Blog – Page 4 – Kids Discover Nature

Hiking with Kids: Where to Go

by Editorial Staff

Note: This is the first in a series of posts about hiking with children.

Hiking is a great way to introduce children to nature. Not only do the outdoors stimulate all the senses, it is great exercise (for grown ups too!). Going for a hike does not have to be a complicated activity, in fact, you and your kids can derive pleasure from just a simple walk in the woods. Go with your instincts and choose a place you think they will like. Try to think about it from their perspective – their sense of exploration and adventure.

The first “step” is to consider what places or trails are available to you. It might be a nearby park or forest, or maybe even a beach for nature center. The key is to choose a place that is easily accessible and nearby. You don’t want them to get bored on the way, nor do you want them to have trouble getting to the place where you plan to hike. Most importantly, be sure to involve them in the planning!

Hiking with kids always requires good planning. Below are some basic things to keep in mind as you decide where to go:
1) Consider their age – If your children are small enough, you can carry them in a specially designed backpack. If they are older, here are some pacing rules of thumb for children of varying ages (borrowed from Pine Mountain Trail Association): Children 2 to 4 years old can hike ½ to 2 miles on their own. They should stop every 10 to 15 minutes to rest. Children ages 5 to 7 can hike for 1 to 3 hours each day, covering 3 to 4 miles over easy terrain. Rest stops should come every 30 to 45 minutes. Eight and 9-year-olds can hike a full day at an easy pace, covering 5 to 6 miles over variable terrain.
2) Choose a place with varied terrain – For example, varied habitats, such as an area that changes from woods to meadows, are more interesting for kids than a flat field.
3) Don’t think too big – Do not expect to scale Mount Washington! Choose a place that is attainable so they (and you!) do not get discouraged. Climb a small hill or hike to a stream or pond.
4) Have a goal in mind – The top of that hill or the bank of the stream or pond are all great targets. It gives children something to think about on the way and they will look forward to it. Plus, they will feel a sense of reward when they reach their goal.
5) Make it challenging – Kids love to jump over streams, climb rocks and weave between trees. Find a place that offers challenges and you will not hear many complaints about boredom.
6) Make your hike into more than just a walk, make it and expedition. Plan to stop and look at things along the way, like a great view or a field of flowers. Point out interesting creatures and ask them questions about what they see.
7) Flexibility is key – Keep in mind that things may not go as planned. Your child may get tired sooner than you expect and many need to stop for a longer rest or an early lunch. They will also undoubtedly want to stop and investigate as they go.

If you take the time to plan before setting out, you will be prepared and your children will know what to expect. Good planning equals great times!

Be sure to check back for the next post in the series of Hiking with Kids. I will cover tips on what equipment and supplies to pack. Also, please comment and add any tips you have that I have not covered. Learning from others helps everyone!

Photo: FAMILY HIKING
© Rahela | Dreamstime.com

Tags: hiking, children, Mount Washington, terrain, backpack, Pine Mountain Trail Association, children, kids, nature

Research

8 Step Plan to Disconnect Your Kids from the…

by Jodi Valenta

“School’s out for summer!”
That notorious verse by Alice Cooper brings with it thoughts of all the possibilities 10 sunlit hours brings. Aside from no schedules, studying and homework, summer means many wonderful days of hanging out at home.

The Challenge of those Wonderful Long Summer Days

Along with the fun of summer comes a bit of angst for parents. There lies ahead the challenge of keeping the kids busy and fending off boredom and bickering while all the while resisting the urge to stare at screens. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that kids shouldn’t have any screen time. The challenge is how to fill it with more hours of the day doing something else, preferably outdoors. If you have a game plan for each day, it will be easier to keep the day full with fun, quality activities. As a result, children will reap the many benefits of spending time in nature, and you will be able to carve out some time for yourself in the process.

