Today I’m honored to be featured on The Luckey Wanderers blog, where I talk about what hiking with small children is really like.
Outside, in any weather
Getting outside is part of our family culture. Every day, rain or shine, I usher my three children out the door for some time in nature.
Occasionally, when someone is sick or thunderstorms are looming, we drown our sorrows in good books and movies on the couch. But the rest of the time, we make a point to get outside, if only for a little while.
Sometimes it looks like an hour or two digging in the mud in our own backyard; sometimes it’s a full day chasing tadpoles at the river or hiking through the woods.
As a family, we seek out wild places, roam our family’s 400-acre farm, meander through local parks, take strolls through our neighborhood, and work together in our backyard garden.
Wherever we go, the goal is the same. Outside. Every day.
Nature is our medicine
My husband and I recognize the benefits of unstructured outdoor play for our children and ourselves. We feel deep down in our bones the way sun and wind and water soothes our souls. We know the satisfaction of hands in the dirt and sweat on our brow after a hard day in the garden.
We were meant to be companions of nature.
A little chaos, a lot of snacks
Of course, when you include small children in even the tamest adventures, the chaos can quickly escalate. Getting outdoors with toddlers and preschoolers takes courage, determination, and a sincere desire to make it work.
Snacks help, too. Don’t forget the snacks.
Not sure what to pack for a hike with your little ones?
Here are some of my must-haves for outdoor adventures with children.
For more, visit the Luckey Wanderers
To read more, visit my friend Nichole’s blog, The Luckey Wanderers, to read my essay “Hiking with Kids, Even When it’s Hard” as part of her Feature Friday series.
Nichole is a keen adventurer who teaches her two children to explore bravely and responsibly. She inspires me and countless others to get outside more on her blog and through her Instagram, where she goes by @coleyreah.
-April