How To Hike With Kids: An Interview with the Experts (and Their Kids!)
An Interview with 50 Hikes with Kids Authors Alison Humphreys and Sharon Dewar and the kids who tested the trails!
The 50 Hikes with Kids series is designed to inspire wonder in children and foster a life-long appreciation for the natural world. Each book features 50 of the most interesting and kid-friendly destinations state by state with easy-to-read trail maps, intuitive directions, elevation and length details for every hike, restroom information, and places to grab a snack nearby.
The authors of 50 Hikes with Kids Virginia and Maryland and 50 Hikes with Kids Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio dive into how to take your kids on hikes. Their kids, the ones who tested all the trails, gave their insights on hiking.
How do you pick the right hike for your family? What do you look for?
Allison Humphreys: It depends on a few factors. Since my children were young, I let them help pick which hike we would do. I always found that when they had a say in where we were going, they would always be more excited about it. We also all have different favorite types of hikes – some of my children enjoy waterfall hikes the most, others love a good summit view and still others like any hike where we can get a little wet or muddy. Picking which hike to do also depends on how much time we have and if we want to spend more time on the trails or hanging out at the waterfall or summit.
Sharon Dewar: When we’re hiking with kids, we first look at the length of the hike as well as elevation gain to make sure it is manageable for them (less than 5 miles, less than 1,000 feet gain). Then we try to ensure it has a key point of interest to them excited and give them something to be headed towards, like a waterfall, a cool cave, or an amazing overlook.
How do you get kids prepared for a hike as your co-adventurers?
Sharon Dewar: We prep for our hikes by talking about the cool things we might see on the trail, like a unique plant or animal or natural feature like a cave or waterfall. We also talk about how long the hike is to set expectations. We find that when the kids know what to anticipate and have something to look forward to, they are more interested during the hike and less nervous or uncertain about what is coming next.
Allison Humphreys: As co-adventurers on all of our hikes, my children start by helping to pick which hike we do. I also have them help pack our backpack so they know what we have with us and so they know what is needed to safely head out into the woods on a hike. Finally, they help keep us going in the right direction by tracking our hike on the trail by using the All-Trails app on my phone.
What do you do to make hiking a fun experience?
Allison Humphreys: I have found that each kid is different (even within a family) so I try to meet each of my children where they are. I let one of my children lead whenever possible because that makes him the happiest, other children like taking turns taking pictures with my camera of all the things we see, and we all try to be the first to spot flora and fauna along the way. We also like to play silly talking games while on longer hikes to keep us all laughing and to keep our momentum up.
Sharon Dewar: We love having scavenger hunt items on the trails. We also have fun using nature ID apps so when we come across something we don’t know what it is we can look it up together. iNaturalist is a good app for that.
What questions do you ask kids while hiking to get them thinking about and interacting with nature?
Allison Humphreys: We are constantly talking about what we are seeing while hiking and we stop A LOT to look the flora and fauna we see. We also spend time looking up flora that we have spotted that we cannot identify on our own. To help my children learn about flora I will also ask questions like, what kinds of animals might like to eat this plant or what kind of animals might like to hide under that big shrub on a rainy day?
Sharon Dewar: What kinds of animals do you think live in this area? Why do you think the rocks are shaped that way? How many pinecones do you think we’ll find along the trail? What do you think the animals do here in the winter?
Have your kids learned new skills from going out on hikes?
Sharon Dewar: They’ve learned a lot about how to identify trees by the shape and texture of their bark and leaves, and how to follow trail blazes. They’ve also learned how important it is to always be prepared when you go out in nature. To always wear appropriate shoes and clothes, have water and snacks, sunscreen and bug spray when needed, etc.
Allison Humphreys: Yes! They have learned so much from our time on the trails. Since our children started hiking when they were still toddlers, they were able to improve their agility, coordination, and gross motor skills on the trails. Over the years, they have also learned that they can do hard things – things they might not have thought they could do which has helped improve their self-esteem. They have learned the importance of valuing the journey and not just focusing on the destination. They have learned how to go into the wilderness safely and what to do if they ever find themselves lost on a trail. And finally, they have all really developed a love of nature from spending so much time in it. I do really believe that when children spend a lot of time outside, they are more likely to develop a life-long connection to nature.
