INFORMATION

  • FALL, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Fall Scavenger Hunt

    Fall is the perfect time to get outside and explore with kids. Between the crisp cool air, the colorful leaves, and the abundance of nature treasures to be found, it’s peak season for a scavenger hunt! Today, Pennsylvania dad Matthew Marvich is here sharing how you can create your own DIY fall scavenger hunt for kids. Get them involved with the planning, let them help you brainstorm items to find and challenge them with a creative spin. Don’t want to make your own? We’ve even included a free simple printable fall scavenger hunt for your little ones.

    The thrill of fall weather

    Brisk mornings, warm sunlit afternoons, colorful landscapes, and shorter days; fall has officially arrived. All four seasons are adored for their unique qualities, but Fall may be top choice for some. There is something really special about time when you can feel the crispness of the air and those few weeks where the fall foliage is at its peak.

    Whether you’re driving on your normal commute or hiking through the woods those beautiful colors catch your eyes and warm up your soul. Those images stay in your memory and bring you joy to recall them. What if there was a way to capture those images and bring the season of Fall to life? What if you could tap into all your senses and experience Fall in a way you never have before? Have you ever wondered what types of outdoor activities you will do with your family during Fall? 

    Fall scavenger hunt for kids

    When the seasons change, so do our outdoor activities. One of our family’s favorite activities is a fall scavenger hunt. We love scavenger hunts anytime of year, but they’re particularly fun in the fall, as it’s just a wonderful time to be outside and observing nature. A scavenger hunt is a great way to make fall memories and identify the unique changes of the season with your family. Plus, scavenger hunts are easy enough for kids of all ages to do and adaptable so that you can do them anywhere!

    You even get to bring some of it home with you! My son loves to bring all kinds of things home with him from our outdoor adventures. We have quite a collection of rocks, sticks, and acorns so this is a perfect outdoor activity for us. This activity is flexible enough that you can tailor it towards your location and things your children love to search for.

    Fall Trees

    Getting your children involved in planning

    You might be asking, how do I even get started making my own fall scavenger hunt? Well, let’s begin with the basics!

    Once you have decided a fall scavenger hunt is your next fall activity, it is time to get your children involved. Ask them to help you brainstorm the items you will hunt for. This is a creative way to get your children excited about the scavenger hunt and thinking about the world around them. Trust me, they’ll come up with ideas you never thought to include that showcase what types of items are important to them.

    Depending on their age, you can either ask them to blurt out things that come to mind while you write them down, or let them create their own list of nature items to look for. When kids are involved in the planning of outdoor activities, they’re more likely to be interested and invested in them.

    Brainstorming the list of scavenger hunt finds

    The list of items to be hunted for can be as vast or simple as you want it to be. If your kids are older and want a challenge (or you’ll be outside for a substantial amount of time), make your list extensive. If your kids are little and have short attention spans, keep your list simple and short. Own your scavenger hunt and just have fun out there.

    Fall scavenger hunt items

    Our fall scavenger hunt list of items includes, but is not limited to:

    • leaves (red, yellow, orange, brown)
    • rocks
    • seeds (and seed pods, like milkweed)
    • trees
    • sticks
    • acorns
    • pinecones
    • pine needles
    • squirrels
    • apples
    • persimmon
    • birds
    • bird nests
    • birdhouses
    • cats
    • dogs
    • worms
    • beetles
    • pumpkins
    • mushrooms
    • lichen
    • butterflies
    • grasshoppers
    • feathers
    • spiders
    • bugs
    • slugs
    • snails
    • salamanders
    • animal tracks
    • fossils
    • buckeyes

    These are typical for us to see in Pennsylvania on a nature walk. Your fall scavenger hunt can include any/all of these, plus more items from your specific location. You can add variations to the list such as colors, shapes, sizes, etc. for each item as well. If your child is learning a certain color in school for that week, try to incorporate it as much as possible. If you want to work on your child’s ABC’s, have them find one item for each letter of the alphabet.

    Pinecones

    Get creative with how you implement your scavenger hunt

    Creativity is what will bring this activity to life! Your fall scavenger hunt list can be written out in list form or typed and printed out. If you child can’t read yet, you could use photos of clipart images. Give a copy of the scavenger hunt to your kids on a clipboard, so they can check items off as they hunt the items down. Or just store a list of items in your phone and find one item at a time. If you have older kids, give responsibility for their hunt to them with their own printed sheet, which helps establish independence.

    Collect (some of) your findings

    On our scavenger hunts, we also bring a bucket. This is great for collecting many of the items on your list. Not all the items on the list will fit or go in here (or should be touched or collected), but that’s okay. Items such as rocks, acorns, pinecones, etc. are fine to collect and take home and examine more closely. Items like mushrooms, bugs, slugs, animals, etc. should be left where they are and only observed.

    The bucket is a great idea if your scavenger hunt has them finding multiple variations of the same item (five acorns, three pinecones, 4 different color leaves) or if you’ll be collecting the items to use in nature crafts. For example, buckeyes (conkers) are great for making fun little animals and other art projects.

    Scavenger Hunt Bucket

    How to make your scavenger hunt more challenging

    Perhaps your children are older in age and competitive. The scavenger hunt could get very specific, even more detailed, or even timed. Instead of finding any rock, maybe the rock must be a certain color, texture, or shape. Leaves are abundant, but it may be difficult to find a red leaf with yellow circles on it. Get creative with your children and make it fun and challenging for them.

    My son is very keen to find things on the list so I have to make it a little more challenging for him. I try to use shapes and colors as the easiest way to add a little more spice to the hunt. If your children know specific leaves such as a maple leaf, then have them find a specific color maple leaf. He is only four years old but because we spend so much time in the woods, he knows where certain items would be easily found. Simple variations to the activity can go a long way in making it last long enough for everyone to enjoy it. 

