How to Walk With Kids and Dogs

You have a houseful of kids and a houseful of dogs. Everyone needs exercise, so why not kill some time on an uneventful afternoon by taking everyone out for a walk? Pack the baby in a stroller, get the older kids, leash up the dogs and you have yourself a family convoy. You can have a destination like the park, or you can just walk around exploring the neighborhood. The kids will enjoy being out with you, picking up ladybugs and riding up and down driveways and the dogs will enjoy being outside of the fence. Here are some tips for managing all your family members without losing your mind, and instead having a restful journey into the big outdoors.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get your baby into the stroller. Offer your kids the choice of walking one of the dogs, or taking their bikes or scooters on the walk. Sometimes a younger child will want to go on the stroller too, so have a double stroller ready as an option.

2. Leash up the dogs. If one of the kids wants to walk a dog, hand over the leash. Pack some dog poop bags just in case. Realize that if you give one of the dogs to the kids, the kid will eventually get tired of walking the dog and you'll end up walking it. Be prepared.

3. With kids on bikes, scooters or in the stroller, begin your walk. As you start off, set the ground rules with the kids on the faster equipment. Bike riders have to stay to the side of the road, and have to stay on the same block as you, for example. This will save you yelling or running to catch up and everyone will stay safe.

4. If you have both the dogs, keep one on either side of the stroller, to avoid tangled leashes.

5. Forget everything else, and enjoy your time with the kids and the dogs. Look at the sky, chatter with your baby, pat the dogs, watch your growing kids on their bikes and scooters. These (hopefully) peaceful moments are your payment for all your hard parenting work.

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