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When some people become parents, they usually think that their days of hiking are “on hold”. But we at High Stream Gear believed that it’s completely not the case. There are still plenty of adventures ahead, for both parents and children.

Hiking with kids is an important lesson because part of preserving wilderness for future generations is teaching them to appreciate and enjoy nature. With that in mind, here are a few thoughts to help keep your hike a child and nature-friendly:

Have fun and be flexible.

If this is your number one goal, everyone will be happy. Remember that you are trying to introduce your family to hiking; they won’t want to do it again if they don’t have fun the first time. The best way is by picking a trail that has some features – be it a lake, stream, waterfall, or something else. This should keep them occupied and give them a goal to reach. And remember from our previous blog, “it’s about the journey, not the destination”.

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Prepare for anything.

Give each of your children a small pack with a healthy snack and of course some water for hydration. High energy foods and plenty of water will keep them in good spirits. Importantly, put a safety whistle in each pack. Review with the kids – each hike – what to do if they should become separated from you.

Dress yourself and your children appropriately.

Be aware of your child’s body temperature. If you are bringing a child, he or she may be cold while you are burning up. Or conversely, you may feel chilled while your child is warm from running around and playing. If you have several children, especially ones that may want to run ahead, dress them in bright visible clothing so you can more easily spot them.

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Leave only footprints, and take only pictures.

When out on a hike, make sure that all of your trash is collected. To further reinforce this idea, you could also take a small garbage bag and have the children pick up any litter they see on the way. While taking a break, make sure to examine the area and see that everything is in its place. Also, take only memories along the trail, because if everyone takes something along the way, it will not take long for that something to disappear.

Use hiking poles to help the children on the hike.

Hiking with kids couldn’t be better when you have some external tools, all the more using our kids Trekking Poles. They’re specially designed for the height, safety, and needs of children. If you want them to take to the great outdoors, hiking poles are a great way to ensure speed while keeping the fatigue at bay.

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You may have some challenges along the hike, but the long-term benefits outweigh them. Just be prepared with a patient attitude, an inquisitive spirit, and of course, a well-packed backpack!

Now that we’ve shared some of our trail tips with you, we’d love to hear from you! Tell us some of your tips for taking kids while hiking – share some of them in our comment box below.

P.S. If you’re a family that’s interested in good places for hiking with kids, you might be interested in our next blog.