Text written by @Guillaume_papaVenture
For starters
It's important to choose small hikes adapted to the capacities of your minis and then gradually increase the distances to do
For us, it started with small walks in our neighborhood. Each time, my children gained confidence and more endurance. By doing it multiple times, I was able to evaluate by their condition whether it was a good idea to continue or cut short.
The goal is to have fun while doing the activity and it's easier to reach it when the length of the hike isn't too much. Plus, it gives them the will to do it again
My confidence in their abilities has grown little by little without me even noticing it. They didn't noticed it either. Their endurance increased in the same way. They felt able to move forward and they had fun instead of complaining that it was too difficult and took much time.
I was surprised how quickly they were ready to take longer hikes. You may be surprised by your own kids.
Charlie at Mont St-Grégoire
“It’s not my training, it’s theirs.” This mantra helps me find the patience that I often need. This allowed me many times to avoid pushing them too hard to move quickly. (To motivate them to do so without them noticing, keep reading, I’ll talk about it soon.)
To get fit, it's better to go at the gym or take on challenging hikes without kids. When they will get older, they will surely push me to exceed my limits and keep me in good shape.
That trick is so simple but can also be easily forgotten : Put good shoes on small feet.
I noticed immediately a difference when my little Charlie first tried on her new shoes. You had to see her run with the greatest enthusiasm to test her new acquisition. It was her first pair of Keen hiking shoes. It certainly won’t be her last.
Better holding for the ankles, having a non-slippery sole, light and comfortable are some of the features hiking shoes help small hiker reduce fatigue while preventing risks of injury. It's a wise investment that I never regretted.
Charlie's tried out her new shoes
To increase their motivation, there is nothing best than to choose a destination where they can find a captivating attraction or that little something that will impress them. For example : Reaching a summit, going to a waterfall, read educative boards or will give them the will to go out.
Every time we passed on Highway 20, Charlie told me that she wanted to climb "La Montagne du Nord" wich means the Northern Mountain (That’s what she calls Mont St-Hilaire in reference of the famous Disney movie Frozen). I told her that one day we will go together. After months of waiting, when the big day came, she climbed to the top on her own. It’s more than 6 km. She was only 3 years old.
After that exhausting day, she fell asleep like she never did before. I wondered if I asked too much of her. My guilt quickly faded when she woke up the next morning and said, “I have a good idea. Let’s go up a mountain today”.
She kept an excellent memory of that day even if it was a grueling experience for her. I think thats because of the motivation that came from within herself and that she was amazed by the view on the summit.
Proud to be on top of Mont St-Hilaire
I’m never leaving without snacks that I know they’ll appreciate. It's ideal when they need a dose of motivation or change their mood if needed.
I can’t count how many times I saved the day by giving them a little something to eat. Their bad mood turned into hapiness that allowed them to go on and have fun. So did I.
We also have a family tradition when we reach our goals. Each of us eat a marshmallow. You can use that one or make one for yourselves. The treat helps for sure.
Don’t forget to bring enough water.
That's a no brainer, but it's important to keep the possibility of adapting their clothes if necessary. It can save you from a lot of complaints from them.
Whether they are hot or cold, it's rainy or sunny, they peed themselves or fell in the mud, it's good to be prepared for all these eventualities.
Don’t bring the whole wardrobe. Useful accessories such as a hat, thin gloves, light pants with panties and a windbreaker are good examples of what you may need.
Reserving a backpack space for items they want to take off is also useful.
The perfect kit for hiking with attitude 😂
At home, children have an intense variety of distractions. So it’s good that they have few options during an expedition.
It's a great time to have an open discussion with your kids and listen to them. You can tell them one of your youth stories or something funny, sing a song together, invent a legend, play a search and find in forest, etc.
It allows you to have quality time to get closer to your children outside of the daily hubbub. In addition, it allows to distract them so that they move forward without even noticing it.
During the hike, they can focus on a seemingly banal insect. This is probably the most exciting thing in the world for them at this very moment.
Letting them observe allows them to stimulate their taste for discovery. It gives them the desire to do another family adventure. It creates a great time for knowledge sharing and it helps to obtain their collaboration when you will finally want to continue your way.
If you're stress that they wont be able to finish the hike because of frequent stops, you may have chosen a challenge that is not 100% suited to their abilities.
I stopped countless times because my kids poked a stick into a hole, threw rocks in the water, smelled flowers, looked at birds, asked to pet a dog, chatted with the dog’s owner, etc. I would have enough examples to write a complete book just with that 😂
Charlie and a magnificent squirrel
I regularly make them run. There is no better way to progress quickly than to suggest them to get to a specific place. My kids went up more than one mountain by running to the big rock over there, then down the stairs, then to the fallen branch and so on.
If they no longer have the motivation to move forward, I suggest to sing a short song while holding their hands. At some point in the song, I lift them off the ground for a big jump. It’s crazy how quickly they forget that their legs are tired. If you are curious, the jingle that works for us is the french song "À la ronde y a pas de jambe de bois"
Think of an alternative that allows them to rest during the expedition : A picnic stop, a part of the hike where they can be carried or put in a stroller are good examples. Children recover faster than adults. A short break sometimes allows them to double the distance they can do.
Having an alternative is a great way to avoid carrying your children in your arms for a long period of time. I’ve done it too many times not to think about it now.
Yes, there is a little extra in this list... If you can, make the experience unforgettable by surprising them with something they will enjoy. This make it special and will make them feel like hiking again. For example : Hike with someone they love, combine with another activity, give them a little souvenir or have a sweet delicacy together.
Simply unforgettable
With is 3 little adventurers, Guillaume thrives on his numerous family outings that allow him to learn and explore the world through the eyes of his children.
Blog : northisdownphoto.com
Instagram : @guillaume_papaventure
