Kids nowadays are loaded with so many activities. Be it school or classes or playing online games, we often find kids glued to various screens like computer, mobile, TV etc. With the new trend of online school, even field trips are happening virtually. For most of the kids, going out in nature is limited only to parks. In such a situation trekking is the best activity not only for the kids but also for the family. I still remember the first trek with my kiddo. Her excitement throughout the trek and happiness to plan for the subsequent trek cannot be expressed in words. So here is a list of 10 benefits of trekking with kids.
10 Benefits of trekking with kids:
1. Improve physical fitness
Trekking involves many physical activities like walking long trails, climbing on rocks or hills, bending, climbing rocks, crossing a small river or even walking on a fallen tree. These activities are a good form of exercise both for kids and elders. It teaches you to keep balance and improve agility. Trekking helps you burn a lot of calories while having fun with family. Waking on an uneven trail also helps improve strength. Whenever we go on a trek with our kiddo we often play different games while walking on even trails, like “Who will touch that big tree first?” Trekking is a good way of getting vitamin D as you are out in sunlight for most part of the trek.
2. Gives happiness
For kids, trekking is a dose of both physical fitness and happiness. Not only for kids, but also for us walking under open sky and peaceful air helps improve mental health and provide inner peace. Our kiddo is always curious about spotting new birds and trees or even a flower. While trekking whenever she spots something new or learns something new her happiness can be seen in her eyes. For kids, the happiness and satisfaction of reaching the final destination of a trek cannot be compared with anything.
3. Teaches to Respect the nature and wildlife
Trekking teaches kids to respect Mother Nature and the wildlife. Infact, trekking introduces wildlife to the kids. Spotting different birds, insects and animals always fascinates the kids. In Maharashtra, we often trek to different forts and it is very common to spot monkeys, snakes and deer during these treks. Trekking taught our kiddo to keep safe distance from these animals and respect their world without spoiling their natural habitat. Many parents prefer taking their kids to zoos to introduce them to wildlife. But there is a huge difference between getting to know an animal in a zoo and watching it on a trek.
4. Adds to adventure
Adventure is the best part of trekking for our kiddo. Thanks to the technology we now have GPS to assist us in the trek. However, we prefer the old way i.e. carrying maps and binoculars on our trek rather than using GPS. This adds to adventure on the trek and makes it exciting for the kiddo. It also improves their decision making skills.
5. Provides family time
Trekking helps the entire family to have quality time together. It helps open new topics which the kids otherwise forget to mention which may be related to their school, friends etc. For us trekking is a family fun time away from the digital world.
6. Improves creativity
Our kids often see wildlife in cartoons or read them in books. But seeing them in the real world often opens up new imaginations for the kids. Trekking has a prolonged effect on the mind and soul and hence helps improve creativity. Many times kids come up with some creative solution to a problem or a situation based on their trekking experience. During this Diwali, our kiddo made a beautiful rangoli pattern using dried leaves and flowers. She got this idea during our last trek.
7. Inculcate the habit of planning
After our first trek our kiddo was so happy that she now always plans well for the next trek. Once she comes to know about the next trek place. She tries to research about the place and then we sit together and plan for the trek. Trekking has taught her to plan any new activity beforehand.
8. Teaches teamwork
Trekking teaches the importance of teamwork to kids right from a small age. Be it crossing a small river or climbing a fort. It teaches them that together we can make a complex task easy. It also inculcates a habit of helping the co-trekkers in the kids and in turn improves on their socializing skills.
9. Improves confidence
Trekking allows the kids to test their limits, take decisions based on their instincts. We have seen a change in our kiddo’s confidence after one or two treks. Now she is always ready to climb a huge rock or trail a fort which otherwise she was reluctant to do. Many times we let her make decisions on which trail to follow to reach our destination.
10. Improves sensory skills
Trekking also improves on the sensory skills of kids. Kids often learn things fast through touch, feel, sound etc. In trekking kid’s get to touch different flowers, surfaces, trees or hear different birds and animals, insect sounds. This naturally helps them to learn about new things fast and understand the world besides them better.
Also read – 7 Daily routine Shlokas for kids.
Kids’ are full of energy and trekking can channelize the energy while giving the right life lessons to them. Let me know about your trekking experience with the kiddo and how trekking with kids has benefited them, in the comment section below.
