Table of Contents
I. Ready, Set and Go: Getting Ready for the Outdoors
II. Outdoor Sports for the Family
III. Outdoor Games for the Family
IV. Outdoor Activities for the Family
V. Health and Safety Considerations
I. Ready, Set and Go: Getting Ready for the Outdoors
Darrell and Mary Angela are both eight-year olds, live in the same neighborhood and go to the same school. Darrell’s’ knowledge of animals and wildlife has been mostly gathered through television, books and teachers. He knows many birds and animals by name but has very rarely seen any in a natural setting. In fact, whenever Darrell sees any animals in the wild, he is very unsure of what to do or how to react, at times becoming very fearful of even little chipmunks.
Mary Angela and her family, on the other hand, spend many weekends in the outdoors. She too has learnt a lot through her books, school and television. In addition, she has actually seen a bird’s nest, how a beaver builds its dam and seen a porcupine hunt for lunch. She is not only very confident in the outdoors but also very eager to enjoy every minute of it. Regular outdoor sports and activities has had a positive influence on Mary Angela’s personality and also helped the family bond together.
In today’s world of computers, Internet, television and video games, outdoor sports and activities are slowly getting pushed to the sidelines. However, almost all experts agree that families derive tremendous physical, emotional and psychosocial benefits from involving themselves in outdoor activities. Kids can play, explore and learn at their own pace. The elders in the family, by teaching them and by having fun with them, start to share a special bond - one that will be remembered for years to come.
We hope that this book will serve as a useful guide to those families who realize the importance of outdoor activities and would like to spend more time outdoors with their kids. We will show you how by balancing safety with fun and adventure, you can all have a great time in the outdoors.
Benefits of Outdoor Activities
Though we have mentioned above what experts have to say about the benefits of outdoor activities, there are still many parents who have doubts about whether outdoor sports and activities can be safe for their children and more importantly, who would like to be convinced that there are indeed such benefits in the outdoors. We would like to therefore start by listing the kind of benefits that outdoor activities can bring to families in general, and to children, in particular.
First of all, it is being universally recognized that in a world where education is being dominated by electronic learning tools, educational videos and computer programs, outdoor activities provide a more healthy and unique way of learning and developing. Children learn to be independent and responsible. They learn the importance of cooperation and how to be self-reliant. In fact, outdoor activities help foster many important developmental milestones like control, self-determination, resilience and quick decision-making. Families, too, can help by not being over-protective and by showing the right amount of concern about their kid’s safety. They need to show the right kind of balance, provide proper guidance and take part in the various activities as much as they can. Outdoor sports and activities have been proven to build character and develop smarter, healthier kids.
Knowledge acquired in the classroom is certainly important. However, knowledge that is acquired in the outdoors, in the company of nature, is also equally important. In contrast to the passive, controlled settings of classrooms, being outdoors allows children and families to take part in active, physical stimulation in conditions that are not controlled. This helps everyone gain a better, practical understanding of the world around them and the ability to deal with unpredictable situations. Remember, most of us spend a lot of time in indoor activities and a large portion of our childhood is spent in classrooms. Being outdoors provides our children and us, a chance to develop unique personalities and to adapt better to the outside world. When the whole family is involved in these outdoor activities, we learn to cope with challenges as a team.
Outdoor sports and activities also help us to respect and value the natural world. We learn to respect different environments, be it the mountains, the beaches or the snow. Even our local park has a lot of interesting things to teach us. Further, our children and we learn how the natural world works. It is natural for kids to be wary of bugs, bees and spiders. However, when they see them in their natural habitats and understand what an important role they play in nature, they learn to respect them and not be so scared of them.
Last but not the least, there are tremendous physical benefits to playing in the outdoors. We get in shape and improve our basic skills like running and throwing and learn new ones like swimming or hiking. Our children get away from television, video games and computers and breathe fresh air. With more physical activity, we all eat better and sleep better. By developing these habits in children when they are still young, we are ensuring that they will stay fit and lead healthy lives.
Getting Ready for the Outdoors
Every time you are stuck in traffic or are taking the long commute home from office, you promise yourself that you will take your family on a nice long vacation in the open outdoors. You start to visualize yourself and the kids on nature trails through pine trees and along mountain lakes when suddenly your reverie is interrupted and you are rudely brought down to earth. Do not worry – you are but one amongst a million other parents who want desperately to spend some more time in the outdoors doing fun stuff with their kids but do not know how to carve time out of their busy schedules. The key here is to plan carefully and well in advance. Here are a few tips that will help you and your family plan a successful escape to the outdoors.
• Buy a few guidebooks describing family outdoor activities for your immediate area. Not all the activities mentioned in the guidebook will be suitable for your family and at times, the activities that your family is keen on may not be mentioned in the books. You may need to spend some time at a local library or bookstore to be able to identify one to three guidebooks that have the right combination of activities that are doable and that your family is keen on. Try to limit yourself to those outdoor activities that can be managed within a travel radius of two to three hours from your home.
• If you and your family are just transitioning into outdoor activities or if there are young children in the family, you may want to pick just one activity that can be done easily and which you can do regularly. For example, taking nature walks or going animal watching in the local park is something little children love to do. As you get used to the demands of the outdoor environment, you can add one or more activities to your schedule.
