"Why are we walking so much", "Are we even there yet" and other things my kids say on a hike and how I MAKE them enjoy it anyway!

Hello fellow dads, non-dads, and moms alike. Today, I wanted to share one of the ways I try to make hiking fun for my kids. Hiking has always been a big part of both my wife’s and my life, so it’s something we want to pass on to our little ones—but that’s definitely easier said than done! As a nature lover, I lose track of time when im out there. But when you’re a little one, your attention span isn’t always great. Even if they love it, there are other hurdles to overcome.

“Why are we walking so much? What’s the point? I’m tired! I want to go home. Can we stop walking?” Those are the greatest hits of what my kids like to say when we’re out enjoying outdoor adventures. We’ve tried quite a few strategies that didn’t work so well. One was listening to them and going home, and another was giving them piggyback rides. The first one can be downright annoying, especially if you’re close to your destination. The second just leaves you exhausted and focused on getting back to the car as fast as possible so you can toss that sandbag into the back seat.

See that there, that's what happens! and then dad and mom are stuck carrrying ya'll lazy kids back lol

So, how do we handle our whiny, “I don’t want to walk” kids? We make them a scavenger hunt—and it works like a charm! Here’s what we do: we create a map that somewhat mirrors the twists and turns of the trail. Depending on what the kids are into (unicorns, dragons, dinosaurs), I’ll go ahead and bury some "fossils," "eggs," and other little treasures for them to find as they hike. I will usually just run a head a little to do this. This activity is so simple, but it works great. The kids forget about walking and focus on finding their dino eggs or whatever they're after. It’s a sweet little hack I’ve used a few times, and it has worked perfectly. Now the disclaimer, this may not always work so dont blame me!

Hope this helps get your kids out there! Don’t forget to like this post and, dare I say, even comment!

Hike on my friends and leave a comment below if you have other ways of "making" your kids enjoy the outdoors.