Getting Outside with Children.. What you must know!

A list of things to help families get outside and be active with young children including how to save on equipment, how to make it fun for all ages, and how to plan ahead.

As a Mom with three young boys, 2,4, and 6, one of the things I remember most from being pregnant with my first was just how many times people told me that the active and adventurous life I was living was about to come to an abrupt end. I never believed them for an instant, while I was pregnant I continued rock climbing, hiking, and running. I saw multiple examples of families that continued living an active, adventurous life after having children, I was sure that would be my family as well.

The fact of the matter, and the truth, is that most of us fall somewhere in the in-between. I had 3 beautiful boys in 5 years, with one high-risk pregnancy ending in the birth of my son with a rare genetic condition. The life that we had led before kids, with ice climbing, mountaineering and rock climbing, was a distant memory for many years. The people who tried so hard to dash my hopes when I was first pregnant seemed to be proven correct. We had some hard years that saw us a far way away from the life we always thought we would live with our children.

Now, as my kids are getting older, I am happy to say we are seeing a resurgence of that life. We cross country ski with our boys, go camping, regular hikes and runs are totally possible. Our sports have changed slightly, ice climbing is one of the most ridiculously dangerous things we did, and definitely not appropriate for children, but the most important part for us was always to get outside and get active.

So here’s the deal. It is more challenging getting outside and being active when you have young children. There is more equipment, some of which is quite expensive, there is more whining, more work and a lot of hard times. But one thing all of those people trying to dissuade me from even trying to be active and adventurous after kids never told me, it is also more rewarding. To see your children with red cheeks and happy smiles on a brisk fall day, building a fort in the forest or racing with their siblings, is such a beautiful thing. To instill a love of the outdoors in our children when screens are becoming a part of their lives more and more, is one of the best gifts you can give your children. Having said that, I understand just how hard it is some days to dress your children in 4 layers of clothing, fight about them needing gloves with minus weather, finally getting outside, just to have them need to go pee five minutes later or falling in the snow and having a meltdown.

So I’ve compiled a list of things that help us to get outside and be active with three young children. This list is by no means exhaustive, nor will it all work for you. Take what you need/want and leave the rest.

– Good outdoor equipment and clothing is expensive! The stroller we found second hand for a few hundred dollars is typically more than a thousand dollars brand new. Shop second-hand whenever possible. You can try facebook marketplace, the Lumby Thrift store, Little Plum in downtown Vernon, Play it Again Sports in Kelowna and Once Upon a Child, also in Kelowna. As kids get older I find it harder to get good stuff used. We buy one nice set of winter clothes, one size too big, for my oldest. He will wear it two seasons and then his brothers will wear it after

-Ask for experiences or clothing as gifts. This one is a little tricky. There may be some people you feel comfortable asking for certain things as gifts, and others you don’t. We often ask grandparents for some help paying for an experience or new ski equipment for Birthdays or Christmases as we find most toys end up unused and to a thrift store within months, or more likely, weeks.

-Start slow! If you are new parents, or new to getting out with your young children, start slow and close to home. Maybe start with a short jaunt on the Salmon Trail. Try to pick a day with decent weather, if you can. Have very low expectations and an easy escape plan if things start to go sideways. If you want to start cross country skiing with your kids, choose a warm-ish day ( I’m talking -5 or warmer) and stay close to your vehicle. We have a general -10 or warmer winter policy as it is really difficult for children to stay warm in anything colder than that. Luckily, we live in a fairly warm climate (at least for Canada) and avoiding -10 weather here is relatively easy.

-Keep it fun! Type 2 fun is a very real part of being outside and adventurous, however, when your kids are young or just starting out on their adventures, you’ll want to keep it fun. Make up a game as you go, bring yummy delicious snacks, point out the beautiful things you see and create a sense of wonder for your children.

-Keep Inspired! Taking young children out and on adventures is a challenge, sometimes even a sacrifice. Keep yourself inspired by watching youtube videos of adventurous families, or follow someone on social media who inspires you. Take some alone days, if possible, out in the mountains or doing what you love to keep your own self inspired. For your young kids, buy them books with wild adventure at the forefront. Talk about what an outdoor adventure might look like to them at dinner.

-Keep it personal! What works for my family, or another family you know or see represented on social media, may not work for you. Rather than thinking, “well that definitely wouldn’t work for us”, find your own thing, take what works for you, and leave everything else.

However you get outside, however you choose to adventure with your family, enjoy it.

~ Lindsay Cochrane