• Learn to prioritize and learn to be flexible. Like most people, your time may also be scarce. In fact, you may even be working on most weekends. In such a situation, you may wonder if you will ever be able to spare the time to go for any outdoor activity. However, look at the benefits that you will derive from these outdoor activities – you will feel less stressed, enjoy better health and spend more time with your loved ones. All these will fill you with more energy to deal with your professional challenges. Of course, occasionally the best-laid plans go wrong. Your project, which you had hoped to complete by Monday, takes up all week so much so that you are exhausted on that Saturday morning. To make matters worse, one of the kids may not be feeling so good. Instead of giving up your entire plan of stepping outdoors and watching cable TV, go to a nearby park or playground and take up some simple activity that does not tire you or the kids out. You would have salvaged the day and managed to benefit from the time you spent outdoors.
Traveling with Children
If you plan to travel with your family for an outdoor activity that is some distance away from home, you need to pack carefully and sensibly. You never know when your oldest one is going to come down with fever or when the youngest is going to throw up in the car. If nothing else, they may just spill juice all over themselves!
Depending on the kind of outdoor activity you are heading for, start making a checklist a few days before your trip. You will certainly need some essential travel medications like pain and fever reducers, plenty of wet wipes and facial tissues, small trash bags if your child feels like throwing up, antibacterial hand gel and enough extra sets of clothes.
Carry clothes and shoes that will be comfortable to wear in the outdoors. You may need to carry good hiking shoes or boots. Always ensure that your child’s shoes fit well and are comfortable for long walks.
Also make sure that there are enough things to keep the children occupied till you reach your final destination. Stock up on enough coloring books, storybooks and toys to keep them busy. Being ready with food that they can snack on along the way is another good way to keep them from getting restless. Crackers can help a child with motion sickness.
There are a variety of activities that you and your family can enjoy in the outdoors. However, for the sake of convenience we have divided them into three categories – outdoor sports, outdoor games and outdoor activities. At the very end of this book, we will discuss some essential safety precautions that need to be taken whenever your family steps outdoors.
II. Outdoor Sports for the Family
When you try to convince your kids that they should stop their video games for sometime and go out in the fresh air for some physical exercise, it may sound too boring for them. However, challenge them to a game of soccer, baseball or basketball and see if they refuse! Here are some outdoor sports that will keep your entire family engaged for hours.
1. Soccer
Soccer is a great outdoor sport. You do not need a lot of equipment nor do you need to develop any special skills to start playing soccer. If you are concerned about starting to play with your kids now when you have never played before, there is no need to be. You can start at any level that you want to. Begin by just dribbling the ball around with your kids – if they are smaller than six, you can play games like ‘green light, red light’. In this, when you say green light, they have to start dribbling the ball. When you say red, they have to put their foot on the ball and try to stop it. As the kids get older, you can have ‘amber light’ to indicate change in direction. If you have older kids with whom you can play soccer, you may want to learn rules and strategies with them. In fact, as kids get older, you may need bigger fields, more players and more time to play the game.
You may need to buy all the soccer-playing members of your family appropriate gear like soccer shoes or cleats. These should fit well, just like running shoes. If you buy shoes that are half a size bigger for your kids, expecting them to grow into them, they may end up with blisters or toenail problems. A reasonable pair of soccer shoes may cost anywhere between $15 to $20 and are worth the money. You may also need shin guards, which are worn under knee socks. Buy ones that will fit your shins snugly and not too tightly.
Soccer is not a full-contact sport but it is a physical game nevertheless. You should therefore be prepared for some bruises, bumps and scrapes. Most common injuries are ankle and knee sprains.
Through soccer, your child will develop better hand-eye coordination, balance and weight control as well as develop muscle strength and flexibility. Though soccer is essentially a team sport, it also involves a lot of self-discipline and brings about an awareness of fair play.
2. Basketball
At times, the whole nation seems obsessed with this game with many NBA and WNBA stars seeming like superheroes to kids. However, it is also an incredibly fast-paced game and provides many hours of great fun to the entire family.
This sport, too, does not require any fancy equipment – a hoop and a ball is all that is typically required. And yet the benefits that this game provides are tremendous. For one, since it requires a lot of running and dodging, it really increases one’s physical fitness and flexibility. It can help you and your kids develop speed and improve one’s cardiovascular health. It also helps older kids and adults burn their calories.
For younger kids, dribbling and executing complex plays may not be possible but the sheer joy that they feel when they make a basket is incomparable. It can serve as a great confidence-builder and can motivate them to keep playing. As your kids get older, you can work on developing their skills and teaching them different moves and strategies.
Again, for playing basketball, a good pair of well-fitting and comfortable shoes is very important. You do not need to purchase any fancy shoes but it is best if you buy good basketball shoes. These will provide great stability and the right shock absorption.
3. Swimming
On a hot summer day, there is nothing more relaxing than swimming in the cool waters of your local swimming pool. In fact, even during winter, indoor swimming pools offer a great respite from the weather and provide you with an opportunity to stay physically active, when you cannot do so in the actual outdoors. There are many physical benefits to swimming but more importantly, unlike other sports, swimming and water safety can be considered to be essential survival skills that everyone needs to know. Swimming develops the strength of your muscles and helps you stay fit. For your kids, swimming helps with their fine motor development and helps them in their coordination. Finally, it is great fun for the entire family to splash around in the water!