The Plan for Success

Turn it off – Yes, turn the damn thing off! Neither your children nor you need it. Do yourself and your family a favor and stop the constant glow. Create rules that limit them to a reasonable amount of time. This link can give you information to help you determine what amount of time is best for your family
Write a plan – Ok, now sit down and figure out what you want to do this summer. It’s not about all those projects you have been meaning to finish. It is about developing a family outdoor fun plan. List all the activities (camping, biking, hiking, swimming, picnicking, etc., etc.), you would like to do and all the places you would like to go and see.
Set goals – Determine how many activities and or/day trips you want to do each day or week
Develop a schedule – Put your goals into a daily schedule. This will help keep you focused and prevent the urge to turn on the TV or another screen. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your summer calendar will fill up once you start filling in the days. Plus, you and the kids will have something to look forward to all summer. ***Added bonus, your children will appreciate having a schedule as it will help thwart the boredom bug. Plus, they can help stick with the plan.
Be prepared – There are two ways to be prepared. First, you will hear the inevitable complaints about not wanting to do the planned activities for all the typical reasons (I don’t feel like it, it’s boring, so-and-so doesn’t have to do all this stupid stuff, I’m too tired, etc., etc.). If you are prepared for the complaints, you will be better able to ignore them. Second, if you have everything organized for the activity the night before, you’ll be ready to go and won’t waste time in the morning trying to prepare and then give up because you feel like it’s too late and there are other things you could be doing.
Let It Go – Don’t worry so much about what’s not getting done and try to remember that your children are only young once and that summer provides a precious opportunity to spend quality time with them. Plus, you will notice over time that because they have had exercise, were able to breathe fresh air, felt the freedom that being in nature brings, had your undivided attention for a solid block of time and, as my dad says, “had the stink blown off of them,” they will be more willing to play independently and give you some time to yourself.
Go Outside – Even if it is as simple as digging in the dirt, drawing with driveway chalk, or lying on a blanket in the yard and watching for and listening to the birds, just get out there!
Enjoy – Yes, enjoy all the benefits of connecting your kids to nature while creating wonderful family memories.

Are you with me?

Writer’s Note – Inevitably some of my reader’s will have the opinion that summer is a time to do away with schedules and take a break from the planning and scheduling. I do not disagree. However, planning to BE OUTSIDE is very different than planning for the school year and all the activities and expectations it brings. The purpose of my 8-Step Plan is to provide parents with a strategy for breaking the screen habit and creating a new, healthier one. Experts say it takes 21 days to break an old habit and adopt a new one, so this cannot be accomplished without a serious plan of attack. Once you do it, you will find you can ease up on the plan because being outside will become a normal part of your life.

Camping with kids

Must-Haves to Make Overnight Camping in the Backyard Fun

by Jodi Valenta

I Can Feel It in the Air
I don’t know about you, but this time of year gets me thinking about s’mores and cozy sleeping bags. When the end-of-summer evenings begin to turn cool and there is a crisp feeling in the air, your backyard is the perfect place to camp and enjoy the weather. Why go to all the trouble of packing up and leaving home when you can have your own camping fun right in the backyard? No crowds, no park fees to pay, no hours to drive — just grab your stuff and make your backyard campsite your family’s new favorite place to be. To help you prepare for your evenings in the backyard, this is the first of a series of posts to help you get organized and stay safe with a very special post at the end about night critters

Can Camping in the Backyard Really be Fun?

Sure, it can! The nice thing about camping in the backyard is that you only need to worry about the essentials. It will take time to prepare everything, but having these items on-hand at the site will prevent you from having to trek back and forth dozens of times between the campsite and the house. The key to a successful and fun backyard camping with kids is to make sure they are comfortable, safe and have things to do to keep them busy. To be sure everyone has an enjoyable experience I developed the following checklist:

Essential Family Backyard Camping Checklist:

For comfort

Tent (or blanket, tarp, bed sheet or sheet of plastic draped over a clothesline or tree branch, with corners held down by stakes or rocks)
Sleeping bag (or a sheet and blankets or comforter)
Sleeping pad (or air mattress, old comforter or blanket) to keep out the chill from the ground
Pillows
Camp chairs or something to sit upon
Table or blanket for eating and game playing outside
Clothing – several layers, which can be removed or added depending on the weather
Hats – use your judgment on the type based on the weather
Insect repellent
Flashlight (with extra batteries) for trips to the bathroom, easing night time fears and reading – one for each child to prevent arguments.

