Hiking with kids – Crystal and River

Today Crystal Blue shares some stories about hiking with her daughter River with us. Crystal, River and the newest addition Zilly have been living in Mexico and traveling around the world for the last couple of years. Crystal is also running the travel company Enlightened Globetrekker Adventures which organizes trips for singles and families – some of her best trips are hikes in Nepal.

In this interview, Crystal and River share what they like about hiking together.

What was your favorite hike with your child?

My favorite hike with my child was our Annapurna Base Camp hike in the Himalayas of Nepal. This was a 10-day hike, and at times was very difficult and long. I learned so much about my daughter on this hike. We supported each other, we succeeded and reached base camp and met our goal together, we bonded, and we were both so happy together. She was so brave and amazing, always the first to finish for the day. I enjoyed having that extended amount of time together on the trail, and it really gave me the chance to see what an accomplished hiker she had become.

When did you start walking with your child?

When she was 1, I started taking her to our local State Park in the USA. Half of the hike she rode in a little red wagon, and the other half she got out and walked. This was her beginnings as a hiker baby.What is your best tip to motivate your child to go hiking?

I don’t really need motivation tips for my daughter. Hiking is her favorite thing, so she is always ready and excited to go out for a hike.

What does your child say about hiking? What do they like most?

My daughter likes hiking because she likes to be out in nature immersed in the environment. She likes the views that you earn at the tops of hills from hiking hard. She loves to hike because of the quality time we share. She likes to hold my hand when we hike. She also likes to read the maps and track our progress and wear her cool hiking gear.

What does your child say is your best technique to motivate them?

She says she doesn’t need to be bribed to go hiking because she loves it so much and jumps at any chance to go. She doesn’t need to be motivated or talked into it.

What does your child think other parents could do to motivate their children to go hiking more often?

My daughter says, well all kids are different so you need to offer them whatever motivates them. But mentioning the beautiful nature and fresh air, and special time they would get to spend with you might make them want to go.

What do you want to tell other parents? Any tips on how to get the kids out of the door?

My daughter was raised as a real nature lover adventurer, so I never have a problem with motivation for her to get outside. Ways to get other children away from say, a tablet, and to get outside for a hike, maybe having a picnic along the way of their favorite foods, or turning it into a fun family game scavenger hunt, or rewarding them with something they like.

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