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Walking with Kids: How To Make It Fun

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Even though a daily walk might already be part of your lifestyle, bringing your kids along can be a challenge once they’ve outgrown the stroller. Including your children in active outdoor activities can help them to combat obesity, connect with nature and balance excessive screen time.

Here are six tips for getting into a walking routine that will be fun for you and your kids:

1. DESTINATION

Select a fun activity your children might like and walk to that destination to make the actual walk more exciting. For example, it could be a waterfall at the end of a nature trail where you can swim, a neighborhood playground or a nearby lake to feed the ducks. The walk won’t be the sole focus of the trip, and the concentration instead will be on reaching the destination. Once they build their stamina, choose more challenging adventures that increase the distance or include more difficult terrain like hills, sand or dirt.

2. REWARDS

Walking and exercising should be something fun kids look forward to and giving kids treats as a reward for doing well on a walk is a great way to positively reinforce healthy habits. This could be something as simple as extra reading time before bed, a new pair of workout clothes or a healthy treat.

3. SNACKS

If your kid often gets grumpy or seems like he or she is in a bad mood during your walk, it could be from lack of energy. A great way to give them a boost is to bring a small snack and something to drink. Try taking a short break and resting at the midway point while they snack on a piece of fruit. You can even give them a few options before you leave the house, and let them pick the snack so they feel excited and invested. Or pick a favorite cafe or coffee shop to rest your feet.

4. GAMES

Make your walks fun by playing games along the way otherwise kids may think of going for a walk as being a chore and they won’t want to do it. . This could be I-spy, where you search for different birds or insects on a hiking trail, or bringing along things like bubbles or sidewalk chalk.

5. PACE

The mistake a lot of grownups make is trying to get kids to speed up and walk at their pace. Even if your child tries, eventually they will tire and not be able to hold the pace. Instead of making the walk unnecessarily difficult, walk at your child’s pace. Keep the walks slow and short until they get used to the activity and adapt to the effort. If you’re consistent and make your walks a habit, they’ll eventually get faster and be able to walk longer without getting so tired.

6. SCOOTER / BIKE

Some kids just might not enjoy walking. But that shouldn’t keep you from your walk or including them in the time you spend outdoors. If your kid just doesn’t seem to enjoy the activity no matter what you try, have them bring along a scooter, bike or inline skates instead. You’ll get your walk in while they also enjoy an activity that promotes movement.

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