“Are we there yet?” “My feet hurt!” “I’m bored…” The complaints often begin before the trailhead is out of sight. For many parents, the chorus of grievances about the heat, hunger, tired legs, or a heavy backpack is enough to abandon any hope of a peaceful family outing.
However, a successful walk with children isn’t measured by the distance covered or the summit reached. For Kristin Tillack, author of the book *50 Hikes with Kids in Colorado*, and Paul Tanis, creator of the Easy Adventures account, the secret lies elsewhere: learning to see nature through a child’s eyes.
Stop Thinking Like an Adult
One of the most frequent mistakes parents make is simply calling it a “hike.” According to Tillack, children are rarely enthusiastic about walking for the sake of walking. Instead, she advises framing the outing as an adventure. Chasing a waterfall, observing butterflies, exploring a new patch of forest, or searching for an imaginary treasure is far more motivating than a physical objective.
“When you have kids,’re no longer really walking for yourself. You’re walking for them,” confirms Paul Tanis. He argues that trying to replicate an adult-style hike is the fastest route to frustration. “You have to be ready to turn around at any moment,” he warns. It is better to cut an outing short and leave them wanting more than to create a bad memory that puts them off for good.
Give Them a Good Reason to Move Forward
Both nature enthusiasts stress the importance of choosing routes that offer a tangible reward for children: a waterfall to dip their feet in, a lake, a spectacular viewpoint, or a place to explore. Tillack notes that the error often lies in choosing “a trail just to do a hike” rather than a destination that sparks curiosity. Tanis witnessed this during outings organized around searching for quartz crystals in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. “They know there is a treasure at the end of the path,” he says.
Assign Them a Mission
Children march more willingly when they feel like participants in the adventure rather than just passengers. “If they have a mission on the trail, it can really increase their desire to continue,” observes Tillack. This can be as simple as asking them to follow the trail markings, spot a waypoint, or lead the group for a few minutes. “Letting them take charge makes them responsible,” summarizes Tanis.
Turn the Walk Into a Game
For an adult, a hike can be a straightforward march to a goal. For a child, that is rarely the case. “When children are having fun, they don’t see the difficulty,” highlights Tanis. Both parents recommend multiplying activities that distract from the effort. Among the best ideas: organizing nature bingo, launching a treasure hunt, counting butterflies or bridges, identifying tree species, creating an observation journal, or telling riddles and singing songs along the way.
Never Leave Without Snacks
This is likely the unanimous tip from every experienced parent. “It’s totally a reality,” laughs Tanis when asked if snacks are the secret weapon for a successful hike. He even suggests letting children carry their own treats in their backpacks, allowing them to manage their own breaks when hunger strikes. “They are in total control of what they want to eat,” he explains. Tillack uses a similar strategy, reserving special treats exclusively for outdoor outings.
The idea is not to turn every kilometer into a food reward. However, when motivation dips, a well-timed snack break or a few candies pulled from the bag can be enough to relaunch the expedition. It is also better to schedule regular breaks rather than waiting for fatigue or bad moods to set in.
Accept That Success Won’t Look Like You Imagined
This is perhaps the most important advice of all. Many parents imagine that a successful hike means reaching the planned summit, covering the stated distance, or sticking to the initial route. For Tillack, this mindset is often counterproductive. “If the only goal is to get to the end, that’s when the meltdowns start,” she warns.
An outing can be a success even if it ends earlier than planned, if you turn back after a few hundred meters, or if you spend more time building a dam in a stream than walking. Tanis recalls that some of his best days outside with his children were nothing exceptional on paper. “It can be as simple as walking for fifteen minutes and spending the afternoon by a river,” he notes. Ultimately, what matters is not performance but memory. “Creating memories,” summarizes Tanis. This philosophy aligns with Tillack’s invitation for parents to “try to see the hike through their children’s eyes.”