    Challenge yourself to make the scavenger hunt more and more difficult as they become pros at it. There are so many possibilities to making this fun activity as engaging and challenging as you want. It could be as extreme as breaking up your nature area into quadrants where you have to find each item. Or, instead of specific items, you could choose more abstract concepts that require them to think more about what they’re looking for and get creative (something smooth, smelly, spiky, soft, wet, flat, old, crunchy). I truly believe this activity can be fun for everyone regardless of age and skill level. 

    Rocks

    What you need to go on a scavenger hunt

    Checklist time. Do you have your list(s)? Your bucket? Your nature location? What about your children? (Don’t forget them.) Then you are ready to get started!

    If your children are anything like mine, they will burst onto the scene with excitement and enthusiasm. That being said, let your children lead the way. You can follow along and help guide or nudge them towards certain directions. If you are in a familiar place then may know exactly where to go to find some of the items on the list. If you are in a new location then it may take a little longer to find everything. 

    Pineneedles

    What did you find?

    Once you’ve officially completed your scavenge hunt, it is time to review your findings. Find a good gathering spot for your family to see what everyone found. How did each kid do? Did everyone compete the list? Were some of the items not in your location? What challenges did you face along the way? Make a mental note of what was hard/easy for your kids so you know how to adjust next time.

    Fall Colors

    Learn to love nature through a scavenger hunt

    Doing a fall scavenger hunt with your children is a chance to let them embrace discovery. If you are new to outdoor activities then your children are really going to love this activity. And if you’re avid nature lovers like we are, you will enjoy seeing the changes that take place during the fall and appreciate nature even more through this fun activity. This scavenger hunt is designed to inspire observation, creativity, and embrace the outdoors. My hope is that you won’t just walk through nature, but learn from it, and learn to love it.

    Outdoor activities are meant to have you engage with nature. Nature’s playground offers us many opportunities to connect on a deeper level. We visit many different outdoor locations where we live and every time we go back, something is different. We notice. When fall is in full swing, that place you visited in summer will look completely different. Sometimes it is eye opening how vastly different one location can change in just three to four months. Kids notice, too. And by letting them observe and explore nature up close, it strengthens their bond with our planet and all it has to offer.

    Fall Leaves

    Free printable fall scavenger hunt for kids

    We’ve shown you how to create you own fall scavenger hunt with kids. And hopefully you realize just how fun and easy it can be! However, if you don’t have the time to create your own or if want a good place to start with little kids, we’ve got you covered. Click here to get out free printable fall scavenger hunt for kids.

    Are you a fan of scavenger hunts?

    About the author

    Matthew is a loving father to one nature-seeking son. They live in western Pennsylvania and focus on visiting every trail, waterfall, and scenic view they can find. He works full-time and his son is in preschool. They are adventure enthusiasts who love to hike, travel and learn everything they can about nature. Matthew grew up loving outdoor play and adventures so he has become intentional about displaying that love for his son to emulate. He focuses on creating and capturing moments that they experience together through photos and writing in a journal to one day give to his son about their journeys together.

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @matthew_marvich
    RWMC posts: Matthew Marvich

  • FALL, GARDENING, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Tips for Fall Gardening with Kids

    Have you ever been the recipient of a giant zucchini or bowl of tomatoes from a friend’s garden? Have you received those tasty veggies and thought, “I wish I would have planted a garden.” I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late to start! Fall is typically thought of as the harvest season, but it’s also a good time to get some seeds planted that you can harvest before winter. Wendy Cox, California mom and gardening teacher is here to help us get started with gardening this fall. These tips will break it down for you in easy-to-implement action items that you can do with your kids. So, grab your gardening gloves, your kids, and let’s get to planting that fall garden!

    Gardening in all shapes and sizes

    One of my favorite things about gardening is that it can usually be done anywhere, with whatever you have available. There are so many different ways to have a garden! You might have an in-ground garden in the backyard, raised beds in a community garden, pots/containers sitting on a windowsill, or maybe you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse. All of these are great choices and there’s no one right way to garden. Don’t feel that you need to have acres and acres of land to be a gardener. Even containers on your patio can produce more than you might think during the fall season. 

    How to prep your soil for a fall garden

    The first thing you need to do to get ready for planting a fall garden is to get your soil ready. You’ll want to start with good soil so that your plants have what they need to grow strong. For a raised bed or in-ground garden, you’ll want to amend your soil. To amend soil means to improve it with additional materials. Soil amendments improve the physical nature of your soil. They reduce compaction, aerating the soil to allow water and nutrients to more easily move through it and reach plant roots. Some soil amendments also add nutrients to the soil, help retain moisture and help maintain the correct pH balance. Examples of soil amendments are potting soil, compost, peat moss, etc. 

    In San Diego, the city dump sells a truck bed full of compost for $12 and it’s AMAZING! I mix the compost into my existing garden soil and have had great success with it. If you are planting in pots or other containers, don’t scrimp on the potting soil. You get what you pay for in this situation. Go to your local nursery and ask them what brand of potting soil they recommend for vegetables. In my experience, employees at local nurseries are quite knowledgeable or can at least direct you to someone who has answers. That hasn’t been the case for me at bigger chain stores. If you end up there, look for a potting soil specifically made for container vegetable gardening. 

    Planting your fall garden

    Now you’re sitting there looking at your beautiful, possibly smelly soil, and wondering what to plant. My number one recommendation is radishes. Radishes are so much fun to grow with kids! They sprout in 3 – 6 days. This is perfect for little ones who lose interest in things very easily. Every day after it sprouts you will notice a little bit of growth in the radish. Some varieties of radishes are even ready to harvest in just 21 days!

    Here are a couple of the varieties I planted with my kids this fall. Don’t they look like something fun to eat?

