footwear. More specifically, make sure you have a pair of shoes or boots that are durable, flexible, and capable of handling the terrain. Don’t worry. Flexibility and stability can go hand-in-hand. After all, building strength is among the reasons why wiggle room is important in kids’ shoes. Features such as insulated interiors and water resistance can make the trip more comfortable for your young ones depending on the weather and surrounding terrain.
Keep It Simple
Our final tip for taking your kids on their first hike is to make it as manageable for them as possible. Pushing limits can be exciting, but when it comes to kids, giving them a simple hike where they can enjoy their surroundings helps reduce stress and safety issues.
Suffice it to say we don’t recommend scaling massive mountains for your child’s first hike. A safe and fun start to your kids’ hiking adventures means that maybe, one day, they can tackle those larger hikes with more prep and awareness.
By Denys Kurbatov FILE #: 357554697