You may want to choose a pool depending on well you or your child can swim. If your child is just a beginner, you may want to start at a pool where there are instructors specially trained to teach small children. Remember to carry along the necessary floats and water wings. Carry a ball or two for your child to play with.
Swimming at the beach is also a great idea to have some fun and exercise at the same time. You need to be more careful with younger children – lay down clear rules and explain what they can or cannot do and where they can or cannot go.
Irrespective of whether you are swimming in a pool or near the beach, you always need to keep an eye on children when they are in water. Accidental drowning is considered the second most common cause of all accidental deaths among children – so be safe than sorry.
4. Biking
If you ever ask an adult when he got his first taste of real independence, chances are he will say, when I got my first bike. There is something truly liberating about being able to freely ride your bike, feel the wind in your hair and go around exploring the neighborhood. Other than this sense of freedom, cycling helps improve your balance and your hand-eye coordination. Your kids learn what the rules of the road are and by cycling together, your entire family can stay fit. Also, by going on biking trips through nature parks, your family gets to spend more time with nature and with each other.
If you and your family plan to cycle regularly, invest in sturdy cycles that will go a long way rather than picking up fancier or merely expensive ones and make sure there is a helmet for everyone. While young children can ride two-wheelers without training wheels when they are as small as 5 or 6, it is important that you wait till they are about 9 or 10 before introducing them to multi-speed bikes or mountain bikes and let them ride on tougher trails.
Before you start planning various activities with your family on your bikes, you must make sure that your children are confident while riding their bikes. Ride along with them on side streets that are not too crowded or choose special paths. Take them with you when you need to run some errands to the nearby grocery shop or laundry shop. You can then slowly move to taking day trips with your kids. Carry a compass on you and teach your kids how to use it. You can cycle with your kids to school everyday – this way you will be spending more time with them and be exercising at the same time.
5. Baseball
Probably the closest competition that basketball has, this game is again a very popular one in our nation. And kids follow the fortunes of their favorite baseball players and their favorite team with great passion!
If you have young kids, you may want to get them started on T-ball from where they will soon move to softball and then actual baseball. This game will help them improve their concentration, their agility and speed. It will also teach them the importance of teamwork, discipline and develop leadership qualities.
When your children are still small, you can all enjoy a game of baseball, played just for the fun of it – watch your child rejoice when he connects with the ball and then run like mad to the first base! The first days are all about developing the love of the game in your children and spending some time together as a family. As your kids get better, you can have more serious outings with friends and other family members.
6. Ice Skating
Another experience that is as exhilarating as riding a bike is when you ice-skate on an open ice-skating rink. If you or any of your family members are just beginners, there will be many spills and many a sore bottom. However, it gives the whole family a chance to laugh together – after all, how many times can a child openly laugh at his or her parents?
However, ice-skating has many other benefits. It helps improve balance and coordination, it develops leg and muscle strength and it improves one’s posture. One usually begins by just walking or marching across the snow, slowly progressing to one-foot glides. During winter, when the weather makes it difficult to indulge in any other outdoor activity, skating is an excellent way for the whole family to get some much-needed physical exercise.
Skates are the most important piece of equipment needed and one will also need helmets, preferable one with a faceguard. Choose clothes that keep you warm but also allow you to stay mobile. While you could always teach your child how to skate, learning from a professional instructor will mean that your child has her basics right.
7. Skiing or Snowboarding
Skiing or Snowboarding is an excellent activity for families since this is something that they can do together regardless of whether they are on a long winter vacation or a short weekend getaway. And kids as young as four can start skiing. Initially they are taught to ski without poles so that they get used to the movement of skis. In a couple of year’s time, they can start using their poles to push themselves. You can ski for a while, take a break and build snowmen or munch on some warm snacks.
Skiing or snowboarding is great to develop one’s core strength and also helps in improving balance and coordination.
Of course, ski equipment does not come very cheap! If you are looking at new ski poles, goggles, boots and helmets for the whole family, you will need to spend a fortune. It is better to rent or lease out some equipment for the time that you need it – especially for your kids.
Again, you could teach your kids to ski but by letting them join skiing classes, they will get the basic skills right and also make new friends in the process.
8. Martial Arts
It is hard to find a child that has not been impressed by the moves made by martial arts experts either on TV shows or in feature films. Martial Arts are not only excellent forms of self-defense they also help a person develop excellent hand-eye as well as eye-foot coordination. They help a person improve his or her balance and flexibility. In fact, learning martial arts provides an excellent base to learn other forms of competitive sports. Further, marital arts also teaches one the art of self-discipline and of learning to respect one who has more knowledge than you.
Martial arts classes can be expensive but they will ensure that you and your family spend time regularly in practice. This will not only improve your martial arts skills but also improve your general fitness levels. Another point of concern for many parents is the belief that martial arts may teach violence to their children. On the contrary, martial arts make a person including a child more self-confident and disciplined. You and your family are learning martial arts to be able to defend yourself and not fight with someone on the playground or in the streets.
