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For many, it would seem that a family walk is an ideal trip. It gets everyone out, exercising and spending time together. Unfortunately, many children do not see things this way. They may find walking boring or a chore they dread doing, especially if your family walks regularly.
Fortunately, there are ways to add more activities to walks and make them more fun for the younger people in your family, avoiding complaints altogether. Not only that, but most of these methods also add a layer of education, making family walks an even more worthwhile use of time!
Below are 7 of our favorite ways to make walks interesting, educational and fun for the whole family.
Posted by Chelsea Gonzales from Wonder wherever we wander.
Opt for a hike
If you can, change things up by going for a walk in nature instead of just around the neighborhood. Not only is it more interesting for children, but it also encourages them to understand nature and explore the natural world.
On your hike, take time to notice the plants and animals around you. Stop and look at the mistakes, look for animal tracks and observe birds. All of these things are great ways to keep things interesting while learning about the world around you.
Go on an alphabet hunt
Have you ever played alphabet game while driving? The one where you find every letter of the alphabet in order? Why not play a similar game while walking or hiking?
Try to find something that starts with each letter of the alphabet, in order from A to Z. You can also choose to focus on one letter each day and find as many things that start with that day’s letter as possible.
Work on counting
If your children are still learning to count, you can improve their skills and encourage them to pay attention to their surroundings by playing counting games. Count how many stop signs you see, how many birds you pass, or how many red leaves can you find. This is a fun twist on the scavenger hunt or “I Spy” that kids love.
Play math games
For slightly older children who already count like pros, there are addition and subtraction games. Give your child an addition or subtraction problem along with a physical movement (such as hopping on one leg or skipping). The child then has to solve the problem and, based on the result, determine how many of these moves to make.
For example, you can say “Hop on one leg 6+2 times”. The player would then hop on one leg 8 times before continuing to walk.
Have a Spelling Bee
You could also work on spelling while walking. Ask your child to spell the word and then ask you to do the same. You can choose to spell the objects you pass or just choose words at random. Either way, your kids are sure to have fun challenging you and the spelling challenges will occupy their minds as you walk. If you need a great spelling outline, our favorite is All about spelling!
Create poetry
Rhymes are great for kids learning to read, and writing poetry is a great brain game no matter who you are. These things can be really fun too, so why not turn them into a fun game to play while walking?
Try having one person start with one line of the poem. The next player must then add a line that matches the rhythm of the poem and rhymes. The game continues in this manner until everyone has taken turns, with the last player completing the poem.
These can get silly pretty quickly, so get ready for some good laughs!
Put on your listening ears
Walking is also a great time to listen to each other as a family. Whether you decide to listen to music, audiobooks, or podcaststime will surely pass faster while you are having fun and learning.
Do you have a favorite game that you play when your family goes on hikes or walks? We’d love to hear about it! Share your idea in the comment section below.
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