Fun Things to do on a Walk!
- Use Binoculars, Spyglass, or a magnifying glass. Getting to see things up close adds an interesting element into the adventure. Try birdwatching with your binoculars, look for boats along the water with your spyglass, or inspect items in nature (trees, petals, bugs) with the magnifying glass. These tools need not be fancy. Even a pair of homemade binoculars made out of toilet paper rolls will help kids hone in on the nature around them.
- Look for Animal Tracks. Search the snow, sand, or mud (that’s what we are usually dealing with) for signs of life! There are nature guides and books with descriptions of common tracks for your location, or you can do your own investigating!
- Go on a Scavenger Hunt. Scavenger Hunts are a great way to get kids engaged in their surroundings, and the thrill of checking off each item will certainly move them along the path, sidewalk, or trail!
- Walkie Talkies. Kids love to bring walkie talkies along on adventures to communicate with each other. They talk, and give reports back and forth, and also play games such as “hide and seek” giving clues through the walkie talkie. Walkie Talkies are also a great way to test independence!
- Geocaching. Geocaching is like a treasure hunt through an app on your phone, and using the navigation system. You track “caches” hidden in parks and other outdoor areas, and can often trade small items (toys or trinkets) as well as sign a logbook. Geocaching is a great way to motivate kids who may be reluctant to head outside because it has the engaging technology aspect.
- Sing Songs & Recite Chants. Songs and chants just have a way of changing the mood, and making it more upbeat! We’ve made up several on our walks (letter hunt), and also go with classics such as “She’ll be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain When She Comes”, and “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”.
- Play a Game. The old standbys such as “I Spy”, “20 Questions”, and Charades work well, but one of our favorites for moving kids along the trail is one that my kids learned at forest school. “Animal Action” combines singing, and movement, and is almost always good for a laugh too! To play, first sing: “Animal action is so much fun…animal action…move like a…” Then on your turn, you move like your choice of animal, and the rest of the players try to guess!
- Get to a Special Destination! Sometimes just knowing that a special destination such as a playground, waterfall, bridge, beach, pond, or creek is all the motivation needed to get going!
Original Source: https://wildtalesof.com/how-to-make-walks-more-fun-for-kids/