There are different kinds of martial arts – judo, karate, taekwondo – to name a few, and you may have to decide which one seems more appealing to your family as a whole.
III. Outdoor Games for the Family
Many families are not used to extended periods of physical activity and find it difficult to suddenly get involved in outdoor sports. While they understand and appreciate the benefits that outdoor activities would provide them, they are looking for outdoor activities that are not too physically demanding so that the entire family can join in from the get-go. For these families we have listed a variety of outdoor games – these games are great physical activity for younger and older kids alike, they teach kids how to work as a team and develops leadership skills in them, the entire family can take part in these games and best of all, they are great fun!
1. Treasure Hunt/ Scavenger Hunt
Popularly called scavenger hunt, kids may prefer calling this game treasure hunt! The objective is the same – you are given a list of things that you are required to hunt for and bring back to a designated spot. You can play this game indoor as well but playing it outside gives many more options for hiding the various things. If you have a small family, you can play as individuals but if you are a part of a big family or you can rope in some friends and neighbors, you can even play this as teams.
There are many interesting variations of this game and each one makes for a great time in the outdoors:
The teams may be given a list of things that are not hidden but have to be obtained by asking other people in the neighborhood.
If you decide to play the game on the spur of the moment and do not have enough time to make lists of things to be hunted, play an alphabet hunt – find one object whose name begins with each letter of the alphabet!
Give a list of objects that need not be picked up – find where they are and then just tick them off the list.
2. Kickball
Think of a game that combines two popular games, soccer and baseball and you get kickball! Kickball is a game in which one kicks a solid, big rubber ball but the rules are akin to baseball. This game does not involve any fancy pitching or hitting moves and hence even young children or adults who know neither soccer nor baseball can play it.
The rules of the game are simple enough. You set up the playing area in the same way as you do the baseball field – there is a home plate followed by the remaining bases. In the middle is what would be a pitcher’s mound in baseball but in kickball it is a flat spot from where the pitcher throws the ball. There will obviously be two teams – the kickers and the outfielders. One person from the kicker’s team will stand at the home plate and one person from the outfielders will stand at the pitching spot. The remaining outfielders will take up various spots in the field. The pitcher now rolls the ball with as much speed as possible to the kicker who tries to kick it with all his might. If the kicker misses or the ball goes past the home plate, it is a strike! Having kicked the ball, the kicker runs to first base or if the ball is some distance away, he can even try and get to second base. On the other hand, the outfielders will try to tag the kicker before he or she runs all the way to home plate. And just like in baseball, if any of the outfielders manage to hold on to the ball before it hits the ground, the kicker is out!
3. Dodge ball
The name says it all – this is a simple enough game and merely involves dodging the ball thrown at you. There are many variations of this game as well and you can make your own rules as you go along! The best part is anyone can take part in this game – be it really small kids or senior members of your family.
One version of the game is played as follows. Divide all players into two teams. All the members of one team have balls in their hand while the other team members stand in a line opposite them. The team with the ball throws it at the opposite team member – if it hits him or her below the head, that person is out; on the other hand, if the person manages to catch the ball, the thrower is out. This is a great activity that does not require any fancy equipment or any amount of planning – just gather as many balls and people as you can and get going.
4. Capture the Flag
The aim of this game is just that – to capture the flag! The players are divided into two teams – the playing area is also divided into two parts, one for each team. Both teams are given flags that they try to hide in their respective areas. As they are hiding it, spies are sent from the other team to see if they can figure out where the flag is being hidden. Of course, the opposite team will send lookouts to make sure that the spies do not get to see enough to tell where the flag is being hidden. If a spy is caught in the other team’s territory, he is sent to – yes – jail and can be freed only by a teammate when the other team members are not looking.
Once the teams finish hiding the flag within the given time, they now have to hunt for the flag of the opposite team. Whichever team finds the flag first is the winner.
5. Monkey in the Middle
Just like the previous games, all that this game requires is an ordinary ball and plenty of enthusiasm. All members of your family can easily take part and enjoy this outdoor game.
The game is played as follows. One person is made to stand in the center and will be the monkey. The remaining players form a big circle around the monkey and hold a ball in hand. The player with the ball tries to throw it to another player in the ring while the monkey tries to seize the ball. When the monkey catches the ball, he or she joins the outer ring while the thrower becomes the monkey. The more players in this game, the bigger the circle and the more attractive the game becomes.
6. Blind Snakes
What can be more for fun for kids than playing with sprinklers, especially on hot summer days? This game will allow kids and parents alike to have lots of fun in the sunny outdoors without feeling the heat.
Line up sprinklers at some distance apart, between a starting line and a finishing line. The players then have to run from the starting line to the finishing line without getting wet. Adults can join in with the kids to see who is more agile and quick – the kids or the adults. You can even have one of the kids turning the sprinklers off and on at random to make the game more exciting.
7. Tag
All this game needs is open space in which your kids can run with wild abandon and high levels of energy. One person becomes it and runs behind everyone, trying to catch them. If he or she does manage to catch someone, that person then becomes it and the game goes on till you run out of energy!