    Cool-season vegetables for fall gardening

    Here’s a list of fall/cool-season vegetables that do well in a fall garden:

    • lettuces
    • beets
    • kale
    • broccoli
    • carrots
    • spinach
    • peas
    • turnips
    • parsnips
    • onions
    • mustard greens
    • endive
    • arugula
    • bok choy
    • cabbage
    • cauliflower
    • Brussel sprouts
    • rhubarb
    • celery
    • radishes

    Peas are definitely favorites with my kids. We planted three different varieties of peas in our fall garden this year. One variety has an edible pod, one snow pea variety, and one with purple pods.

    Get to know your growing zone

    I live in San Diego, California, USA. We have a very mild climate. When it hits 65 degrees Fahrenheit I’m probably going to bring out my down jacket. You might live somewhere where even 50 degrees means shorts and a t-shirt. You and I won’t have the same success growing the same plants.

    The climate you live in will determine what plants you will be most successful at growing right now. This is something known as a growing zone, planting zone, or hardiness zone. If you live in the United States you can find the zone you live in by your zip code. If you live outside the US, you can find your zone as well. Once you know your zone you can get a list of specified plants that will thrive in your climate. Choosing plants that grow well in your planting zone will set you up for gardening success. 

    How to pick seeds for your fall garden

    I love picking out my seeds for my garden. I order my seeds from a company called Baker Creek Seeds. This company has a large selection of heirloom seeds. The term “heirloom” is usually applied to fruit, flower, or vegetable varieties that were being grown before World War II. Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated, meaning that, unlike hybrids, seeds you collect from one year will produce plants with most of the characteristics of the parent plant. And that’s key to their survival. Many heirloom varieties were preserved by home gardeners who saved seeds from their family gardens from year to year. 

    It’s also fun to plant new varieties of common veggies because they look and taste a little different. My kids get so excited when they pull a purple carrot out of the ground! The photos above show the seeds that we planted this fall. Pumpkins aren’t really considered a cool-weather crop, but all of my previous attempts with pumpkins this year were sabotaged by pests. I threw a few pumpkin seeds in the ground hoping I might have something to show by Thanksgiving!

    Sometimes gardening is just trial and error friends. You never know what will happen (grow or fail) year over year. A fall garden doesn’t need to be perfect. Never take it too seriously! Let your kids get involved in the process of picking out seeds to plant. They’ll be more excited about growing fruits and veggies if they were part of the process. 

    Getting started now with your fall garden

    Are you feeling inspired to get your fall garden started, yet? Great! Don’t worry about having everything ready right away. To get started, you just need a few small paper cups, soil, and seeds! 

    You can get your seeds started growing long before your garden space or beds are ready for the plants. Last fall, I didn’t have my raised beds ready to plant just yet but I really wanted to get my seeds going. I poked a hole in some Dixie cups and started germinating some sugar snap peas.

    Putting the cups in a plastic or cardboard container will help keep the soil in the cups moist. I wouldn’t recommend doing this with any root vegetables, but lettuces or peas grow well when started in smaller containers. You can even put them indoors for a couple of weeks if you have to.

    The garden classroom

    One of my favorite shirts is from Nature Supply Co and it says, “Not all classrooms have four walls.” Gardens are proof of that and can serve as amazing classrooms! Your kids will learn not only the life cycle of plants and the cyclical nature of the seasons, but also important life skills. Kids need patience when waiting for seeds to sprout or for a vegetable to mature. They learn vigilance by going to the garden daily and checking for pests. Their self-control increases by not watering the soaking wet soil even though watering is so much fun.

    They will get outside, see the sun coming up in the east and setting in the west as they work in the garden this fall. They will pay attention to shadows and sunshine and rainy days, but only if you give them the opportunity. A garden is a beautiful way to reconnect together over a common project. 

    Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand.” Confucius

    Involve your kids

    You’ve probably heard the quote by Confucius above. That holds true in the fall garden. You could make your soil rich and beautiful on your own, choose and purchase all the seeds, set up timed irrigation, and just let your kids help plant the seeds. This would still be a good experience, but imagine how much more meaningful that garden would be if you involved your children in all aspects of the planning. Planning! There’s a life skill I forgot to mention.

    Let them find the volume of the raised bed. Ask them to calculate how many bags of garden soil and compost you will need to fill those beds. Let them get their hands dirty mixing the soil. Browse the seed catalog together and let them choose what they want to plant. Read the back of the seed packet with them and figure out together if you have enough space to plant an entire packet of radish seeds. Buy a special gardening notebook and keep track of the days you planted. Then research together when you can expect your harvest. Gosh, the possibilities here are endless! 

    Even the smallest kids can get involved in gardening

    Think your kids are too young to garden? There are chores for all ages when it comes to fall gardening! My youngest isn’t super young anymore, but he does love to bring his spray bottle out to the garden and water for me. Even a toddler can manage a small spray bottle. Just plan on changing clothes afterward, if you need to! If your kids are anything like mine, they won’t stay dry for long. And if you have cats, they’ll find somewhere to hide pretty quickly.

    Additional benefits of gardening for kids

    I could go on and on about the benefits of gardening with your kids. We didn’t even talk about the whole nutrition aspect, learning about where food comes from, or the positive impact playing in the dirt has on a child. Cornell University has a wealth of information detailing what researchers have found in relation to kids and gardening. Statistics are great and all, but on a personal level I have found that being in the garden provides me with a great way to spend quality time with my kids. We do taste tests, find bugs, get dirty, and have a lot of fun.

    There’s no time like the present to start something new, so get growing!
    What will you plant in your garden this fall?

    About the author

    Wendy is a married momma living in central San Diego, CA, raising 4 human kids, 2 goat kids, 4 chickens, and one grumpy cat. She enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, backpacking, going to the beach, and generally getting out-of-doors. Wendy is a family photographer and also works at several local elementary schools as a garden educator. She dreams of traveling to all 50 states and beyond, and believes that there is great beauty to be found in all parts of the earth, we just have to open our eyes to see it.

