Things You'll Need:
- Sturdy walking shoes
- Light weather-appropriate clothing
- Water
- High protein snacks
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Step 1
Be sure that you and your children are dressed comfortably. Loose fitting clothing, made of a light material, is the best choice for any type of physical activity. One of the most common pitfalls, when taking children walking, happens when children become uncomfortable. Nothing can bring a faster end to a day of fitness and recreation than hearing your child complain that they are hot or cold. In order to avoid this unhappy occurrence, have your child dress in light layers, which he or she can easily put on or take off as the need arises.
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Step 2
Good walking shoes are essential to a good walking experience. It's a good idea to have your child keep a pair of shoes that he or she will use just for walking, if you plan to make it a regular family activity. Tennis shoes with good firm soles are the best choice for walking. When trying on shoes for walking be sure that your child is measured and fitted properly, and that the shoes feel comfortable on your child's feet. Sore and blistered feet from shoes that rub, scrape or pinch your child's feet, are a sure way to ruin what could have been a wonderful outing together.
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Step 3
Plan ahead. Children often get hungry and thirsty when engaging in physical activity. Also, young children can become dehydrated quickly, especially if the weather is warm. Carry drinking water in a light thermos, or canteen, which you can wear around your neck. Light snacks, such as peanut butter crackers, fruit and cereal bars or individually wrapped energy bars are good ways to boost your child's sagging energy level, and beat the "I'm hungry" blues at the same time.
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Step 4
Consider the location. When walking with children, it helps to plan to do it in a place that they can appreciate and enjoy. Whether it's a local park, race track, or the city zoo, location means a lot when you are bringing little ones along. Plus, by carefully planning your location before you walk for the first time, you can avoid concerns about traffic, unleashed pets and so on. Getting your children to enjoy walking, by choosing your location wisely, is an added benefit of planning first.
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Step 5
Pace yourselves. Depending on the age of your children, you will want to make sure that they engage in a good amount of physical activity, without overdoing it. Keep a close eye on your little ones and schedule regular breaks to make sure that the experience is a healthy one. The speed in which you and your child walk should be gaged around what your child is most comfortable with. Remember that children have shorter legs, and younger children may have a hard time trying to keep pace with Mom or Dad. Planning to spend 1 minute of faster paced walking, for each year of your child's life, is a good place to start. Once you and your child are accustomed to walking together, you can increase the length of time by a minute, every other week or so.
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Step 6
Awareness. The most crucial step to having a good experience when walking with children is being aware of how the experience is affecting your child. If he or she is happy and enjoying the time with you, then it's a sure sign the experience is going to be a positive one. If, on the other hand, your child is tired, cranky, or seems excessively whiny, take a break, or, if neccessary, you may even decide to call it a day. Take your cues from the child. If your first experience doesn't go well, don't be too quick to throw in the towel. Another day, at a different location, might just make all of the difference in the world.
