A Nature Tribe: Hiking with a toddler

Earlier this week I was privileged to take the boys on a nature walk with a local group calling themselves a "Nature Tribe".  The group description reads: 

"Families passionate about getting their kiddos out into nature. Value the importance of reconnecting children with the natural world." 

Chasing the older boys of the Nature Tribe

It can be a tricky task introducing toddlers to nature.  Finding a group like this one, or perhaps founding one, can help provide a support system for ideas, a great culture of new friends for you and your children, and a little accountability to remind you that it's time to go outside this week.

I'd like to share a little about what I've learned in introducing my oldest son (2 and a half right now) to the idea of hiking and being in nature.

There is a goal, but it isn't really that important.

I can imagine my own father trying to take me hiking as a small child and not understanding why I didn't want try to keep up to get where we were going.  Having the destination as the primary reason for the hike is not going to make for a fun outing.  It has to be the kid's adventure, but you do get to set the parameters.

I remember on our first hike this January my son did not initially understand that we were out for a purpose: to go hiking.  What exactly hiking was would be determined but all of us collectively as we went. The day was a success because we were able to keep his body and his mind occupied the entire time.

It might take a bribe of a fruit snack to go twenty more feet down the trail, but food will only get you so far.  We made sure to point out all the poop we found along the way, and what kind it was.  It was winter so no bugs were out, but I made sure to point out the telltale gravel of the anthills and took a time out to pick some up and play with it.  Later this year we will see some real ants, and that will be exciting for him.

It was a slow start. Once fruit snacks, ants, and poop were involved it was go time.

Toys

Later the same week I took the boys out by myself for a hike that ended up being a mile and a half, which was a bit too long, but our goal was to find a tree with pine cones to eat an orange under.  Luckily I had agreed to let him take one of his wooden toy cars with him.

The added distraction was key to keeping him engaged in something the whole time without Cavemommy there.  Anytime he fell down, or just got bored he would play a little with the car in the dirt.  I didn't try to rush, because I knew that he'd get up in a bit and keep on moving.

One car with big wheels makes the hike more fun

Winter has returned a couple of times since that January summer, but we've still been able to get out quite a bit. And lucky for us we live in a place that nature, or some semblance thereof, is really easy to get to.  A hike doesn't have to be up in the mountains, or out in the country.  You can almost always find some nature right there in the city.  In fact every outing depicted on the post is technically in the City of Fort Collins.

Keeping it Fun

Walking isn't the only way to get the kids out.  The two year old Caveboy is really fond of his strider bike, and there are plenty of trails around that can accommodate. This park below is a mile or so from our house, still in the city.

A boy and his bike

A City Park with trails for biking or hiking

More nature in the city

This summer we hope to go backpacking a time or two, and to only carry the Tiny (6 months old right now). The plan is to work up to three miles with Caveboy walking the whole way.  Hopefully with the help of the Nature Tribe, and plenty of other small adventures between now and then it will be just another walk in the park.





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