    You can find more from Wendy online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @wendycoxphotography
    RWMC posts: Wendy Cox

  • GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Garbage Collecting, Recycling, and Sustainability for Kids

    Teaching our kids about the importance of taking care of our planet is one of the most important things we can do as parents. It can be scary to think of the state of the planet that we’re leaving to them. But there are lots of ways to get them involved, to lead by example, and to help them understand the importance of their actions. Today, Tine Voeten, Belgian mom of two, is here sharing tips for garage collecting, recycling, and sustainability for kids. She’s included two fun hands-on science experiments to teach kids about weather and the effects of climate change, as well as ways to get kids involved in recycling, and crafty ways to reuse waste. 

    Garbage collection

    Talking to children about the environment

    What crazy summer weather we all had, don’t you agree? All over the world, we have seen the results of climate change in the form of wildfires, record heat waves, drought, mudslides, and more. Environmental activism and climate change are quite heavy topics for kids. Nevertheless, raising awareness about our planet and what’s happening to nature is important for children.

    And while these conversations are important and can sound intimidating, they don’t have to be dull and serious. There are plenty of ways to make learning about our planet (and all the ways we can help it) easy for kids to understand. Today, we’re going to discuss how you can make climate change, recycling, and garbage collection fun topics to talk about with your kids. 

    Talk to your kids about recycling 

    One of the easiest and most entertaining ways is to bring up conversations around climate change and how our behavior influences nature is by talking about recycling (and by the act of recycling). Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling is important because it prevents further pollution and reduces the need to harvest new raw materials. Recycling can make a huge difference to our environment, our quality of life, and our future. It also saves energy and money, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, and allows products to be used to their fullest extent.

    Small actions make a big impact

    The first place to start is in your own home. Small changes in our everyday life can make a big impact. There are a wide range of materials that can be recycled through your curbside recycling program. These consist of obvious materials, including paper and glass, as well as less obvious materials, including most forms of metal, and even food. Knowing and understanding what can be recycled in your area, as well as properly sorting your recyclables is important in ensuring that the items in your recycling bin actually make it to your local recycling center, don’t slow down or burden the system, and in time, actually get turned into something new. 

    Just because you’re starting small doesn’t mean that your efforts are useless. Your actions will change more than you think. But, also try to think big with your kids. Look for ways to get them involved in the process and take ownership over their eco-friendly actions. One way to do this is to go on a garbage collection mission with the kids! Outdoor clean-up projects are the perfect way to talk to your kids about the importance of recycling, how imperative it is to live by “leave no trace” rules, and spend time outside together. 

    Waste picking with kids

    10 facts on recycling and waste

    Before we get to the fun part of garbage collection with kids we should talk about what effect mankind already has on the climate. Here are 10 facts on recycling and waste that you can use to teach kids about the importance of reducing our footprint and making sustainable changes.

    • One-third of the produced food is thrown in the garbage
    • A variety of raw materials including paper, plastic, metal, glass, electronics, and textiles can be recycled
    • Aluminum can be recycled forever without any loss of quality
    • If you throw away your aluminum cans, they can stay in that can form for up to 500 years or more
    • Half a million trees have to be cut down just to produce the Sunday newspaper each week
    • Every minute forests the size of 20 football fields are cut down
    • The average family uses 6 trees worth of paper each year
    • Glass can be recycled over and over again
    • Our plastic waste created a gigantic ‘plastic soup’ in the Pacific Ocean that’s 1.6 million square kilometers (which is twice the size of Texas)
    • More than 1,200 species of fish and sea mammals are impacted by plastic, through ingestion or entanglement (both which can make them sick or kill them)

    Garbage collection with kids

    Inspiring change through hands-on learning

    Giving them facts and info about our planet and consumption is one thing, but how do we inspire our littles ones to take action that will help make a difference? How can we teach them about taking care of our planet in a tangible way that will produce real results for the right reason? 

    We can start by showing them exactly how the climate works and what our effects are on the environment. Kids learn best by doing, by playing, by being a part of the action. Science experiments are one way that we like to teach our daughters about the world around us. Below, I’ll walk you through two cool experiments you can do with your kids at home to produce a cloud and demonstrate the effects of global warming on the ice caps.  Both these experiments are interactive and creative ways to teach kids about weather and climate with hands-on science experiments. 

    Garbage collection with kids

    Experiment 1 – Creating clouds

    Our first hands-on science experiment is to create clouds! Most kids are disappointed when they realize that clouds aren’t made of cotton candy or pillow-fluff like they’re often depicted in cartoons. Unfortunately, you can’t sit on a cloud! Clouds are made of cold water vapor that is condensed into droplets of water around dust particles. This super fun and simple science experiment will help teach your kids about the physical changes and reactions that happen as clouds form within the atmosphere. 

    All you need is:

    • Glass pot or another open container (we used a vase) 
    • Warm water
    • A match
    • A cold plate or lid to close the pot

    Instructions:

    1. Pour a layer of warm water into the glass container and stir
    2. Light a match, blow it out and quickly drop it in the water
    3. Cover with a cold plate (We used a metal lid we put in the freezer. A plate with ice will also do the trick)
    4. Watch as a cloud of water vapor is produced in the container! You can remove the plate on top to see the result even better.

    But what happens here?

    Water vapor blends with soot/dust particles coming from the match. When these particles reach the cold surface on top, it cools down and condensates and forms a cloud. The same process happens outside in real life. The only difference is that the particles mixed in the vapor can consist of anything – dust, smog, pollution, etc. are all picked up.

    This is the perfect experiment to show our children how clouds are created and formed. Don’t forget to highlight the difference between weather and climate. Weather is what we see when we get out of the house, very locally. This can change every day, and if you are lucky (as in Central-Europe) it changes every hour of the day. Our climate though is based on averages, taken over years and years and measured over bigger surfaces. 

