Fun Things Kids Can Do on a Hike

Prepare to entertain the little ones with a variety of activities while hiking. Hiking represents an opportune time to get kids involved with nature while expanding their knowledge base. Consider a wide range of activities, including those specific to hiking in a forest and those with adaptations to a variety of hiking situations.

  1. Fun Games

    • Keeps kids entertained on hikes by diverting their attention to the natural world around them. Ask kids to follow the alphabet and identify things they see around them. For instance, starting with the letter "A," kids could identify an acorn and then move on to identifying an object that starts with the letter "B." If kids, or adults, get stumped, skip that letter or start over.

      Putting together an impromptu scavenger hunt also provides the ability for children to identify specific objects while having fun. Ask them to find things along the trail that fit a specific profile, such as finding objects that are smooth, bumpy or a specific color.

    Artistic Endeavors

    • The natural environment provides a plethora of opportunities for the young mind to demonstrate creative and artistic talents. Pack an assortment of paper, paints, crayons and pencils and stop along the trails to allow children to interpret nature by drawing or painting what they see. Use leaves as sponges to apply paint to a paper tablet. Make a print for each different type of leaf found.

      Use this time to teach children about photography. For young children, purchase several disposable cameras and allow them to take pictures along the hike. Older children can experiment with digital cameras. When returning home, continue the project by allowing each child to put together a keepsake journal or photo album to commemorate the hike.

    Additional Ideas

    • Get kids involved with nature by providing lessons on nature identification skills. For a hike through the forest or along a beach, carry a book on items popular in the region. This can include a bird or tree identification book. Stop at different sightings and see if they can help you identify the object. If the park or hiking area maintains a gift shop, grab a couple of historical books and enjoy story-time in the park as you come to different places of special interest.

      Teach children how to use a compass and read a map. This can come in handy in emergency situations and can be an interesting learning experience for young kids looking to participate in scouting.