On the last day of our Utah trip, we were pleasantly impressed with our walking stats - more so, with our daughter's walking stats. We had done at least one easy or moderate trail in each of the National Parks. Here is a summary of the miles we walked:
- Days: 8
- Steps walked: 90,455
- Distance walked : approx. 40 miles or 64 kilometers
- Average distance per day : approx. 5 miles or 8 kilometers
How did we manage to walk all these trails with her? We know that she is a good hiker because she has done a few moderate trails before this. The Narrows at Zion (her favorite by far), Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon, The Loop at Muir Woods, El Capitan trail at Yosemite, Clingman's Dome trail in The Great Smoky Mountains, Mystic Falls Trail and a lot of others in Yellowstone. It helps that she loves the outdoor, so getting started is never an issue. Finishing might be. To be honest, finishing is an issue even with us adults at times, especially on day 3 or 4 of a trip!
When I reflected on how we managed to walk all this distance with her, I realized a few things. I am noting them down for future reference and for all hikers who would like to plan a trip with kids. If you ask me, visiting a NP and not hiking is like visiting Italy and not eating a pizza or visiting Paris and not going to the Eiffel Tower. You're missing the very essence of the place. I personally don't mark a National Park as 'seen' until I've done at least one hike there.
In walking the trails with her (and in almost all other walks of life), I consciously try to use the path of 'Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed'. This path was propagated by a great Indian economist named Chanakya, who lived a long time ago. The path, which is used to cajole a person to act in a certain way, can broadly be understood as:
- Saam - Explaining or reasoning
- Daam - Dangling a carrot, promising a reward
- Dand - Threatening with a consequence, mostly unpleasant
- Bhed - Creating a difference or conflict
Whatever we did, falls in one or the other category, but to be honest, mostly in the daam category! The timing of tricks is also important. They should be wisely employed at the beginning, middle or the end of a trail, as the situation demands:
1. Involve her in choosing a trail
Trails in National Parks are categorized as easy, moderate or difficult. We would discuss and choose a trail based on interest, level, distance and landscape. A pit-stop at visitor centre would help us with the final decision. As Anya loves climbing rocks, she would be very happy if she could find a trail with rock climbing possibilities.
2. Let her lead the way
Kids love to take charge. It makes them feel important. Anya loves to pick up a map and a stick and be the leader. In one of her trails, she took on the role of a teacher, who was out on a field trip with her two students. The trail (at least one way) became quite a breeze. We had a fun time, with one student acting naughty and the other, her pet.
3. Play a 'sighters - keepers' game
In this game, whoever sights an attraction first, is allowed to own it. For example, a lovely hued rock became hers, a pine tree became mine or a hare became hers. The excitement of finding something novel and stamping as her own, kept her excited and occupied. At the end of the trail, we would compare our haul and talk about our riches. (This also works during long drives.)
[gallery ids="1016,1017" type="rectangular"]
4. Let her play
Kids need time. It doesn't matter to them that we have come all the way to see a park and would like cover some sights. Choosing a stick, playing with dirt, climbing a tree or rock holds more fascination for them. When we'd walked some distance, we would let her indulge in things that would please her. She had also devised a way in which she picked up a fistful of dirt and kept marking the trail. This kept her busy for a while.
5. Let her be the photographer
The enthusiasm of taking pictures with my DSLR, kept her going at times. It was a double blessing for me, as it not only got her moving but also got me clicked! The shots that she captured came out quite well at times. It's interesting to see what kids see worth capturing. In our last trip, we had given her a cellphone to capture pictures. But that had become too distracting and so we did not carry it this time around.
6. Junior Ranger book and badge
The temptation to finish tasks in a junior ranger book motivated her to find plants, birds, insects or animals. She loved her junior ranger books and was immersed in them. In case she got indifferent about finishing pages, I would offer to do them instead and keep the junior ranger badge for myself. That would kindle the competitive spirit in her and bring her right on track.
Joining a ranger led hike is another fabulous way to go about a hike. It not only helps one learn more about the landscape, it also gives an opportunity to share the company of other kids.
7. Let her carry a toy
Having a companion for a trail multiplies the fun. As she shared her experiences with her baby doll, the trail became a much more enriching experience. It also brought out the responsible adult in her. We were amused to hear her give similar instructions to her doll as we gave to her.
8. Treats
I'm a stickler for healthy food but make a few concessions for long trails. I pack food as a fisherman would pack his bait :) Something to lure her and make her bite the trail. These temptations aren't displayed early on and are used very wisely when the going gets tough. They are either used to celebrate a milestone or dangled towards the end of a trail when enthusiasm and stamina have started to flag. Even then, treats are given after she has eaten a fruit. I'm a sly Shylock and use a pound of (fruit) flesh to my advantage!
Another treat that works is a promise of TV time back at the hotel. Half an hour of cartoon watching is temptation enough for her.
9. Motivation from other kids
She could be cajoled to keep walking if she saw someone of her age or younger doing it. If other kids weren't around, me or my husband would challenge her to win a race. Not that she didn't see through our ruse. "I know you're just trying to make me walk more!" she would retort at times.
10. Piggybacking!
When everything else failed, me and my husband would carry her from each side and swing her. She loved it! My husband would even offer to carry her for a while. The gleeful smile and sparkle in her eyes would be priceless!
Not all tricks need be employed in each trail. She had so much fun in the Narrows, Zion, that she wasn't ready to turn back. In fact, we had to cajole her to turn back :) So it's always a mix and match and you've to constantly improvise.
So, step by step, we covered 90,000 odd steps. An interesting observation was that her footsteps are much smaller than ours. If we, as adults, walked 90,000 steps, wonder how many did she walk! Next time, we will make her wear one such calculator - just to see the difference :)
Every kid is different and has his or her own interests. But generally speaking, kids love the outdoors. If you have any observations about hiking with kids, please share.
Here's to many more happy miles and memories!