    Garbage collection with kids

    Experiment 2 – Melting ice caps

    We’ve seen how water can be transformed from a liquid to a gas (above), now, let’s consider what happens when it’s changed from a solid (ice) to a liquid. At the North and South pole of our planet are expansive sheets of ice. This ice can have a significant impact on our entire planet’s climate. If the temperature of the air and water gets warm enough, the ice melts. And as the ice melts, water absorbs warmth from the sun (which white ice would’ve reflected back into space). The water warms, contributing to the increasing temperature of our planet. In addition, this melted freshwater can also change ocean currents, affect conditions for wildlife, and potentially contribute to extreme weather conditions. This melting ice caps experiment is easy to do, and helps demonstrate what climate change and global warming can do to our polar ice caps.

    All you need is:

    • A transparent container
    • An object to use as a piece of land in the box
    • Water
    • Ice

    Instructions:

    1. Place the ‘land’ in the box and add with some water, so that the land is not covered. 
    2. Put some ice on top of the land.
    3. Check the level of the water in the box and note how much land is not covered.
    4. Wait until the ice melts.
    5. Investigate how the water level has changed. Observe whether the water level is higher or lower. Is more land covered with water now?

    What happens here?

    The melting ice represents the ice that is melting in the arctic region (parts of Russia, parts of Alaska, Northern parts of Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland, and the Arctic Ocean). It shows the impact of the level of seawater and coast communities.

    When you explain this experiment and its effects to your children, you can refer to the first experiment where warm water forms a cloud. The warmer the earth is getting, the more ice will melt, which will impact the level of the seawater.

    Warning: Don’t expect great enthusiasm immediately with this experiment. It takes some time before the ice cubes melt, as you can see in the picture below. 

    Garbage collection with kids

    Recycling and sorting waste

    Now that we know some of the science related to our planet and climate, it’s time to put that knowledge to good use with some tangible action to make a difference! Let’s start with recycling!

    The first part of recycling is to sort your waste. Separating waste in a proper and correct way is the most basic thing you could do in order to preserve the environment.  Knowing what can be recycled and what can’t in your city is essential to improving the operations of your local recycling facility, as well as ensuring that items that cannot be recycled curbside are being taken to the right place to be recycled. It may seem like a trivial thing, but this simple task actually has a significant impact on our planet.

    Categories of waste and recyclables

    Knowing what can and cannot be recycled in your area is one of the smartest things you can do to ensure that you are diverting as much of your waste from landfills as possible, while avoiding recycling contamination through proper separation. Here are the different categories of waste. Some of these categories can be recycled and others cannot.

    • Organic waste: food waste, grass, leaves, eggshells, coffee grinds, tea bags
    • Glass: white and colored glass 
    • Plastic/metal: plastic bottles, plastic packages, jars, cans
    • Paper: cardboard, paper bags, paper cups, paper
    • Toxic waste: printer ink, lightbulb, batteries, electronic waste
    • Residue: whatever doesn’t fit the others, such as used diapers, animal waste.  

    Garbage collection with kids

    What can (and cannot) be recycled?

    Recyclable items:

    • Paper including newspapers, magazines, and mixed paper
    • Cardboard
    • Glass bottles and jars
    • Rigid plastic products
    • Metal containers, including tin, aluminum, and steel cans

    Non-recyclable items:

    • Greasy paper, such as oil-soaked paper plates and pizza boxes
    • Used paper towels, tissues, and diapers
    • Broken ceramics, light bulbs, and mirrors
    • Film plastics, such as plastic bags, shrink wrap, and bubble wrap
    • Styrofoam, otherwise known as expanded polystyrene
    • Electronic waste (e-waste)
    • Construction and demolition debris, such as concrete and drywall
    • Carrier stock; the paper packaging around packs of drink cans

    Garbage collection with kids

    Getting kids involved in recycling and sorting waste

    If you separate your waste in a proper way, you can help avoid 80% of your waste from going to landfill. And this is a great place where you can get the kids involved. Give them each some chores so they can help you separate waste properly to ensure that it gets recycled.

    For example, one week, give one child the responsibility for paper waste and give another child the responsibility for organic waste. The child responsible for organic waste can use food scraps and such to add to the compost pile. We have our own compost pile and we use it to fertilize our plants in spring. The child in charge of paper waste can make sure that paper makes its way into the proper bin. That child can be in charge of disposing of (and eventually eliminating)  items such as mail, newspapers and magazines, drawings, cardboard boxes, etc. Rotate the following week. 

    Garbage collection and clean up projects with kids

    Another fantastic way to get the kids directly involved in helping out our planet is going hiking with one mission: garbage collection with kids. We bought ourselves a few waste sticks and some gloves and set out on our mission – to fill our garbage bag with waste.

    When collecting litter and trash with kids, it’s important to be safe. While the areas next to roads or highways are often some of the most polluted areas, they’re often not safe for cleaning up with little kids. Save this project for a time you can go out without the little ones in tow. 

    Instead, take the kids hiking in a forest or to a local park or nearby pond/creek. These places are much more kid-friendly and you can almost always find something to pick up (unfortunately). Collect as much trash as you can and at the end of the day, your kids will feel proud of their work and the difference they ade. The next time you go out they will be more aware of what they find along the way.

    A lot of schools organize events where they focus on garbage more and go picking in groups. These are fun, but cleaning up shouldn’t be limited to organized events. We want to make cleaning up after ourselves (and others) a habit in our children. 

    Garbage collection with kidsGarbage collection with kids

    Getting crafty with garbage

    Another way to extend the life out of items before throwing them away or recycling them is by using them in craft projects. You can create so many cool things with objects you usually throw away without even thinking twice.

    Items such as bottles, bottlecaps, rolls of toilet paper, acorns, leaves, ice cream sticks, and can tabs can all become useful in new ways. You can create a sensory game for little ones. Or let your kids create a masterpiece with these simple but beautiful tools.