IV. Outdoor Activities for the Family
While some families like the stimulation of outdoor games, some like the more rigorous exercise provided by outdoor sports. However, there are an increasing number of families who love to take part in even more physically challenging outdoor activities like rock climbing or hiking. At the other end of the spectrum are families who prefer to spend their time outdoors in the pleasant company of nature and as such take up nature-oriented outdoor activities. Here is a collection of such outdoor activities ranging from gardening to bird watching and simple hiking to camping.
1. Bird Watching
It is never too early to start kids on bird watching. If you are lucky enough to be near a wooded area you can get a glimpse of a variety of birds. If not, you may want to take trips to close by places that are known to be popular with birds. While you do not need anything more than keen eyesight to go bird watching, you may want to invest in a pair of good binoculars and a good bird guidebook for your area. You may want to buy your children some drawing notebooks in which they can note down the different birds that they saw – the different characteristics like their beaks, feet or color.
Bird Watching is a very relaxing outdoor activity and will allow your family to see how nature works from close quarters.
2. Gardening
Having a small garden in the backyard is an excellent way for your kids to learn how plants grow and how we get the food that we eat. Everyone in the family can get involved in this activity and each one can be assigned a special task. At the end, the harvest is there for everyone to share!
Young kids love to dig in the mud and fill it with water – give them the job of digging holes to plant your seeds or saplings. Slightly older kids may want to help you with the planting and watering. If you think they are old enough, you may want to give them a small area in the garden for themselves where they can work with their own tools and choose their own plants. Praise their work even if the rows are a little crooked and the first plants are eaten up by pests!
Once they reach the age of around 8, your kids can start helping you pick out plants from the catalogue and make the trips to the nursery with you. As they grow older and more independent, they may have their own ideas about the kind of vegetables and decorative plants that they want grown. Give them enough freedom to try out their ideas so long as the other plants are being taken care of.
This activity can turn out to be a life-long hobby and eventually even a business venture. Your children get to learn a lot from nature and at the same time, grow up to be independent thinkers.
3. Nature Walks
Just like bird watching, nature walks are a great way of spending a relaxing day in the outdoors. Before you start looking at other places where you can go for nature walks, go with your family to the nearest park and point out various birds, animals and insects to the kids. In fact, for very small children, a small trip in the garden and an encounter with a butterfly is an adventure in itself! Be ready to face a barrage of questions – answer them to the best of your ability and make a note of those that you could not. Look up the answer the next time you are in the library.
If your children are a little older, you may want to explore areas that are further away. National parks, forests, zoos and nature preserves are all excellent places to expose your child to the sight, sound and smell of nature. Not only will your child learn to understand and respect nature but your entire family will have some wonderful memories that will be long remembered.
4. Hiking
If your family is truly the outdoors type and your kids also love walking and playing in the outdoors, then hiking is possibly one of the best outdoor activity for you. The best part about hiking is that you can start with small hikes for the benefit of smaller children and those family members who are not used to hiking for long. As your kids grow older and more accustomed to hiking, you can think of going for longer hikes and even consider an overnight camping trip. However that is a topic that will be covered in the next section. Let us see how we can benefit from hiking as a family and what we need to do to get the best out of our hiking experience.
There are many parents who give up hiking and backpacking when they have kids. However, contrary to what many believe, it is not only fairly manageable to hike with kids, you will also find it a wonderful experience and will be glad that you brought your children along to be a part of it. Of course, you do need to put in more time planning and you need to have tons of patience along with being extremely flexible but the joy on your kid’s faces will be reward enough. Here are a few tips that will help you and your family plan a successful hiking trip.
Before you take your entire family on a long hiking trip, take your kids out for small hikes along nearby nature trails or parks. Once you sense they are ready for longer hikes, you can plan one accordingly.
Let your kids get involved in the decision making process. This way they will be more excited about the trip.
If you are hiking with young kids you need to plan your food, water, clothes, medication and other items more carefully.
Decide how far and how much the youngest member of your family is capable of walking and set your hiking goals based on this.
Take plenty of breaks and fill up your children with energy drinks, juices or just plain water.
If you sense that the hike is going well and everyone has a sense of satisfaction, you may want to start heading back home. It is better that you end trips on a high note than when kids get tired and testy and tempers get frayed.
Always remember that the purpose of the hike is for your family to share in the experience and to have fun. You will not be able to set the same goals, as you would have done had you been hiking alone. You may not be able to go that fast or that far and you may even have to cut your trip short. Regardless, every moment that you and your kids spend in the outdoors will serve to strengthen the bond between you all and will help in the positive development of your child.
5. Camping
Camping in the outdoors with your family is a great way of getting in touch with nature. By taking your kids with you on camping trips, you are opening up a wide new world for them. Your children will gather experience that will forever stand them in good stead and you will share some precious moments with your family in the tranquility of nature. And while camping with children is not difficult, you do need to take special care and precaution to ensure that the trip is a success.
Similar to our advice about hiking, before you take your kids out on a long camping trip, you may want to see how they do in shorter camping trips closer to home. You may want to set up a tent in your backyard and spend a night or two there with your children. Teach them how to set up a tent, how to cook on campfire and how to sleep in sleeping bags. You can even plan a few activities with them like trying to identify different stars and constellations in the night sky and listening to various night sounds. When you feel that they have sufficient experience of camping out, you may want to plan for a slightly longer camping trip away from home.
