Walking is the near perfect activity for families and children - it's free, healthy and above all very good fun (or can be). The main obstacle you'll encounter is the 'can't get off the sofa' syndrome. If you do it right, however, they'll see walking as exploring a world of adventure on their back doorstep.
Top Tips for Getting Kids Walking
Kids don’t generally enjoy walking or landscapes for their own sake in the way that many adults do. However, if you make sure you structure your walk in the right way - so that they're always clamouring to move onto the next stage - they'll be asking you for a walk! Above all, don’t say ‘walk’ say ‘adventure’…then take a few of the following steps to make it one:
1. Preparing fun activities before you set out:
· Lists: make a list of natural things to pick up/ spot on the walk (feathers, cones, animals)
· Treasure hunt: hide treasure before the walk, make maps
· Fancy dress, masks and characters the kids can 'play act' during the stroll - if prepare these beforehand, they'll be raring to get out there and use them. Running around the streets dressed as the incredible hulk will turn a simple stroll to the shop into an exciting adventure.
· ‘Treats’: Take nice things to eat and drink along the way, and maybe have a picnic.
· Packs: Let them take a friend, or join forces with another family. Try a family group walk such as those organised by some Ramblers groups, where there are other children.
2. Pick interesting terrain to:
· Clamber over: – dunes, trees, water and beaches (though be careful close to deep, unprotected water),
· See: unusual and odd buildings, transport like trains and boats, animals (farms, zoos, woods, duckponds), famous landmarks and places connected to films, TV, pop music, books and sport.
· Run wild: get one big green space in there so kids can have run about free range for a bit.
· They’re usually less interested in straight and flat paths, landscapes and views.
3. Comfort
· Children sometimes seem to have a huge amount of energy one minute and become tired and bad tempered the next. Be prepared to cut the walk short and congratulate them on any special efforts or achievements. Ramblers Family groups set a pace of 1.5 mph
· Ensure they have comfortable clothes and shoes, and carry extra layers for them. Waterproof overtrousers and wellies are a good idea as weather is often unpredictable.
· Give them a small rucksack to pack, carry and put ‘treasures’ in
4. Finally
· Regular walking: Try to make walking part of their regular journey to school. Not only is this good exercise (and helps reduce the congestion of the "school run"), it is also sociable and has actually been shown to improve children's academic performance. If you're concerned about them walking on their own, find out about local schemes such as Safe Routes to School, School Travel Plans and Walking Buses. Ask the school or the local council, or contact Walk to School or Walking Bus.
· LASTLY: Don't force them to walk if they really don't want to -- you might put them off for good.
Child carriers and pushchairs
Baby and child carriers that strap to the body are a good way to take very young children out on walks, and there are a number of models especially designed for more adventurous use, with additional comfort and plenty of built-in storage and pockets. Young babies who can't yet support their own heads should travel in a front carrier: models with a two-way facing option allow older babies to see where they're going. Babies who can support their own heads (normally around six months) should travel in a back carrier, which can usually take children of up to four years or 20kg. As with rucksacks, look for comfortable, adjustable and well-balanced models and take care to adjust them to your height and build. Child carriers more-or-less enable adults to do the same walks they would do without a child, but it's wise to avoid particularly difficult, slippery or uneven paths where there is more of a risk of losing your balance. As children get older they can walk themselves for part of the way, so plan routes where it's easy for them to do this
Pushchairs (buggies) are required on all but the shortest walks for children too heavy for a child carrier but too young to do much walking on their own. They also provide an alternative for smaller children, or if one adult needs to take out more than one child, though you must avoid uneven surfaces with babies who can't yet support their own heads.
Unfortunately, while you can legally take a pushchair anywhere you are allowed to walk, on many off-road routes you will encounter difficulties such as rough or soft surfaces, narrow paths and vegetation, steep gradients, stiles, narrow gates and steps. You can sometimes carry the folded pushchair while the child walks, or lift both child and pushchair over obstructions like stiles. "Telescopic" pushchairs are easier to drag behind you over difficult sections while the child walks. Too much lifting and folding will spoil your enjoyment, however. Also, it's not very encouraging for children only to walk the difficult bits, so plan some easy and interesting walking for them too.
For easier options, look for paths with good surfaces in parks and country parks, along rivers and canals, "multi-user" routes designed for cyclists as well as walkers, and country routes such as broad trackways and old roads. You'll find sources of local walking information listed under Planning a walking visit : look for or ask about local accessible routes. Routes suitable for wheelchairs will also be suitable for pushchairs (see Walking made easy). A handful of walks books include pushchair-friendly walks -- see our book list -- but sadly most books of family walks don't cover pushchairs.
There are also websites featuring walks suitable for pushchairs:
All-terrain pushchairs have three wheels with pneumatic tyres, a light but strong aluminium frame and a longer wheelbase for greater stability, so can cope with more difficult and uneven surfaces (though not of course with problems like stiles and steps). Though still more expensive than conventional pushchairs, they are much more affordable and obtainable than they once were, and open up a wider range of options. Even cheap models from high street stores are much easier to push over difficult terrain, though they can be more cumbersome, especially on public transport.
Double versions of both conventional and all-terrain pushchairs are available: models in which the children sit side by side rather than one behind the other are easier to steer. Make sure the model you buy will fit in your car or on public transport. Buggy boards, skateboard-like attachments that enable another child to ride standing up over short distances on good surfaces, can be fitted to most models of pushchair and are useful to give a walking child an occasional rest.
Take special care to protect children from the weather when carrying or pushing them on long walks. Children in back carriers will be facing in a different direction to you and their movement will be restricted, so be aware of the need to protect them from the sun. Make sure children in carriers and pushchairs are warmly dressed: you may be keeping yourself warm through exercise, but the child is sitting still and can quickly get cold
Pregnancy
Walking is great exercise during a normal pregnancy, since it doesn't involve body contact and you're unlikely to fall, though you may want to avoid particularly rugged or difficult paths. In early pregnancy walking can help keep you active through the worst of morning sickness, though you may prefer easier walks if you find yourself getting tired more quickly than usual. In the second trimester (14 - 26 weeks) you will probably find your energy returns, and you can safely exercise as normal. After this the tiredness will begin to return and you may find yourself becoming short of breath: you can continue to walk but you should listen to your body and take it easy when you need to. It's particularly important at this stage to use well-fitted and supportive footwear to help your feet support the extra weight. A good posture will help all through pregnancy and in the months following the birth (see Walking technique). If there are any complications, you should consult your doctor about the advisability of exercise.
Family groups
Try a family group walk such as those organised by some Ramblers groups, where there are other children.