    It’s amazing how happy those little ones are with their original artistic creations. From now on our kids never want us to waste another thing anymore. Even small paper wraps get reused and turned into something beautiful in this house! There is nothing the children cannot design, as long as you let them use their creativity. And the world is a better place because of this! 

    Garbage collection with kidscreative kids by recyclingGarbage collection with kidsGarbage collection with kidsArt by recycling with kids

    Making the world a better place

    It’s never too early to start talking about sustainability with your children. Adults don’t give kids enough credit – they understand more than we often realize. The more time we spend discussing these issues and leading by example, the more our children will learn. Then we’ll have a whole generation of environmental thinkers and activists coming up after us. 

    We also know there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to climate awareness, waste reduction, and recycling, amongst other environmental issues. Sustainability is a lifelong journey and one that we need to get our kids involved in. Sometimes the best way to start is, to begin with really small, manageable goals. One thing at a time. Take your time and continue your journey by making the next best choice. If you’d like some additional help with making small (but very important and impactful) eco-friendly changes in your house and life, check out our Earth Day Action Guide. 

    How do you get your kids involved in recycling and sustainability?

    About the author

    Tine is a natural-born adventurer from Belgium. She met her husband, soulmate, and the father of her two girls while working and living in the Dominican Republic. Nine years ago they moved back to Europe and are still exploring European grounds. Her happy place is wherever her kids are, but she spices up life by discovering unknown places, planning new adventures, and going outdoors as much as possible. Having kids added a big value to her life, because seeing life through the eyes of her little ones lifted it to a completely different dimension. Their family goal is to travel the world, living a location-independent lifestyle. The family is now working on a couple of projects to make this dream happen! In the meantime, they keep on exploring and Tine keeps on writing and inspiring other families to explore just like them. 

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @kidsdelmundo
    RWMC posts: Tine Voeten
    Website: http://www.kidsdelmundo.com

  • INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    Bubbles with Kids: Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Bubbles and More

    Can you think of an activity that captures the attention of children of all ages? Or one that can be a fun energy-burning undertaking, a science experiment, a leisurely way to pass the time, and a neat sensory fun project? Give up? It’s playing with BUBBLES! Creative Team member, full-time traveling mama of two, Katie Fox, shares everything you will ever want to know about exploring bubbles with kids. Scroll down and get the very best bubble recipes, fun bubble activities, and games, silly bubble jokes, how to make different bubble wands, ways to use bubbles for art, and so much more! 

    Exploring bubbles with kids

    You probably already know this, but bubbles are a fun and engaging activity that kids (and adults) love. Watching them float up and away on a breezy day, chasing them in an effort to pop them, and learning that soap causes these delightful floating orbs are all part of childhood.

    Without a doubt, bubbles are fun and exciting. But they are also so much more! Bubbles are an activity that enables science learning, artistic exploration, a lot of movement, and DIY projects. Indeed, there is so much more to bubbles than meets the eye (I don’t recommend getting bubble solution in the eye though, ouch). Below you will find so many different ways to explore bubbles with your children. Let’s get started! 

    Photo Credit: @suzugarintonaru

    Benefits of bubbles

    Yes, bubbles are fun, but they’re also good for you! The act of playing with and exploring bubbles with kids is actually quite beneficial for both a child’s mind and body. Below are just a few ways that playing with bubbles is valuable to you and your children.

    • Gross motor development. Your children are building their gross motor skills as run, jump, balance, skip, chase, reach, crawl, and otherwise engage with the bubbles.
    • Fine motor development. As your littles grab bubble wands or help build their own wands and bubble blowers, they are working on fine motor development.
    • Hand-eye coordination. Following the bubbles and then reaching out and actually popping one is a skill and it takes practice to get it right. Bubbles help children practice hand-eye coordination in a fun pop-tastic way.
    • Sensory exploration. Bubbles offer a chance to explore new sensory input. That’s right, the sticky, slimy, soap-tasting, orbs allow children to explore their senses.
    • Building social skills. If your child has ever popped bubbles with another living creature, it may not have ended well. Children need time and practice to learn to share and popping bubbles offers the perfect practice setting. If a bubble your child is chasing is popped by another child, you can easily redirect them to the many other bubbles floating around. It probably isn’t that easy (and when is it ever?), you can keep at it and know that playing in the same bubble popping zone still provides social skill building – even if it ends in crying.
    Photo Credit: @mistyhofert

    Bubble solution recipes

    There are so many different ways to make bubbles. Obviously, the tried and true method of using plain ol’ dish soap and water is there for a reason. It works, it’s easy, and parents already have those items on hand. But, if you are looking for a different way to make bubbles with your kids, look no further. Here are some of the best bubble solution recipes for making bubbles with kids.

    • Basic bubble recipe: Home Science Tools shares an easy bubble recipe to make with your children. Because it includes glycerin, the bubbles are stronger than simple dish soap and water. 
    • Colorful bubble foam recipe: Instead of making bubbles you can blow, give this amazing foaming bubble recipe from Fun at Home with Kids a try. 
    • Glow in the dark bubble recipe: Looking for a new way to explore bubbles with kids? This glow-in-the-dark bubble recipe from Growing a Jeweled Rose is a perfect way to wow your kids with bubbles in a whole new way. 
    • Colorful bubble recipe: How about colorful bubbles? Use this Mama Plus One recipe for creating bubbles in a variety of colors. You could make black and orange bubbles to enjoy during Halloween or each color of the rainbow and then try to get all seven colors in the air at the same time. 
    • Reusable slime bubble recipe: This is not exactly a bubble, but this slime bubble recipe from Little Bins for Little Hands is fantastic for making large reusable bubbles. 
    • Pre-made bubbles: Don’t want to mess with making your own bubble solution? You can purchase premade bubble solution at nearly any retail store that sells toys. We recommend Bubble Tree Sustainable bubble refills that come in a recyclable box since it cuts out all the plastic that bubble solutions usually come in. Or this giant bubble mix concentrate, which is great for blowing huge bubbles, has less plastic, and allows you to make an enormous amount of bubble solution! 
    Photo Credit: @maryammorrison
    Photo Credit: @thesewildwilliamses

    Bubble activities and games

    Playing with bubbles is a ton of fun. There is no need to go beyond the basics of blowing and chasing, but kids also love variety. So if you want to find new ways to explore bubbles, below are a few great ways to do just that!

