by James Johnson

Created on: June 01, 2008   Last Updated: July 20, 2009

Hiking with children: a great adventure or a big mistake? What one should know to create one and avoid the other!

Hiking with children can be a fantastic way to get them experiencing the outdoors and away from the television for a while. They can see for themselves those beautiful birds, wonderful flowers and bizarre bugs that are featured on the Discovery Channel. It is also a good way to get them some exercise and keep them, plus the parent, physically fit. But it can also be a big mistake, particularly when things go wrong and you are a long way away from civilization. There are things you should know before hiking with children (or hiking at all).

First, you need to know the children. What is their stamina level? How experienced are they? What are their interests as well as fears? Can they hike for hours or will they be exhausted after 30 minutes. Do they need frequent breaks for snacks and water or are they "camels" and can go for miles on end? Will they find the caterpillars fascinating or be terrified of the first beetle to fly by? All children are unique and each one is different. Parents should know the answers to this question, but if you are not the parent ask!

Also, you need to know about the children's health such as allergies, both to the things in the wild as well as any foods that may be shared, an epinephrine pen is always a good idea. Most parents will know with what the children may have problems, if you are taking a group of children on a hike, ask the parents about health issues.

The children are the most important factor that affects everybody on the hike. Unhappy or tired children will whine and make the whole group unhappy. It will help if you can get them more involved and interested in their surroundings. One way is to try getting them searching for birds or butterflies. Give points to those that find something unique such as a bizarre mushroom, but try to make sure everyone gets points (a colored rock or funny tree will work)! This helps them get over most fears as they becomes used to the diversity of nature and what is out there. Children feel safer and more comfortable in a "known" environment.

Next, you need to know the trail and what to expect. Will there be poisonous plants that need to be avoided? Are there any territorial creatures to watch out for, such as ants or snakes (or even snapping turtles)? Other creatures to be aware of include ticks, that can carry several diseases, and areas of high levels

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