5 Top tips for nature days out with the kids
A day out in the great outdoors can be a wonderful thing, full of adventures, surprises and memories - and cost little to nothing! Here are our 5 top tips to keeping everything running smoothly on the day, no matter where the outdoors takes you!
Involve them in planning
Involve your little ones in the planning process to make the day feel like a true adventure. Print out the map of the area from Google Maps and plot where you plan to go. Have your kids mark the route from start to finish and bring the maps along with you so they can track the journey. This also helps if you’re somewhere without a phone signal so you can check where you are.
2. Footwear is key
Make sure you have the right footwear for the weather - wellies are a great idea if the weather is damp and there is likely to be mud, but remember that they are difficult to walk in for long distances. Thick socks can help make them more comfortable for you and the little ones. Its always worth packing a pair of flip flops in the bag in the event of a shoe getting stuck in the mud, water sodden or lost ( believe me, this has happened to me twice! )
3. Big wheels for big walks
If your little one is in a pushchair, or won’t be able to walk the distance I recommend bringing a buggy with bigger wheels. The reason for this is that the larger wheels won’t jolt all over the place when going across bumpy terrain and it makes it easier to push. You can also put all your bags and coats in the buggy when its empty, but beware the bottom trays - these often catch a lot of water and mud in them and soak anything that’s stored there. Don’t be tempted to hang things off the handle bars as this can cause a buggy to tip over
4. Bring a plastic bag
This has been a life saver on so many occasions for me. We all have a cupboard full of bags for life that we’ve brought in the shop, having forgotten to bring 1 of the 1000 that we already own. Having one on a day out is so helpful, you can use it to store wet shoes in before the car ride home, it can hold drinks to help prevent a spill, use it to pick up litter and split it down for something to sit on if park benches are wet.
5. Make it fun!
No matter how scenic or picturesque your local countryside may be, kids will get bored of walking around it. Some thing I have done is to bring an empty Tupperware box, and gather materials for a mini eco system jar at home. There are lots of great guides out there on what to gather such as this one. Doing this gives the little ones an objective, sense of achievement and a memento of the day. Scavenger hunts, Bark rubbings and bringing along a disposable camera for them to have a photo competition are also great ways of keeping nature exciting!
And as always
Don’t forget to have your Safetee’s on you little ones clothes - did you know they can be applied to Jackets, hoodies and Coats ?
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