The same guidelines as that of hiking apply to camping with your family. Be flexible and be patient. Some children love the experience of walking in the outdoors and can even keep pace with you. Others may hate it the first few times and will prove difficult to handle. Keep them occupied with enough activities – point out various flowers, birds and even bugs to them; if you have a compass and a map, show them how one uses it to stay on course. While at camp, let them help you with camp chores like collecting firewood or water. You should also teach your kids the right way of disposing trash so that there is minimal damage to the surroundings.
As your kids grow older, you can plan for camping trips in different ways. You could get some friends of your kids to accompany you on your trip. Else you could hook up with other families that have kids as well and that are as keen on camping as you are. You could also let your children help in the planning of the trip and in the packing.
A few days spent regularly in the outdoors like this will inculcate in your children a respect for nature and eliminate all their fears about the wilderness; it will also teach them many outdoor skills and ethics that will prove invaluable to them as adults.
6. Rock Climbing
The thought of climbing rocks or allowing their children to climb rocks leaves some parents very excited while it may leave some cold. However, there are now many gyms and sports complexes that offer excellent indoors rock climbing facilities. With professional instructors to guide you and your kids, you will learn all about harnesses and safety knots as well as techniques such as rappelling. Even if you feel that rock climbing is a challenge that you and your family enjoy and would like to take it outdoors, you may still want to do it under the supervision of a professional guide.
However, rock climbing does involve expensive equipment and the special training that is needed also does not come cheap. Nevertheless the excitement that rock climbing generates is seldom matched by any other outdoor activity and kids learn a lot about focus, determination and developing a never-say-die attitude.
V. Health and Safety Considerations
In the above sections we have covered many outdoor sports, activities and games and hopefully each family will be able to select one or more activities to spend time outdoors. Along with the activity we have tried to mention the particular benefits that the activity may provide to the family as a whole. Having said that, there are other issues to consider as well. The most important issue among them is health and safety considerations when your family is spending more and more time in the outdoors. You need to be aware of the kind of injuries that may arise as a result of an increase in physical activity and how to avoid them in the first place and treat them if they do arise. Other outdoor activities like camping and hiking lead to health concerns such as being affected by sunburns or insect bites. We will take a quick look at the major safety and health considerations for families while they are outdoors.
Injuries due to Sports
Participating in any physical activity for an extended period of time like taking part in sports or games has the potential to lead to injuries. Children in particular are more susceptible since they are still growing and are less coordinated than adults. As such their response time to any situation is much more than adults. As kids grow older, they grow taller and stronger and any injury caused due to a collision with another player may be serious. Finally, kids do not always realize the risks of certain activities they indulge in. As a result, they do end up taking more risks and suffering injuries in the process.
Of course, the next question would be – how do I prevent my child from suffering these kinds of injuries without curtailing the time he or she spends outdoors. Begin by selecting the right kind of equipment. We have already mentioned this in the previous sections of the book but we would like to reiterate the point here. Many families do not spend money on buying good sports equipment and safety gear for their children but instead want to wait and see if the interest continues. This increases the risk that a family member will suffer from a serious injury while taking part in outdoor activities.
Helmets are a must for sports such as cycling, baseball and hockey. For hockey and basketball players, latest equipment like shatterproof eye wear can be very helpful. The surfaces on which your family will be playing must be free of holes and gaps that may cause someone to trip and fall over. Also, playing high-impact sports like basketball or running, on a concrete surface, will tend to jar the knee every time someone jumps on it. Choose tracks or wooden courts to play these games.
Another important aspect of avoiding sports injuries is to have healthy warm-up sessions before stepping out to play. If you or your child does not warm up adequately or else does not have enough training to play a tough game like basketball or soccer, you are increasing your risk of sustaining an injury. Learn to warm up properly and teach your child the importance of healthy warm ups. Also, make sure that all your family members have had enough training sessions for whatever sport you are planning to take up.
Sports tend to cause two types of injuries – the first kind of injury is called acute injury. This arises when the player is actually playing and as a result of sudden trauma. For example, a player may twist his or her ankle while playing soccer or a sudden fall may result in an injury. While younger children do not normally suffer major acute injuries, as they grow older they become more susceptible to injuries like fractures and torn ligaments. Having the right kind of equipment will help reduce the number of acute injuries. The second kind of injury is called overuse injury. When a player places more stress on certain parts of the body like bones or muscles, gradually there is increased discomfort and pain in those areas. Overuse injuries can be avoided by using right equipment and playing on suitable surfaces. Excessive activity must be avoided, especially for children.
If any of your family members suffer from any acute injuries – like a fracture or a sprain – you must be provided with some immediate first aid. Take the person to meet a doctor immediately so that the real extent of the damage might be diagnosed and treatment started. On the other hand, in the case of overuse injuries, when someone starts complaining of any discomfort or pain, the doctor takes it as a sign from the body that it is being overused. Early diagnosis and treatment of overuse injuries will prevent them from developing into chronic ones. The doctor may suggest that you curtail your physical activities a little so as to reduce the stress on your body.