For meals

Full drinking bottles
Munchies and/or food you can cook if you have a campfire (i.e. marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate bars for s’mores)
Long, sturdy sticks for cooking over the camp fire (i.e. s’mores, hot dogs)
Cooking and eating utensils
Pocket knife
Napkins and paper or dish towels
Water (in a jug or cooler)
Plates and cups
Matches
Trash bag

For fun

Games, books, playing cards, crayons, paper
Identification guides (field guide to animals, insects, birds, trees, stars, etc.)
Items for nature exploration (magnifying glass, binoculars, journal, etc.)
Camera
Musical instruments and song books

If you know of something your family can’t be without when camping in the yard, please add to my list via the comments below. We would all like to hear your great ideas!

Please check back on Monday for tips on how to stay safe when camping in the backyard.

Activities

Nature Activity of the Week – Nature Cards

by Editorial Staff

For our nature activity this week, we’ll be creating Nature Cards. These are easy to make and work for children as young as 18 months. Thanks to Fiona Danks and Jo Scofield authors of the book Nature’s Playground (one of my favorites) for the idea.

Supplies You Will Need

Cardboard cards (white works best)
Double-sided tape

What to Do

Cut the stiff cardboard into small squares or rectangles
Cover one side with the double-sided tape, leaving the tape protector on the exposed side
Head outside to look for tiny natural items like flowers, leaves, grass, sticks, etc.
Remove the top tape protector
Stick found natural treasures to the cards to create beautiful mini mosaics

The Challenge

Collect as many different colors as possible.
Create patterns or pictures.
Cover the entire card.

Great Ideas

Use the little creations for greeting cards
Frame them to create pictures
Cover them with sticky-backed plastic to make bookmarks

Additional Tips

Take the back seat and allow the children to work on their own
Tell them not to collect the whole flower, and be careful to use commonly found species

Safety Tip
Direct the children away from poisonous or stinging plants.

Benefits to Your Children
Encourages exercise and concentration and promotes imagination and creativity.

Birds

Five Outdoor Activities to Cure Spring Fever ~ Even…

by Jodi Valenta

Oh my! It was 19 degrees outside this morning. By the calendar, Spring arrived four days ago, but by the thermometer it certainly doesn’t feel that way outside! If you are desperate to get some quality outside time that does not require big effort, following is a list of easy activities designed get you and your families outside, even for just a few minutes.

Look for signs of spring. We walked around the yard over the weekend looking for spring bulbs. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any, because we have to much SNOW on the ground. Maybe you will be luckier than we were.
Listen for and watch the birds. The birds are fully into their springtime activities. Watching them and listening to their chirps is enough to convince the toughest skeptics that spring really is here. Hearing them sing and watching them flit around on the branches really raised our spirits. You might even catch a few migrants passing through on their way back to their breeding grounds.
Find a sunny spot and lie down. The sun will feel so good on your face! Just 10 minutes and you will believe the temps are in the 50’s.
Go for a walk. Back to basics on this one. The warm afternoon sun will warm you up fast, even if the temps are hovering in the 20’s or 30’s.
Watch the sunrise or sunset. Along with the longer days and the time of year comes the opportunity to enjoy the the beautiful colors of the sunrises and sunset and some amazing cloud formations.

Please share your ideas. Any inspiration is appreciated!

With and luck, Old Man Winter will officially bid his “adieu,” and we can all breathe a sign of relief.

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Hiking with Kids: Where to Go

8 Step Plan to Disconnect Your Kids from the…

Must-Haves to Make Overnight Camping in the Backyard Fun

Nature Activity of the Week – Nature Cards

Five Outdoor Activities to Cure Spring Fever ~ Even…

Take the 30-Day Outdoor Challenge