Day Hiking: Staying Active with Toddlers

When we moved from snowy Illinois to warm California earlier this year, we knew we wanted to take advantage of all of the great activities that our area had in store for us. We are surrounded by miles of bike trails and parks that are just waiting to be explored, so I vowed this year to be the healthiest and most active for me and my family. I joined a new gym and have been practicing yoga with online yoga classes from Stayfree and Gaiam TV. But with two little ones and a teenager, it is sometimes difficult to find physical activities that the entire family can enjoy.

Through our exploration of our new area, we discovered the Auburn State Recreational Area in Auburn, CA. We also discovered a new found love of hiking. I’ve always enjoyed a good hike on a remote park trail far from the sounds of cars and people. I had spent many hours on trails in the wilderness with friends, disconnected from the fast paced world in and around my hometown. My little family, on the other hand, was not so accustomed to the outdoors.

Hiking is such a wonderful way to get kids comfortable to the outdoors at an early age, but it can also be tricky. When we first started doing our weekly hikes, trying to convince the kids and husband that hiking would be a good experience was a bit challenging. After all, we have two toddlers with little legs and very short attention spans. With most outdoor activities, we use our running stroller where they can sit back and enjoy the scenery. Strollers are not a practicable option for trail hiking due to varying terrains and often unpredictable conditions. But through thorough research and good old trial and error, we have found that the use of our Chicco and Ergo baby carriers to make hiking doable and stimulating with our toddlers.  Who knew I would be a babywearer?

Each week that we are on the trail doing our day hike, we have run into other families that hike with their children. Day hiking has become a very popular physical activity for families mainly because it is easy to get into, and anyone can take part regardless of the activity level status. Here are some reasons why you will love to go day hiking with your kids.

Increases Your Sense of Adventure

When you head out onto the trail, regardless of the difficulty, there is something exciting about being out in the woods with nothing but you, your hiking buddies (AKA your kids), and your daypack full of supplies. Exploring new ground and visiting new sights bring a form of accomplishments for the entire family. Plus it is a relatively easy and inexpensive (if not free) way to explore new breathtaking views and sights.

Amazing Stress Relief

Many people wouldn’t say that being in the middle of the woods with unpredictable toddlers is particularly relaxing but, it does have some utterly positive mental health results for both parents and kiddos. We all know that exercise is the one of the most endorsed forms of treatment for stress, anxiety, and depression.  Hiking is an excellent way for families to briefly escape all of the stress and technology of everyday life while focusing on the hiking adventure and family for a day. Hiking offers time for quiet thinking and can be very soothing to both parents and kids. Not to mention, the gentle bouncing and swaying of hiking lulls small children that are being carried to sleep (BONUS!).

Increase Your Fitness

It’s true, kids these days do not spend nearly as much time being active as we did as kids. That is why I completely love getting outdoors and showing my kids how fun it can be to be physically active. While hiking is a great way to increase your overall fitness level, doing it while carrying a baby on your back, also known as babywearing, can take your fitness to a whole new level. Hiking works both the cardiovascular system as well as all the major muscles in the body. Most day hikes are long enough to burn considerable calories and build muscle by themselves, but adding the weight of the baby can nearly double the amount of calories you burn per hour.

Open Air Education

Day hiking with kids is a great way to immerse your kids in the natural world around them. You can educate the kids about the various rocks, plants, animals, and bugs you come across on the trail. No matter the trail or the difficulty, there is always something to teach your kids out in the wilderness. Some families even make it fun by participating in geocaching, a high-tech treasure hunting game that uses a GPS to engross your kids in the wilderness. Learning and uncovering new things along the trail makes for a gratifying excursion for the entire family.

Let Go

Keeping the kids engaged and interested in outdoors can sometimes get tricky. Letting the kids pace the hike has been one of the most challenging aspects for us to learn as parents. We had to learn to go with the flow and let the kids be entertained and follow whatever grabs their attention. Sometimes they push us ahead further and further on the trail to explore what is around the bend and sometimes we are stopping at every pine cone in our path. We allow them to drive the hike, sometimes not even getting time for a break. As long as they are happy, we keep going.

Family Camaraderie

We sometimes take for granted the bond that families have. Spending time with the family can be very rewarding and enlightening. I cannot think of a single hike I did not have fun on or learned something new about the kids or husband. Even when the kids are crabby and the teenager is moody, or we are faced with a challenging hill we did not expect, this time is cherished. Having those few hours where we can just be ourselves with each other, regardless of how silly or loud or moody we get, makes our family day hikes fulfilling and fun.

Have you been day hiking with your baby or toddler?  I would love to hear about it!  Tell about your adventures in the comments section below.