    • Create giant bubbles. Making bubbles that are large and in charge is always a hit. Happy Hooligans shares how to make giant bubbles with straws and string.
    • Count how many bubbles you can pop. This is a simple and fun way to add a little something more to chasing bubbles and popping them. Plus, if you have a young child that needs to work on counting, it’s a great way to throw in some learning through play.
    • Blow bubbles using your hands. Don’t have a bubble wand or want to try different ways to blow bubbles? How about using your hands to blow bubbles with this helpful guide from Housing a Forest.
    • Chase all the bubbles. This is a classic and likely completely instinctual activity. If you have older kids, have them help you blow bubbles for the younger kids. Younger kids love chasing bubbles and this activity is likely to keep them occupied for quite a while. There are also automatic bubble blowers, which come highly recommended by parents of kids who can play this game indefinitely.
    • Stand inside a giant bubble. Have you ever stood inside a bubble or wanted to? This article from No Biggie will walk you through how to make a giant bubble you can stand in!
    Photo Credit: @travelling_balloon
    Photo Credit: @karenayon__

    Even more bubble fun and games

    • Blow bubbles with bubble gum. This is a skill most children desire to learn and what better time than now! This is an activity you can practice while out on walks or while on a road trip. Bubble gum totally counts as exploring bubbles.
    • Make scented bubbles. This is a neat way to add another sensory element to exploring bubbles with kids. Add a variety of scents to your bubble fun with this post from Momma’s Fun World.
    • Try to catch the bubbles. This is a classic game and one that is not as easy as it seems. Make sure to dip your hands in the bubble solution to make catching the bubble without popping it easier. You can also make this activity more difficult by using bubble wands, spoons, and other items to try and catch the bubbles.
    • Rainbow bubble snakes. This activity from Housing a Forest looks like a blast and creates a really neat continuous line of bubble foam. This is a perfect activity and could probably even be done indoors (like in the bathtub) on a rainy day.
    • Play bubble hide and seek. This game is played almost exactly like the original, except the person who is it blows bubbles whenever they find a hidden player. The newly found players join the “it” person and also blow bubbles each time they find a hidden player.
    • Freeze a bubble. This is the perfect summer (and maybe even winter) activity to do with kids. It is always fun to explore ice and making a frozen bubble with this Fireflies and Mudpies guide is sure to be a hit. 
    • Take a bubble bath. Can’t get outside? No worries, exploring bubbles can happen in the bathtub too! You can add food coloring to the water to make the experience colorful and even experiment with different types of soaps to see which bubbles are the biggest. If you wanted to take a bubble bath outside, try filling up a kiddie pool and adding some soap. 
    Photo Credit: @theresaspector_photography
    Photo Credit: @bella_rose_visualartist

    Bubble science experiments

    Let’s not forget that adding soap to water and seeing what happens is technically a science experiment! With that in mind, bubbles offer a variety of different science experiments. Not only will your children (and maybe even you) be learning, but you’ll also be engaged in even more bubble fun with your kids.

    • Make a bubble inside a bubble. Steve Spangler Science shares a neat and easy-to-follow tutorial on making a bubble inside a bubble.
    • Create a square bubble. Usually, bubbles are spheres, right? Well, Science Sparks shares how you can make square bubbles and it is worth trying at least once.
    • Test what you can use to blow bubbles. This one is fun and walks you right through the whole making a hypothesis and testing the theory aspects of science. Gather some household items (spatulas, whisks, etc.) and nature items and see which items work best for blowing and making bubbles.
    • Bouncing a bubble. Looking for a little fun, some learning, and a lot of laughs? See if you can bounce a bubble following this Little Bins for Little Hands tutorial.
    • Baking soda and bubbles. See what happens when you mix baking soda and bubbles together with this Imagination Tree tutorial.
    Photo Credit: @tbarfield_nine29photography
    Photo Credit: @christinehosleyphoto

    Make your own bubble wands and blowers

    Using plastic store-bought bubble wands and blowers is great and obviously creates hours of fun. But, trying new things is fun too. Here are a few ways to use items you may have around the house to make your very own bubble wands and blowers.

    • Pool noodle bubble blower. Do you have a pool noodle that has seen better days? Consider cutting it up and using this Cut Out and Keep tutorial for making your own pool noodle bubble blower. 
    • Pipe cleaner bubble wands. If you have some pipe cleaners lying around, consider twisting one end into a circle and leaving the other side straight to make a handle. Bam, you just made a simple and effective bubble blower.
    • Giant bubble wand. Puddle Wonderful Learning shares all about making a giant bubble wand and this DIY project is pretty darn easy too. 
    • Bubble shooter made with straws. Straws are not great for the environment, but we see them every day. If you have some lying around or can collect (and clean) the plastic straws you are given at restaurants, you can create this neat straw bubble shooter from Kids Activity Blog. 
    • Recycled plastic water bottle bubble blower. Here is another way to reuse plastics that are otherwise thrown away. Hello Wonderful walks you through how to make a plastic bottle bubble blower.
    • Repurposed cardboard tube bubble blower. If you have toilet paper tubes or paper towel cardboard tubes lying around, this Happy Hooligans easy tutorial is the perfect way to use cardboard tubes for blowing bubbles with kids. 
    • Bubble snake using a sock. Is that missing sock basket getting full? Need to find a way to repurpose those socks that lost their mate? Babysavers shows you how to make a bubble snake using a sock. 
    • Use a fly swatter. This is a simple option that is perfect for younger kids. The tiny holes in the fly swatter make for a lot of really neat bubbles and the long handle, large bubble surface, and the need to swing the fly swatter to make bubbles make it a fun and easy option.
    Photo Credit: @islaandquill
    Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

    Bubble art for kids

    Bubbles are not only for science and games. In fact, there are even ways to use bubbles to make art. Here are a couple of options for you and your little humans to try.

