Gentle Stroll or Mountain Hike? | |
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Walking is one of the best exercises for adults and children alike. There is a difference, however, between a gentle stroll along the beach and a mountain hike.
Remember that walking and trekking holidays with lots of scene changes do not necessarily entrance toddlers and young children. They don't want to be carried through intoxicating landscapes and fascinating forests popping with birds; they'd rather be down in the dirt, throwing stones and digging with sticks. However, some toddlers can be bribed to stay in a backpack, especially a really comfortable one for both you and them like the Bushbaby Carriers
In our experience they love being in a carrier. They love the motion - invariably will fall asleep (providing they are in a comfortable carrier) and are very happy being up high for a pro-longed time. It is actually a way of quietening and making a toddler happy.
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 | Thomas is actually asleep in the carrier and that was after walking for a few hours on Stac Pollaidh.
Bickipegs teething biscuits clipped on to clothes will also help amuse.
If you are doing a fairly long walk there will be low points in the children's morale, singing songs or stories can cheer them up, or a treasure hunt of coloured stones, pine cones, spiders webs. Check out Health & safety - Things that bite . |
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Children will also enjoy watching small creatures like water 'boatmen', pond skaters or tadpoles. For those of you old enough to remember, you're best attempt from The Ministry of Silly Walks, can amuse and keep children going when they're starting to get a bit fore-lorn and the promise of something nice at the end of the trail; playground; cake shop; ice cream all helps.
In the countryside follow marked trails and if in doubt ask locals for directions. As public rights of way are unusual in some countries always approach all houses and villages with care since guard dogs are trained to confront and even attack unknown visitors. |
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Pace of travel
With children it's not the pace of travel that counts so much as the quality. Do encourage your children to conquer their own little mountain peaks and boulders along the paths, and try to pause as much along the way by streams to cool off, or when children want to collect leaves or flowers, this is a child's idea of the pace of travel, the kind that adapts to each moment. Abandon your sense of a structured pace for a more sporadic one, one that keeps moving, but allows children time to enjoy things along the way. |
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Scared of heights or a medium sized ram!
Some older children and those in backpacks are sometimes initially scared of heights especially where they can see big drops. Toddlers on the other hand may find precipitous drops off mountain paths fascinating. And they may be attracted to fierce guard dogs. Any large domestic animals that you encounter on a mountain path should be respected for their ability to push people off. Male animals are worst and even a medium sized ram could unbalance an adult enough for him to topple over. Stand to the uphill side of the path. |
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| Playing in the rain
Children like playing in the rain and one outdoor activity that can still be enjoyed in the rain and help relieve the tedium of a spell of bad weather is walking. Depending upon where you are walking have the children wear their sandals instead of shoes and they will dry quicker. Pack a waterproof [LINK} they take up such little space but they are so useful. Pick somewhere to walk that looks interesting with perhaps the treat of visiting a café for a cake half way, before you know it you will have whiled away the rainy hours and enjoyed yourselves as well.
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 Exploring Cities/Towns on FootOn the busy roads in other countries it often seems as if there aren't any rules. In fact all cultures have their own unwritten highway code. In most the lowly females or child pedestrian comes right at the bottom of the hierarchy and is expected to give way to all other traffic. Pedestrian crossing are often ignored by drivers too, so you may need to keep a very close eye on children who are used to cars stopping the moment they put a toe on a zebra crossing. Chaotic and seemingly unpredictable traffic can also turn a stroll with an impatient toddler into a nightmare.
Probably the easiest way of getting around busy streets is to carry your baby or toddler in a carrier . The Child will then be able to enjoy the chaos and anarchy from a safe vantage point, rather than being intimidated by the crush or frightened by dogs
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