Top Tips to Get Children Walking

If you make walking fun then you will find it much easier to get your kids out on a walk. Here are some tips to make walking fun:

Don’t suggest “going for a walk” – instead make it an outing or adventure to somewhere they’ll like, such as a park, a playground, woods or a pond, a friend’s house, the shops…
Make plans to go to a place they will like or on an outing. Read more about planning walks for children
Make it a treat – take things to eat and drink or even a picnic.
Be prepared to go at their pace, stopping to play and look at things on the way, and to cut the walk short if they get tired. With regular walking children will build up their fitness just as an adult does.
Make sure they have comfortable clothes and shoes, and carry extra layers for them.
Remember hats and sun cream, and take something for bites and stings.
Give them a small rucksack to pack and carry – but don’t pack too much. Remember you might end up carrying it yourself!
Take a camera or use the camera in a phone – they could put photos in a walker’s diary.
Let them bring a friend, team up with another family, or join a led walk that’s suitable for families. Read more about led walks.
Make it a treasure hunt or an I-Spy game. Look out for animals, birds, trees, people, buildings, colours, or collect tree seeds, leaves, shells, and small stones.
Walk with a dog if you have one.
Don’t force them to walk if they really don’t want to—you might put them off walking for good. And don’t be surprised if enthusiastic junior walkers lose all interest in walking as teenagers: the chances are they will take it up again in later life.