Safety Precautions for the Outdoors
When you and your family plan to take part in an outdoor activity like hiking and camping, you need to be aware of the kind of dangers and risks you could be faced with so that you can take all the necessary safety precautions.
To start with you have to be prepared for the weather. If you or your kids are going to be exposed to the sun for a long time, sunburn is a real possibility. However, it is also easy to protect yourselves against sunburn. Make sure you carry enough sunscreen – one that is SF30 or more – and keep lathering yourself with it. Sure, you will still acquire a nice brown tan but your skin will stay protected against any harsh sunburn.
Also, the weather in some parts of the country can change really quickly. You should be aware of what the weather can be like in the areas you are visiting. You need to know if there are any serious concerns of tornadoes, lightning or flash floods. Since you could be traveling with children, you have to not only have this information but also know what to do as and when the weather turns inclement. Understand what the warning signs are and take note of what are the best procedures to follow if the weather does go from bad to worse.
If there is one thing you can be sure of in the outdoors, it is that you will certainly come across all kinds of animals. Unfortunately, at times, these animals can end up ruining your outing. And they do not have to be large animals to cause problems – even small animals can be quite pesky at times. Very small animals are repelled by ‘Deet’. However, what do you do with snakes or raccoons or bears? You can only be prepared for any eventuality and always keep your eyes and ears open. Squirrels and raccoons can cause rabies while skunks can really spoil the air around your camp for hours together. Seek out some local knowledge about what kind of animals you need to be prepared for and the best ways of handling them.
Never go into strange territory especially when you have children with you. Most of the time, hiking and camping areas are clearly marked and so long as you stick to these areas, you should be safe. Nevertheless, be very aware of your surroundings. There may always be loose rocks around that could suddenly slip and fall. Rotten wood may give way suddenly while there will be bogs at least expected places.
By being aware of the kind of dangers that face you in the outdoors, you can be prepared for any eventuality and do not have to end up canceling your outing just because you were faced with bad weather.
Let us now look at some specific hiking and camping tips.
A. Tips About Hiking Safety and Ethics
o When you are in the outdoors, you have to be aware of what the outdoor ethics are – you should minimize the damage you might be causing to the natural environment.
o Always plan well in advance so that you can foresee the kind of problems you may face during your trip and be prepared for any eventuality.
o When you are traveling, use durable surfaces to camp on.
o Always know the correct way of disposing of different kinds of trash including diapers!
o Do not carry anything with you – not a rock, a leaf or feather. Leave everything as you find it.
o You may be using campfires – try to minimize their impact.
o Do not scare or tease wildlife. Learn to respect them.
o Study the hiking trail carefully and stick to it. Never try to shortcut switchbacks since this will most certainly cause erosion and will end up damaging the trail and the environment around the trail.
o Always carry out all the trash that you are not able to dispose off cleanly. You have to learn to leave your campsite as clean as you had found it.
o Though you may have sources of natural water nearby – do not end up polluting it. Never use soap in streams. If you do need to wash yourself or your kids, do so away from the water sources.
o Always bury all human waste – if you are not able to find any toilets around, just dig a hole, which is at least 6” deep, and cover it up after use. Make sure this is at least 100 yards away from your hiking trail and any water source. Never ever leave used toilet paper on the ground.
o If you find a source of drinking water, sterilize the water before giving it to your children and before drinking it yourself. You can just boil and filter the water or add iodine tablets to treat it.
o Even though you would be told that there are sources of water along your hiking trail, make sure you carry enough drinking water on you. Natural water sources have an uncanny habit of suddenly drying up in the dry seasons. Plan your hike carefully and stock up on water as and when you can.
o Taking care of foodstuff can be another major concern in the outdoors. Always use camp stoves for cooking and use small firewood for campfires.
o Never ever leave fires unattended since all that is needed is a small spark to set fire to dry wood. Most trails will clearly mention where you can and cannot light a campfire.
o When you are hiking with your family, you need to plan your hike a little more carefully. Get to know your route really well and give yourselves enough time. If you are traveling with small children, you should be aware that they will not be able to keep pace with you, that they will stop by to look at and admire every small thing and finally, when they get tired, you may end up carrying them. Be realistic about how far you can go with children on hikes.
o Wear comfortable clothes for the outdoors and be prepared for sudden weather changes by carrying some extra sets.
o Always carry enough food and water with you and make sure you have a first aid kit on hand.
B. Tips about Camping Safety and Ethics
o When you are going on a camping trip with your family, you need to prepare adequately for the trip. This would mean gathering enough information about the area you will be visiting, the weather there and being aware of limitations of your own self as well as that imposed by other members of your family such as small children.
o When you are setting out for your trip, make sure you inform some friends and neighbors where you are headed to and leave some numbers with them. Tell them when you expect to return and how many members are in your hiking or camping party. This way in case they come to know of any worsening weather conditions and do not hear from you, they can contact the authorities to help you.
o Try to avoid isolated trails when you are alone or with children. You may not be able to get help easily and you may encounter more wildlife. Always pay careful attention to your surroundings and notice the people whom you meet on the trail. Be alert and ready – project a sense of confidence.
o While you could be in good physical condition, many other members of your family may not. Children are going to walk at a much slower pace than you – set a pace that even the smallest or weakest member of your party can stick to.
