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My kids love to hike. There is something about being allowed to play in dirt and being a mess that they love. It can be a lot of work getting kids ready for a hike, sometimes I end up like a pack mule but I always take a step back and realize that hiking is a good thing. It is a good thing they love to be outdoors. It is a good thing they love moving around. So I am working hard to say ‘Yes!’ to more of the good things in life liking hiking. Here are all of my tips for hiking with kids so you will say YES! to hiking with your kids too!
Tips For Hiking with Kids
Bring plenty of treats and drinks. We love to bring Capri Sun 100% Apple Juice. My kids are always more likely to stay hydrated if I bring them fruity drinks but I don’t want to pump them full of empty calories. Now Capri Sun offers 100% juice options, so they can have a better for you drink without me stressing about artificial sweeteners. These new 100% juice blends are great for kids on the go. There is a ½ serving of fruit in every pouch and there are no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners. It is great for younger kids and easy to find in the juice aisle at Walmart. They are the perfect thing to bring hiking with my kids! I love that I can say Yes to something they love so much.
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Choose the right kind of hike. If you look on local websites most hikes are given a grade for how difficult they are. The younger and more inexperienced your hikers, the easier you will want the trail to be.
Choose a hike with a fun destination. Two of my kids favorite hikes end with a waterfall. They love that they can cool off and play in the water after the hot hike.
Hike in the morning. Try to get your hikes in while it is cool. Hiking during the heat of the day is asking for heat exhaustion and the kids will wear out faster.
Turn it into a scavenger hunt. My kids love having something to look for while we are hiking. I have included our scavenger hunt in this post. You can download it at the bottom of the post.
Pack light. Even if my kids start out wearing their own packs, but the end of the hike I will be carrying everything so I pack only what I know I can easily carry.
Find places to rest. When you come across large rocks take the chance to let your little ones rest their legs.
Bring a first aid kit. I like to have the following on hand.
- antihistamine
- bandages
- insect repellent
- pain reliever
- antibacterial spray or cream
- tweezers
- alcohol prep pads
- lip balm
Slather on the sunscreen. Prevent sunburn and complaining by making sure to apply and reapply sunscreen.
Wear hats and sunglasses. Keeping the sun off of your little ones will help keep their energy up.
What good things liking hiking and Capri Suns are you trying harder to say yes to? Share by taking a #Yessie (selfie saying ‘Yes!’). Get Capri sun in store or at Walmart.com #WalmartCapriSun
Hey, this is great writing from you. I am planning for a hiking trip with my kids. It is a very helpful post for me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.