Vacation and children
To go on hike with children is wonderful. A real "adult" trip will be unforgettable for your child, and it will remember it for many years. The hike will open endurance and self-confidence in it, and make your family even more friendly and solid.
But it can happen only if your attitude to the arrangement of walking tour is responsible: if you plan the rout in details, equip your child conveniently, carefully compile a list of essential medicines, think about provisions, and pay attention to other less obvious but equally important points to prepare your offspring for the forthcoming hike.
One of the unpleasant surprises during the first hike with the child may be tiredness. After a half an hour of walking, it suddenly starts to complain of fatigue. It doesn't simulate: it is really tired because of the absence of an apparent purpose. The ardour of a tourist, who is ready to walk all day long with backpacks, admiring mountains and prairie amenities are unfamiliar to your child.
In order to cope with this problem, break your route into short sections. For example, 'there is a beautiful waterfall behind this hill', then 'once we saw a family of squirrels', and 'in half an hour there will be a roadside shop where we'll buy ice cream'. Communicate with your child: sing songs, invent funny stories, play different games. Such games are often played by all participants, young and old, so it would be funny for all of you.
If your family is a democratic one and you are not accustomed to suppress your child and try always to take into account its view, that's fine. But, while preparing for a trip, find time to talk to your kid. It should clearly understand that in "extreme" conditions parental prohibition is serious and the respond to the word "not" should follow immediately, without wrangling and arguing, even if a danger doesn't seem obvious to it.
In some situations your child's health and even life depends on the speed of its response. A list of prohibitions for the novice traveller should be made beforehand: not to taste any fruit, berries, and mushrooms without adults' permission; not to drink water from untested sources; not to leave for anything without permission. Think over what other dangers might threaten your baby during the chosen route, and try to warn it about them in advance.
The golden rule of any foot hike is that the whole team should be focused on the slowest traveller and select a pace comfortable for him/her. Therefore, when planning your route, do not overstate the speed of movement for the group. Be realistic, avoid unnecessary extreme and discomfort.
The majority of injuries and accidents with children occur not during pacing, but during halts, when grown-ups relax their vigilance. The most common injuries which happen during these halts are burns from the fire, mugs with boiling water, etc.
Try to isolate your child from all dangerous subjects in advance. Always keep an eye on it, ask others to do the same. Precautions should be increased in case your camp is located next to bays, rocks, etc.
Think over how to amuse your child while camping on a rainy day: take a few toys or games, a notepad and a pen to draw. You may also give it a list of responsibilities: help to collect firewood or set up a tent, pack and unpack things, etc.
These simple pieces of advice will help you to get maximum enjoyment from hike.