What benefits have you seen from taking your kids out on hikes?
Allison Humphreys: They have learned resilience, determination, and perseverance. Their confidence has grown and their willingness to try new and hard things has grown.
Sharon Dewar: Our kids are calmer and more engaged with us and with each other when we are out in nature together. Being in nature allows their curiosity to flourish. They are more attuned to their surroundings and engaged with the environment.
What is your favorite part of hiking with your kids?
Sharon Dewar: Our family is more bonded when we spend time together on the trails. We are less distracted by all the things that life is always throwing at us. When we are in nature we are present with each other. It’s quiet and calming and there is such beauty in just being together.
Allison Humphreys: I absolutely love how much we talk while out on the trails together! It is so fun to have all of that time away from all the distractions of life and have nothing to do but soak in nature and talk with each other.
What advice would you have for other parents and caregivers who want to start hiking with kids?
Allison Humphreys: I would suggest starting small. Start with shorter, easier hikes. They tend to be less intimidating and don’t take as long so they can feel more manageable for you and your children. Then after you have done a few smaller hikes both you and your children will feel more confident trying more challenging hikes. Always bring lots of snacks as food is a huge motivator for kids and it’s so fun to sit by a waterfall or on a big rock and have a snack together. And most importantly – remember it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey so don’t worry if you don’t make it to the end of a trail – the focus should be on getting outside with your kids and having fun.
Sharon Dewar: Don’t expect your kids to WANT to go hiking. If you wait for them to WANT to go – it may never happen. Take them anyway. I found that even if my kids didn’t ask to go hiking, as soon as we got out on a trail, they were highly engaged and glad to be there. Start with easy trails, and try to pick ones that have a cool destination, like a waterfall or cave that the kids can explore – give them something to look forward to seeing.
Questions for the kids:
Do you consider yourself a hiker?
Stone, age 10: Yes, because I did 50 hikes in 5 states in 5 months for the book when I was 7 years old.
Kaelan, age 12: Yes. Before doing all 50 hikes for the book – maybe not, even though we did go hiking a lot. But now, definitely.
What was your favorite hike?
Siena, age 9, and Kaelan, age 12: Our favorite hike was the exercise trail at Sharon Woods near Cincinnati, Ohio.
What was the hardest hike you’ve ever done?
Willow, age 13: The hardest hike I have done is Hanging Rock because it has a lot of incline in a short distance.
Who are your hiking buddies?
Weston, age 11: My favorite hiking buddy is my little brother.
Siena, age 9: Our dog Buttercup.
What do you take with you when you go hiking?
Teagen, age 14: Lots of snacks, a drink, and a walking stick.
What is the coolest thing you’ve seen on the trail?
Siena, age 9: Seeing wildlife like deer and chipmunks
Kaelan, age 12: Tree stumps that have been carved into stairs.
Stone, age 10: Monkeys while hiking in Nicaragua!
What advice would you give to other kids about hiking?
Siena, age 9: Don’t go off the trail because you could get lost.
Willow, age 13: Go at your own pace, bring lots of water and have fun!
In the latest addition to the 50 Hikes with Kids series, educators Alison Humphreys and Wendy Gorton give your family everything you need to explore the lakes, rivers, seaside dunes, and mountain trails of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and Washington DC. Readers will find easy-to-read trail maps, intuitive directions, elevation and length details for every hike, restroom information, and places to grab a snack nearby. Plus, scavenger hunts for each trail make it fun for even the youngest trekkers to learn about local flora, fauna, and geology. Hikes include the Alapocas Run, the Calvert Cliffs, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Blue Ridge Tunnel, Harpers Ferry, and more!
With its riversides, forests, rock ledges, gorges and prairies, the Midwest is a magnificent natural playground, and educators Sharon Dewar and Wendy Gorton are the perfect guides to introduce kids to these landscapes. In 50 Hikes with Kids Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio you will find easy-to-read trail maps, intuitive directions, elevation and length details for every hike, restroom information, and places to grab a snack nearby. Plus, scavenger hunts for each trail make it fun for even the youngest trekkers to learn about local flora, fauna, and geology. Hikes include the Leatherleaf Bog Trail in Moraine Hills State Park, the Bluffs of Beaver Bend, the Lodges Trail in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and more!