Turn an Ordinary Walk Into an Adventure
The Take Time to be a Dad campaign from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse has brought back some wonderful memories of when my kids were small. The ad calls attention to the importance of family togetherness. Like most families, we took our kids to amusement parks, the zoo, museums and county fairs, but the best times seemed to be when we just took it easy and spent time together. One of our favorite activities was to take walks in our own neighborhood. If suggesting a walk to your kids makes them grimace like they just tasted sour milk, try adding a twist and turn the ordinary into an adventure.
The Flashlight Walk
The best time for flashlight walks, besides the obvious nighttime requirement, is right after dinner in the fall or winter. After restoring daylight savings to standard time it gets dark as early as 5:30 p.m., giving you plenty of time upon return for baths and a reasonable bedtime. If possible, go out on a new moon when the sky is particularly dark and venture down unlit pathways to get the greatest effect. Always keep safety in mind, but given that you are in your own neighborhood the routes should be secure and familiar. Give each person their own flashlight and set out rules in advance, such as staying with the group and not flashing people in the face.
The Photo Walk
Today’s digital cameras make it easier to allow kids to shoot away without concern over expensive development costs. Of course you may have other concerns, such as giving your small child free rein with your DSLR or even your point-and-shoot. If this is the case consider whether you have an older device the child could use, perhaps a used phone or first generation digital camera forgotten in a drawer. The camera walk is an exploration and can produce some wonderful images. One option is to allow children to share your camera, under supervision, although they are going to have more fun with one of their own. In any case, this is a slow walk with a lot of stops so if you are looking for exercise designate some no-stopping areas.
The Wagon Walk
When the kids are too tired or not excited about a walk, the wagon walk is a great alternative. Often times a little fresh air revives the reluctant participant, but if not there is no harm in putting a cozy blanket and small pillow in the wagon so the tired one can rest while the others explore. To avoid arguments over who rides and who pulls, set the expectations before leaving the house. If your plan is to have everyone stay together then refrain from allowing other wheeled items along, such as scooters or inline skates.
I Spy a Butterfly Walk
… or a red door, or a snowman, or a prickly rose… or whatever you want to “spy” depending on the season. This one can get a bit competitive so one way to defuse the rivalry is to work as a team. Keep score as a team and on each new I Spy walk attempt to break the record from the previous walk.
The Holiday Decoration Walk
This walk is a natural during the winter holidays and can be done repeatedly with surprisingly new results as households put up fresh decorations or add to the existing assortment. Try traveling in different directions each time you go out then start over to see what the neighbors have added. Of course, you can expect a good amount of decorating suggestions to come out of these excursions, so make clear in advance if you are done putting up your own decorations for the season and keep a list of requests for next year.
The Destination Walk
Park to Park, follow the bus route or go to the grocery store, the destination walk is fun and can be a great learning experience. Bring along a map and challenge the kids to find landmarks while you watch them learn their way around town. Turn the walk into a productive outing by getting an errand done or drop in at the library for story time followed by a treat at a local yogurt shop or bakery for good behavior.
Add your own twist and transform the neighborhood walk into an expedition that your kids will want to go on again and again.