o Do not get too adventurous when you are camping with family. Stay on well-developed and well-marked trails and campsites.
o Make sure all members of your family wear appropriate and comfortable clothing for the trip based on the season you are going in.
o Before you set out for your trip, go over your equipment twice or more. If you intent to go rock climbing, it is always best that you do so with a professional guide. Also make sure everyone has a helmet and all safety equipment is checked and rechecked.
o As while hiking, even while camping out you may find that weather conditions can change quite abruptly. Before you leave for your trip, read up on what the weather can be like in the area you plan to camp in. Make sure you know the signs to look out for so that you can take immediate action. If the weather does get bad, avoid taking shelter in exposed places, under single trees, by streams or near rocks, especially during lightning storms. The best place to find shelter in is a thickly populated forest at a lower elevation.
o Most of us are aware of the dangers of getting sun burnt and take precautions by using sunscreen. However, even in the summer, if your camping trip is going to expose you to the wind and rain for a long time, you can end up with hypothermia. Be aware of the warning signs of hypothermia especially in small children and know what to do under those conditions.
o While on a camping trip, make sure you reach your campsite well before it gets dark. This will not only ensure that you have enough daylight to set up your tents and make some basic arrangements but also that you do not have any unfortunate accidents from falls during the dark. Take a good look at the terrain around you when there is daylight and set up your camp sufficiently away from the edge of cliffs. And make sure you have one or more powerful flashlights to carry with you during dark.
o If you need to move around your campsite in the dark, look out for slippery areas and make sure you do not trip over the roots of trees. At times uneven terrains and low-hanging branches can lead to injuries – always walk slowly and carefully in unknown terrains.
o When you look at sparkling clean stream water, you might be tempted to drink it. However, the water is more than likely to contain microorganisms that can cause serious discomfort, especially for children. Either carry sufficient amounts of water or boil the water before using it.
o Almost all well-developed trails and campsites are well marked. However, it does happen at times that these signs are stolen or vandalized leaving them utterly useless. Therefore it is best if you know your campsite location well to avoid getting lost. Pay close attention to various landmarks and your surroundings so that you can find your way back to the campsite.
o Knowing basic first aid comes in handy for all outdoor activities. You will not only know how to identify various injuries and illnesses but be able to provide some basic form of treatment that should give much needed relief before a doctor can be contacted. Some of the more common illnesses that can occur while on a hiking or camping trip are heat stroke, dehydration and hypothermia. Always carry a first aid kit - know how to identify symptoms of these common illnesses and their treatment methods.
What Should Go into a First Aid Kit?
For any family that enjoys doing things in the outdoors, an outdoor first aid kit is a must! Whether you are just going bird watching, rock climbing or taking part in a game of soccer, injuries and illnesses can happen without warning. A basic first aid kit will ensure that you are able to attend to these injuries and illnesses right away and provide immediate relief. However, if you are still a beginner at these outdoor activities, you may wonder what an outdoor first aid kit should consist of to suit your family. We will try to provide you with a list of some of the most essential items that should go in your kit.
o The most basic items that you will find even in a home first aid kit and that should go into any outdoor first aid kit as well will be an antibiotic ointment, assorted bandages and gauze, adhesive tape and a pair of sharp scissors. Keep some over-the-counter pain relievers for your children – you may need a few depending on how old they are.
o Next, we look at items that need to be included because you will be stepping into the outdoors and probably staying there for a day or two. Your outdoor kit should include an instant cold pack as well as a heat compress, insect sting pads, calamine lotion for stings and pricks and hydrocortisone cream for any sudden burst of allergies. You may also want to include an emergency thermal blanket, athletic tape in case of sprains or twists and ace bandages.
o Before you leave for your trip, show the contents of your kit to all members of the family and ensure that they know how to use them as and when the situation arises.
Most common accidents that can happen in the outdoors are falls, cuts, bruises and sprains, insect bites and getting lost. By keeping a good first aid kit at hand and some emergency supplies, you can ensure that you are prepared for any eventuality and can save your trip from turning into a disaster.
Some of the items mentioned below may not necessarily form part of your first aid kit but are essential emergency items that you should carry with you if you plan on hiking or camping for a few days.
o Make sure you have enough water and food to last you for at least three days. If you have children with you, carry foods that are easy to prepare and fun to snack like crackers, peanut butter, granola bars and energy bars and of course, trail mix. Hard candies are great to quench thirst and kids love to suck on them.
If your outdoor activities are limited to games or walks in the park, you may be under the impression that you do not need a first aid kit but you should be warned that accidents can happen when you least expect them and not necessarily only when you are hiking through mountain trails or rock climbing. You could be playing a simple game of basketball in your backyard when you may fall and twist your ankle. It is therefore your responsibility to make sure that there is a basic first aid kit in the house at all times.
Of course, when you are stepping out for outdoor activities you may require some special emergency and medical items that are not generally required in the house. It is therefore advisable that you have one general-purpose first aid kit at home and another well-equipped outdoor first aid kit in your car.
We hope that our book has provided you and your family with enough motivation, guidance and assurance to start you off on your outdoor adventures. Have fun!