Hiking with Kids

Many researches show that hiking releases adrenaline and serotonin in the body, which releases to positive thinking. A healthy family should have a tradition of doing at least one hike in a month. Besides children love adventures and new discoveries. Depending on family needs the ways of hiking with kids can differ. The important thing is that every member of the family would enjoy it thoroughly. So if you are planing to go hiking with kids in Armenia, then this article is for you.

Proper Planning

Despite the way you want to spend your hike with kids, it needs a good and thorough planning. Hikes that are planned for the different age and gender groups should have one common purpose.

All the problems would be easily solved if the itinerary is well planned. A well-planned itinerary means knowing the exact places to have rest or to stay for the night, a pace of walking and a necessary knowledge for overcoming the difficult parts of the hike.

While hiking with kids it is important to have a Plan B. So in case of any accidents, weather changes or the lack of food or water the participants can reach the nearest dwelling place in shortest time. Also the change of the route will arose the interest of the kids and shake off the tiredness.

Short stops at the right time and in a right place are also very important in hiking with kids. Make those stops at the places with beautiful scenes and preferably without any steep slopes. During these pauses you can also take some notes about the territory or take beautiful photos.

The frequency of the stops depends on the age and physical shape of the participants. Overcoming the natural barriers can be easy for one and difficult for another participant.

If you have had a good planning of a hike, it means you have passed the half of the hike.

Hiking Gear

If you are planning to go hiking with kids then you should be attentive to your hiking gear list. It is one of the most important elements of a successful family hike.

You should choose your hiking gear carefully, so as the unnecessary stuff will not bother you. In case of hiking with the family, every member should have spare clothes, spare shoes, waterproof coat, which will protect from rain and wind. Clothes are also preferred to be waterproof or quick-drying.

The average temperature at night and noon differs when you are hiking in mountainous regions. The teen’s body is very sensitive to these kind of changes. So on the first days of hiking for avoiding sunburns it is necessary to wear t-shirt with long sleeves, cap and sunglasses. It would be great if you encourage your children to use a sunscreen and use it yourselves to set a good example.

You should also distribution your hiking gear properly, as for every member there is an accepted weight of a backpack.

Kids and Hiking

It is very important to instill love of nature, mountains, village life and people living there in children since childhood.

Hiking from a young age will arouse interest in nature, the phenomenons occurring there and the creatures living there. And if a child is interested in something during the hike parents should pay attention to it and observe those new things with them.

Parents should always inspire their child saying that how well and how fast he walks, even if it is not true. Partially when it is a first time tour child is taking a hike.

If you want to prepare your child to hiking you should start with right walking. Walking in plane places should be started slowly, systematically and without any muscle tension. If a hiker walks correctly he will never become tired.

Hiking with kids in Armenia

Tough Armenia is considered to be a mountainous country, you will find some non-mountainous and easy trails to hike with your kids. Which will also be very informative and impressive for them.

One of such easy and impressive trails is a hike from lake Parz to Gosh. Length of the route is 7 km, which is perfect for hiking with kids. Besides the track goes through the territory of Dilijan National park, which is a perfect option for kids to communicate with wild nature and observe the fauna and flora of the national park.

But if you want your child to have a mountain climbing experience anyway, then you can choose one of the mountains that is not higher then 2000 m. For example it can be mount Apakekar which is also situated in the territory of Dilijan National park. Such kind of experiences will instill love in children and will help them to overcome the difficulties from an early age.

It can be great to combine your hiking with kids in Armenia with camping. Camping will open the door to a whole new world for children. There are so many challenges to overcome, starting from setting up a camp, making a dinner, ending with building a bonfire and marshmallow toasting. If you want your camping experience with kids to go more smoothly you can choose one of many safe and beautiful camping zones in Armenia.

If you are planning to organize hiking with kids in Armenia, then it will probably be your most enjoyable family vacation. As every member of your family would get everything they wanted from a perfect trip.

But at the same time organizing a family hike is a great responsibility, especially when you are in a country that is quite unknown for you. And if the hike isn’t well planed and organized it will disappoint the kids and may become one of their worst hiking experiences.

So if you are planing a family hike you should rely on people who are professionals, know the territory well and can get out of any unexpected situation.

Make your family trip in a way that your children would understand and love that enormous  world called hiking.

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