© 2017 Asian Trail Explorers LLP / Kuala Lumpur Hiking and Trail Running
Children’s hike - How do we go about it…?
In fact there are hardly any real rules about hiking with children; there are too many variables. We are sensitive and aware of their energy and attitude, and ready to make alternate plans at a moment’s notice. A good hike is one that appeals to your child’s sense of exploration and adventure. Every trail has some kind of adventure in it. A hike with obstacles also provides distractions throughout the journey, keeping them away from realising how far and how long they have been hiking. Children might not love the outdoors straight away. We know and we don’t get discouraged as sometimes that love may take time to grow and blossom. That is why hiking should be fun and relatively easy. It is all about the journey, not the destination. If we push them too hard at the beginning, their love for nature might never get a chance to develop. But there is a thin line between pushing them a bit so they will learn and expand their abilities, and pushing them so much that they will reject any further participation. A little push however is an invaluable lesson for them to discover their inner strength and to grow. We understand that for your child, it is all about the experience and the journey, not necessarily the destination. They are still developing and don’t see hiking the way most adults do. We introduce hiking carefully and pay attention to their needs, hopefully inspiring a lifelong love for nature. Indeed we expend most of our energy vacillating between being cheerleaders, trying to motivate them to keep walking, and being entertainers distracting them from complaining, as we believe in the power of positive reinforcement. This will help your child stay motivated and being proud of their achievements, however big or small. It is important for children to carry their own backpacks. Children feel important when they are needed to help carry supplies. And it is also best for their safety. Before the hike we make sure that your children know that the ground rules at home are different than the ones in the jungle. We talk about trail etiquette, safety, basic survival skills and what to do when lost in the jungle. It is not a formal lecture as this could freak them out and put them off the idea of hiking completely. But your child should know and understand this. We are not only telling them, we quiz them on it.
© 2017 Asian Trail Explorers LLP /
Kuala Lumpur Hiking and Trail Running
Children’s hike - How do we go about it…?
In fact there are hardly any real rules about hiking with children; there are too many variables. We are sensitive and aware of their energy and attitude, and ready to make alternate plans at a moment’s notice. A good hike is one that appeals to your child’s sense of exploration and adventure. Every trail has some kind of adventure in it. A hike with obstacles also provides distractions throughout the journey, keeping them away from realising how far and how long they have been hiking. Children might not love the outdoors straight away. We know and we don’t get discouraged as sometimes that love may take time to grow and blossom. That is why hiking should be fun and relatively easy. It is all about the journey, not the destination. If we push them too hard at the beginning, their love for nature might never get a chance to develop. But there is a thin line between pushing them a bit so they will learn and expand their abilities, and pushing them so much that they will reject any further participation. A little push however is an invaluable lesson for them to discover their inner strength and to grow. We understand that for your child, it is all about the experience and the journey, not necessarily the destination. They are still developing and don’t see hiking the way most adults do. We introduce hiking carefully and pay attention to their needs, hopefully inspiring a lifelong love for nature. Indeed we expend most of our energy vacillating between being cheerleaders, trying to motivate them to keep walking, and being entertainers distracting them from complaining, as we believe in the power of positive reinforcement. This will help your child stay motivated and being proud of their achievements, however big or small. It is important for children to carry their own backpacks. Children feel important when they are needed to help carry supplies. And it is also best for their safety. Before the hike we make sure that your children know that the ground rules at home are different than the ones in the jungle. We talk about trail etiquette, safety, basic survival skills and what to do when lost in the jungle. It is not a formal lecture as this could freak them out and put them off the idea of hiking completely. But your child should know and understand this. We are not only telling them, we quiz them on it.
