8 Tips To Start Winter Hiking with Kids
Winter hiking can be a great way to get your kids outdoors and help them develop a love for nature and the outdoors. There are many benefits to winter hiking, including:
- Physical exercise: Hiking in the winter provides a good workout for your kids and helps to keep them active and healthy.
- Fresh air: Winter hiking allows kids to get out of the house and into the fresh air, which can be especially important during the winter months when we often spend more time indoors.
- Building confidence: Hiking in the winter can help kids build confidence and develop a sense of accomplishment as they conquer new challenges.
- Enhancing problem-solving skills: Winter hiking can present various obstacles such as snow and ice, which kids can work to overcome, improving their problem-solving skills.
- Enjoying nature: Winter hiking offers the opportunity to see nature in a different light and appreciate the beauty of the winter landscape.
To make this experience truly enjoyable however there are certain important things to know and to follow.
Organization is a key for any outdoor activity and even more so if we are talking about hiking with kids AND, even more so if there is a winter outside!
We started to take our son on winter hikes when he was only 5 months old and it was such a joy for all of us! On the picture below you see him with my wife on a winter mountain trail in Montgenevre, France.
In this post I will share with you some tips that are based on our overall hiking experience and winter hiking with our kids.
Know where you go!
Make sure that the hike you chose correspond to your own ability and to the abilities of your kids.
My advice would be to start with the hikes you already did yourself. In this case you can avoid some unpleasant surprises.
Bring a map and compass with you and make sure you know how to use them! GPS or trail app like Wikiloc (don’t forget to download your maps so you have access even when you are offline and make sure your phone battery is full). It is also a good idea to have a power bank with you in case you device run out of power.
Start small
Begin with shorter and easier hikes to help kids get acclimated to the cold weather and build up their confidence.
Dress appropriately
Make sure your kids are dressed in layers, with a moisture-wicking base layer, insulating mid-layer, and a weatherproof outer layer. Also, make sure they wear warm hats, gloves or mittens, and warm boots. If you use a carrier to transport your kid, do not forget that you are moving and your kid is sitting without too much movement. In this case we always take extra warm clothes or blanket and regularly check if the hand and feet are warm. Change diapers regularly. In wet diapers your kid will freeze much sooner.
Stay hydrated
Winter hiking can be dehydrating, so make sure to bring plenty of water and a thermos with warm drink (like tea or herbal infusion). For winter hikes we use neoprene bottle sleeves to keep water from becoming too cold. We also pour warmed up water to keep it warmer for longer.
Pack snacks
Bring healthy, high-energy snacks like nuts, dried fruits, and energy bars to help keep kids fueled during the hike.
Make it a game
Keep your kids motivated! Encourage them to look for animal tracks, identify different trees and plants, or have a scavenger hunt. This can make the hike more fun and interactive for them. The key is to play active role in all activities with them.
Take breaks:
Kids spend more energy on the hikes and especially in winter. Plan for breaks often and make those breaks also fun.
Safety first:
Make sure someone at home or from your close friends know where you are going and when you plan to be back. Check and re-check weather conditions, especially if you are on a mountain hike. Always have a first aid kit in your backpack.
We started small with the focus on safety and fun and soon our kids started to ask when would we have the next adventure!