Here are some tips on hiking with kids based on our experience teaching our kids how to hike in the Swiss alps over more than a dozen years. It may be difficult at first, but it’s so worth the effort.
And don’t worry if your kids don’t like hiking. Like any kid, my kids also occasionally breakdown on the trail and refuse to keep walking or make everyone else miserable with their whining. We also have an extremely slow walker in our family, who is constantly smelling the roses and moving at a snail’s pace. Just try to enjoy your time as a family and try, try again.
Basic Training
Kids don’t just suddenly like hiking. You need to train them. I’ve been training my kids since they were born, step by step. Every year they can hike longer and tackle more difficult hikes. Progress can be slow, so be patient.
1. Start them young. I started when my kids were babies and took them out as much as possible. Now they think hiking is a totally normal weekend activity. Don’t wait until you think your child can walk a few km. Start small and see what they can do.
2. Go often and make it habit. If you only go hiking once a year, you likely won’t have much success with the kids. The more you hike as a family, the more your kids will get used to it. Since we go hiking almost every weekend, our kids simply expect it. Eventually instead of asking, “What are we doing today?” they ask “Where are we hiking today?”
3. Let your child walk part of the way even if they are little and let them walk more every time you go. If you always carry them, they’ll always expect that.
4. Plan together. Let your child help plan the trip. My kids love looking at the maps and helping to pick our trail. They feel more invested in the trip if they helped choose our destination.
5. Quit when necessary. It’s important to give your kids opportunity to push themselves. But don’t push so hard that they hate it. Be ready to switch to plan B or quit if your kids just aren’t feeling it that day. Better to hang out at the playground and have a positive experience than end the day in tears and bad memories.
Make hiking fun!
6. Don’t hike at first. Kids need to love the outdoors first, then they are more amenable to hiking. So start by just visiting a mountain playground or alpine coaster, so they see the mountains as fun place. Later add on small hikes to get to the fun stuff and gradually build up to longer adventures.
7. Treats for the journey to the hike. Sometimes the hardest thing is getting them out the door in the morning. Figure out something that makes them excited to get in the car or on the train. My husband usually gets treats like chocolate croissants and chocolate milk that is waiting in the car for the kids. So they know the sooner they get to the car, the sooner they get their treats. Also our kids have limited screen time at home, but get unlimited screen time in the long car or train ride. We consider it a reward for good hiking.
8. Bring friends. My kids walk or run twice as fast with friends that they do without them. I sometimes have to run to catch up.
9. Theme trails: Many resorts have trails with stories, educational info, or play equipment along the way, which helps keep the child motivated and distracted. See my list of theme trails. We love the Toggenberg Tone Trail or Brunni Ticket Trail.
10. Play games. We used to pretend that each trail marker is a power source, so the kids get points for each trail marker they touch, more if they are the first one to get there. Then we award imaginary super powers depending on how many points they earn, like X-ray vision or super speed. This has saved many a hike. Other times we made a game of looking for things along the trail: mushrooms, pine cones, animal tracks. But be careful, they may want to take those things home as well and their backpack might starting dragging them down.
11. Tell a story. Distraction is the name of the game. I tell old stories or make up new ones to keep my kids focused on anything but the task of moving one foot in front of the other. Once my kids cheer up, they usually take over and start adding their own details to the story and forget all about that mystery itch in their sock.
12. Sing. Learn some camp songs to distract your little one when the going gets tough. We love The Ants Go Marching.
13. Walking sticks provide both support and entertainment. My kids love looking for new ones on the trail.
14. Rewards. We bring lots of snacks (and candy) and and save the best for last. I always have lollipops for complainers so their mouths are busy and they can’t whine so much.
Have a destination
Kids need motivation to keep walking, so it really helps to have a goal in mind. Yes, they might still ask “Are we there yet?” but hopefully they will keep walking to get there.
15. Playground. Many Swiss mountains have a playground with a view. Plan your hike so you end at the playground as a reward.
16. Food: find a restaurant on the trail map and choose a trail that leads to that restaurant or circles back to it. Most have an adjacent playground. You don’t always have to hike – you can just go up to enjoy the view.
17. Fire: Many trails have picnic areas with grill pits (aka Feuerstelle) with stacks of chopped wood.
18. Sport: Choose a resort that has a summer tobbagon slide, ropes coures, or Trötti (scooter) course, so your kids have an activity to look forward to at the end of the trail.
4. Be Prepared
It seems for us that whatever we bring, we don’t need and whatever we don’t bring, we need. Sigh. Here are a few ideas to make you better prepared on hiking trips.
19. Bring extra clothes, my kids are always “falling” in the mud or water and end up hiking in wet socks or with no pants as demonstrated here.
20. Plan around naptime. My kids always slept well in the stroller and baby backpack. So if we were doing a longer hike, it helped if it was during naptime so they nodded off in the middle and didn’t complain about when we were going to be done. When the kids were slightly older, it was better if we got out of the house early and were done by early afternoon before they got cranky and tired. Then they would sleep on the way home.
21. Check the weather. Even if the weather is nice when you start the day, it can change quickly in the mountains. Make sure to check the forecast and bring rain gear if necessary.
22. Check operating times. Some gondolas close during lunch time, some gondolas only open on weekends. Always check schedules online beforehand to avoid problems. Kids aren’t as flexible as adults if you arrive to find out the mountain is closed or you have to wait an hour for it to open.
23. All-terrain stroller. Don’t bring a flimsy stroller that will make both you and your child uncomfortable. Use a sturdy off-road stroller so you can handle lumpy trails and little kids can nap along the way. See my Swiss Stroller Hikes post for more tips.
24. Chair lift or gondola? Before going out, check what kind of lift your mountain uses. If it’s a chair lift, it might not be safe if your child isn’t old enough to sit still and follow directions. We took babies on chair lifts as long as we could keep them in a front facing baby carrier. Then we took a break until about 3 years old, when I feel more confident that they wouldn’t freak out and wiggle off the chair. Use your best judgment. Most chair lifts will load your stroller on a separate chair and help you get it at the top.
Be Flexible
Last but not least…
25. Expect the unexpected and be flexible. Don’t get discouraged if the trail suddenly gets tough or the cable car isn’t running or it starts raining. You’re still together with your family, making memories.
Ready to hike? See our Best Swiss Hikes for Little Kids
One Response
I love your blog so very much!
Full of wisdom and fun plans always 😀
Thanks a lot!!
Katia