Of all outdoor activities you can do together, a family hike is one of the easiest to consider. You may even wonder if it’s worth taking your kids hiking? The answer is a resounding yes!
Studies show that kids learn best through first-hand experience. Opportunities to traverse rocks, clamber over fallen trees and navigate paths are fantastic for building balance and agility, a sense of achievement and confidence.
As children spend more time on screens, getting them outdoors for exercise, fresh air and daylight is extremely beneficial to their wellbeing. Scavenger hunts, i spy games or just looking for woodland fairies is enough to ignite their fascination.
Depending on where you go, your children can gain an appreciation for history, geology, geography, biology and the environment. In the UK, you can’t go far without seeing signs of the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans, or even more recent WW2 items. A hike around an ancient ruined castle is incredibly inspiring in so many ways.
In the long run, these childhood adventures create pleasant memories and can inspire them to explore the rest of the world. If you want your kids to get outdoors and experience the real world while being active, hiking is one of the most effective things you can do together as a family. So visit your local park or woodland, grab a trail map and get out there!