Walking With Babies and Kids
I have loved walking for most of my life – a habit that I’m sure my mom influenced in my life. I remember taking many adventure walks as a child. When I became a mom, those walks started again as a way for me to combat postpartum depression. When my day became overwhelmed with the needs of caring for small children, I strapped them into a stroller and plied them with snacks and drinks and headed outside. Being outdoors is calming and re-orients me when my emotions are spinning out of control. Walking allows me to pray and listen to God in ways that seem impossible in a busy house.
As my children have grown, they have become some of my favorite people to walk with. We adventure outside throughout much of our four-season weather, and I never know what a walk will bring. Sometimes, we take walks to visit our neighbors who have horses. We always bring carrots or apples for the horses and love seeing them come galloping up to greet us. Sometimes we walk along a near-by pond and toss in sticks and walnuts to see who can make the biggest splash or throw a walnut the furthest distance. Some days we splash through puddles or melting snow to chase away the winter blues.
Taking walks won’t cure life’s problems, but it can change your perspective and give you a (literal) breath of fresh air. If you are new to walking with babies and kids, don’t be scared off! With some helpful tips and patience, you can do this too!
1.) Start small! It’s great to have lofty goals of walking miles at a time, but when you are first starting out with kids, start with short walks. I recommend aiming for a 10 or 15 minute walk the first few times you do this. That might mean a walk to the stop sign and back or maybe one lap around the park. As you and your kids get used to walking, increase your time and distance.
2.) Bring wheels. If you have babies or toddlers, bring a stroller or baby carrier. Even if they can walk for part of it, it’s a good idea to have backup in case their little legs get tired. If you have big kids, a walk might be more exciting if they get to take a bike, scooter or push a toy stroller.
3.) Bring snacks, water and a first aid kit. If you have a stroller, it’s a great place to stash these supplies. If you have big kids, they can carry their own things in a bag or backpack. Dry cereal or fruit keep toddlers hands occupied on longer walks, and I’ve found that skittles are great motivators for big kids (I’m not against bribery!) You don’t need a huge first aid kit, but I’ve found it helpful to have cleansing wipes, neosporin and bandaids available for the inevitable skinned knee.
4.) Dress appropriately for the weather. A walk will quickly become miserable if kids are too hot, too wet or too cold. (And let’s face it, miserable kids mean a miserable momma!) So put on some sunscreen and grab a hat. Figure out which shoes are most appropriate for your walk – sneakers or boots? Do you need a coat or rain jacket? Does the baby need a hat or extra blanket?
5.) Make it an adventure! Play “I spy” on your walks. See who can find the first pink flower or the loudest car driving down the street. Pick dandelions in the abandoned lot (assuming it’s safe, of course!). Create your own story where everyone adds a sentence.
6.) Change it up. Take walks in your neighborhood. Take different routes. Go to a nearby park and have a picnic halfway through your walk. Take walks with friends. Take your pet or a neighbor’s pet for a walk.
7.) Don’t give up! Some days, no matter what you try, the walk is going to fail. The kids get hot and cranky and complain. The baby starts crying and won’t stop. Somebody falls and skins their knee or their elbow. That happens. It doesn’t mean you failed as a parent or as a walker. Get your crew home and try again another day.
I love being able to walk and pray over my concerns to the Father. I love being able to walk with a friend or family member and get a fresh perspective. I love seeing my kids enjoy God’s creation and the friends He gives us. I hope you will get out there – even in this cold, winter weather – and give it a try with your kids. You’ll be glad you did! Let me know what other tips you have for making walks with kids even better!
