What we’ve learned from years of walking with three small children in the wind and rain in the west of Ireland.
When we had our first have baby I remember the feeling that our world had kind of shrunk overnight. In the early days I remember dreaming of the freedom to wander, of following a trail just to see where it leads, of climbing a mountain and looking out across vast landscapes. With a newborn to care for, in the depths of winter, what I had once taken for granted, seemed impossible to reclaim. I didn’t see how or when I would ever get to do any of this again.
Then ... I discovered slings and back-carrying and thought I had it all figured out … until one day ... that light little newborn became too big to carry and - shock horror - insisted on walking herself. Oh no, I thought – are we confined to playgrounds for life? Who is really running the show?
But thankfully over time, we’ve learned how to go on small day hikes, now as a family of five.
Below we have collated our real, lived experiences and tips for hiking with small children (bearing in mind we live in the west of Ireland, so this is based on our lives living in a temperate, wet climate).
1. Start small, stay open
Set your expectations low for yourself and high for your child – then meet somewhere in the middle.
Aim to take a walk that would not be a very long or challenging walk for yourself, but don’t underestimate what your child can do. If you want to estimate distance, there is a rule of thumb that you can estimate about 1 mile (1.6km) per year of age of child. But if you are the parent of a child older than 1 day old, you already know that all children are different and every day is different. If you are the parent of multiple children, you know - just see how it goes...
2. Research the right hike (you won’t get it right every time)
We love to find hikes and walks that are remote and quiet and yet accessible. We are lucky to live in the west of Ireland, and there are so many options once you start to look a bit deeper than the obvious well-worn tracks.
One thing to pay attention to is the difficulty level and the steepness of incline. We tend to choose walks that are primarily on the flat. That said, be wary of the seemingly flat walk that is in fact a long, slow uphill – this is much more challenging for small children than we adults realise.
Small children don’t always recognise they are walking uphill – it just feels to them that everything is hard and tiring.
If this happens - Take a break, carry them for a bit if needed. Watch how their mood changes the moment the path turns downhill.
3. Tell them what to expect
Talk about the walk and where you are going to go before you begin – look at a map together, look at the landscape together – explain where you are going and what the plan is:
‘We are going to walk along this lake here and then stop and have our picnic just there where the forest begins, and we can look out across this valley,’ and so on.
Show them on a map where you are going. In the age of smartphones, a tangible map is great fun. We also use a physical book of walks in our area, it has maps without the need for phones or battery coverage.
4. Have a purpose
Having a purpose for your walk really helps – for example: collecting acorns, pine cone tips, picking bilberries, looking for mushrooms.
Children love any kind of treasure hunt and a little bit of light competition.
5. Walk out and back
Loop walks are good for older children (7+), but sometimes with smaller children, you just have to take each day as it comes and know when to call it and decide it's time to turn back.
A loop can feel endless to a tired child, while an out-and-back gives them the joy of recognising what they’ve already conquered.
When you walk out and back, they enjoy that feeling of familiarity on the return – checking off the things they saw earlier.
6. Climb a mountain (or hill)
Every once in a while, ditch all our advice (above) about staying on the flat and climb a small mountain or hill together. There is a great sense of pride and satisfaction in reaching the top and looking back out at the view and where you have just come from.
When we look back down the mountain, we can see the tiny cars, the winding roads, and the small houses with their gardens below. It’s a reminder of how big the world is and how we are just a small part of it. We all need that sense of perspective from our everyday lives sometimes. Children need it too.
7. A backpack
Have a small, comfortable backpack for each child – it helps promote independence. Ask them to carry something small for the picnic that you’ll share along the route – don’t burden them with a big bag or make the bag heavy. But asking them to carry something small lets them know they are part of the team and have a responsibility to the group. All children, just like adults, appreciate feeling needed.
8. Right shoes
In Ireland, we are almost always dealing with soggy ground conditions year-round. Wellies are great for puddles and muck, but if you’re covering ground, good, strong waterproof shoes or hiking boots (for older children) are worth it. Wellies get tiring and sore on a longer walk. There are lots of different good options on the market. Our eldest has hiking boots - for the younger children. We buy these.
7. Have longer socks for kids
This one is born of many years of experience - puddle pants/rain legs/waterproof salopettes get sweaty and uncomfortable on long walks. Buy extra-long socks – pull them over trousers at the very start of the walk so that trouser hems don’t get wet, and so that socks don’t fall around ankles inside boots or wellies.
8. Take lots of small breaks
‘How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.’
Move slowly and appreciate the small things you spot. In our adult lives, we fixate on goals and destinations. Children live more in the here and now. Take lots of stops and breaks. Look around. Appreciate what you see in nature when you meet them at their pace.
If possible, don’t rush small children. It backfires. You know this already!
9. Bring a hot drink
If it’s chilly, bring a hot drink in a flask. We have a Kelly's Kettle, which is fun to use when camping or fishing, but for hikes, we always bring a flask and a selection of light cups and mugs.
There is nothing like the reward of a hot drink outdoors, the steam rising in the cool air.
In summer, we sometimes carry just hot water and look for herbs like water mint to make different teas. But in colder months (ie every month that is not July or August if in Ireland), a flask of hot chocolate is an instant reliable success.
10. Bring a seat
One of the best things we’ve bought for outdoor walks with small children is a small foam seat pad for each child. They are cheap and available in most hiking and camping shops, and are so lightweight that each child can keep them in their backpacks.
In Ireland, the ground is soggy and mossy and damp almost year-round. With a foam seat pad, you can stop and have a break anywhere. When children can properly sit down, don't get wet, and can rest their feet, their capacity for onward walking more than doubles.
11. Deeper research
Recently we’ve been watching nature programmes together and then visiting some of the places we recognise. Recently, we watched this and this and then went hiking in some of the spots that appeared in them. It really helps our children to appreciate how special these places are – and a bit like the sense of perspective you get when climbing a hill and looking back - it helps them get a perspective on how lucky we are to get to visit such ancient and wild places.
12. Let them lead
Let children take the lead. Following their pace and curiosity changes the rhythm of the walk and turns it into an adventure they are leading rather than a task.
13. Bring lots of snacks
For small children, have some secret extra bribes in an easy-access pocket – a handful of nuts and raisins, crackers, apples, something sweet for that final stretch.
14. Play games
Have some games ready for the trying times – I Spy (play with colours only to include smaller children), Twenty Questions, Two truths and a lie, or making up stories about what you see along the way.
15. Go often
Like any habit with small children, hiking becomes easier with practice. The more regularly you get out, the less effort it takes to get everyone ready – and the more natural it feels for the whole family - it becomes something you do.
If there’s ever grumbling on the way out, there’s never any on the way home.
16. Things to pack
- Wipes
- A "wild wee" kit - wipes, hand sanitiser, bags, etc
- Sunscreen (we live in hope in the west of Ireland)
- Bug repellent – we like Smidge
- Snacks
- Water - lots
- Layers - Ideally a breathable raincoat
Remember, Always Leave no trace
Always follow Leave No Trace principles: take everything you bring with you, stay on marked paths, respect wildlife, and leave places as beautiful as you found them.
Go gently. Walk lightly. Teach them early.
Words: Jo Anne Butler
Photographs: Jo Anne Butler and Gearoid Muldowney