| 3 Games To Keep Kids Entertained On Hikes | | | | | | Run Run Freeze | | This game is best for a group of kids hiking trails that are wide and relatively smooth ⏤ so avoid playing on those with rocks or roots that might lead to tripping. Play is simple: Tell the group to run ahead and then yell freeze. “So you say, ‘run, run, run, freeze!’ And they all freeze in a statue,” says Shanti Hodges, founder of Hike It Baby, and author of Hike It Baby: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers. You can also give the kids a specific shape, such as a tree, to depict when they freeze. They just have to stay frozen until you reach them. If the kids are a little older, they can take turns being in charge of telling the group to run/freeze. |
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| | | | Follow The Map | | This one requires planning ahead but is well-worth the effort in trail-side fun. You’ll need paper and pencils or crayons. Draw a map of the trail for the day’s hike. It doesn’t have to be real. In fact, the more imaginative and creative the better, says Hodges. Then point out trail features along the way and match them to the predrawn map. If you don’t have time to draw a map, a store-bought treasure map works well, too. |
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| | | | Kim’s Game | ‘Kim’s Game’ is a good option for snack time or if you want to take a sit-down break during your hike ⏤ just remember to bring a cloth or bandana. Find a set of small objects, such as a colorful rock, some leaves, or small sticks. You can also include objects from your pockets such as a key (just not the one to the car you drove there in, that’s dangerous). Arrange the objects on a rock or in the dirt. Allow the kids to see the objects for a minute or two. Then, cover them. Ask the group to share which objects they remember until they’ve named them all.
Here are a few more hiking games to try. |
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