    • Bubble painting with tempera paint. If you have tempera paint, this Typically Simple bubble painting activity is a great way to use it. 
    • Painting with food coloring and bubbles. This Living Well Mom bubble painting activity uses food coloring in the bubbles for a beautiful outcome. 
    • Use a foaming hand soap pump to paint. Have a foaming soap pump lying around? You will definitely want to give this A Little Pinch of Perfect foaming soap pump bubble painting activity a try. 
    • Making bubble prints. Using a straw, a cup, and some colorful bubbles, try this bubble print art activity from Happiness is Homemade. 
    Photo Credit: @prettybittychaos
    Photo Credit: @ps.myfamily

    Bubble jokes for kids

    We can all use a little more laughter in our lives, right? Without a doubt, one great way to round out any bubble activity with kids than to share some silly jokes with them?!

    Q: Why did the bubbles cross the road?
    A: Their Pop was waiting on the other side.

    Q: What did the bubble say to the North Wind?
    A: Nothing, he was just blown away.

    Q: What’s a bubble’s favorite snack?
    A: A pop-sicle.

    Q: What did the kid bubble say to the dad bubble?
    A: Hey, Pop!

    Q: What do you call James Bond in a bathtub?
    A: Bubble 07.

    Q: What do you call bubble music?
    A: Pop.

    Photo Credit: @feelslikehome.photography

    Bubble books for kids

    If you are like me, books are always something to enjoy with your kids. And when it comes to bubbles, it turns out there are a ton to choose from! Here are a few wonderful options you can share with your kids before, during, and after your bubble fun.

    Photo credit: @sara_mccarty

    How are you exploring bubbles with your kids?

    About the author

    Katie lives in a tiny home on wheels and travels full-time with her two mostly wild children, tech-minded partner, two well-traveled pups, and adopted pet snails. As they wander the North American continent, Katie explores as much as possible, with a particular fondness for the adventures her family enjoys in state and national parks. When not trekking through the outdoors, Katie enjoys baking, homeschooling, consuming mochas from local coffee shops across the continent, practicing her photography skills, and soaking up as much knowledge as she can.

    As an advocate for families exploring the great outdoors, Katie co-founded a Hike it Baby branch in her hometown in Northern California and tries to encourage families to get outside whenever possible. Katie has a Master’s degree in human development from the University of Missouri, Columbia, but her passion is really history and humanities (which is coincidentally what her Bachelor’s degrees are in). She currently volunteers on the Hike it Baby National team as a contributing blogger.

    You can find more from Katie online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @familyinwanderland
    Website: http://www.familyinwanderland.com
    Facebook: @familyinwanderland
    RWMC posts: Katie Fox

  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, FARM, INFORMATION, URBAN NATURE

    Animal Safety with Kids

    Kids and animals go together like peanut butter and jelly. There are so many amazing benefits of raising kids around animals, including teaching them about responsibility, empathy, compassion, patience, and love. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t safety concerns for both the child and the animal. Today, Leslie Alvis, Ohio homesteading mom of four (and daughter of vets) is here to address all your potential concerns regarding animal safety and children. In this post, Leslie addresses what the safety risks are around animals, how to teach children to handle and approach animals, how to choose the right pet for your family and take care of it, as well as issues regarding pet hygiene and allergies. This post is full of amazing info, so saddle up! 

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    The bond between children and animals

    I believe children are born with an interest in living, wiggling, breathing creatures. The animals that surround us are delightful and exciting. Children are drawn to them, many times fearlessly. I’ve watched my toddlers walk up to a huge cow and reach out their hands to a bovine head that’s as big as their whole body. I’ve watched them clutch tiny critters that could bite or scratch. The magnetism between children and animals seems to be almost universal. And there are a multitude of benefits included in letting our kids build relationships with animals.

    As parents, though, safety concerns about our kids and animals sometimes loom large. Animals can be big. They can bite and kick and scratch, more unpredictably than a toddler. We all have heard horror stories of dogs hurting children. And animals aren’t really all that hygienic. They can trigger allergy problems, carry diseases, and spread parasites. Now that I think about it, there are a lot of ways an animal can potentially harm a child! So, how do we encourage our kids’ natural love for animals while helping them learn animal safety? We’re here to help. 

    girl and horse

    Always around animals

    I’ve always been around animals. Both of my parents are veterinarians. They met in veterinary school and had pets before they had children. Many of my earliest memories involve animals—from pet mice to vet calls on Standardbred horse farms. I grew up in my dad’s veterinary clinic, helping mop floors, “assisting” him with exams and surgeries, and being exposed to all kinds of animals. We always had dogs and cats in our home, and often livestock outside as well. I was raised to love all animals and yet also to have a healthy respect for safety around animals. I knew very well that a dog could bite or a steer could drag me.

    My husband also grew up with all kinds of pets. As newlyweds, we picked up our first puppy on our way home from our honeymoon. Animals have continued to play a bigger and bigger role in our family life as we are building our country homestead. We now have to think through animal safety from a parental perspective. How can we teach our own children to interact with animals safely? What are the guidelines we grew up with that have guided us through all kinds of animal relationships?

    Kids and pets

    Research proves that animals have a wonderful effect on children. I love how this article highlights the many benefits of having pets with kids. Animals do bring some safety risks, but there are so many incredible benefits and lots of ways to make the right choice for your family. If one kind of animal concerns you, there are literally dozens of other kinds of pets—from goldfish to horses, with every size and color and texture you can imagine.

    girl and kitten

    Risks vs. benefits of animals

    I look at kids’ safety with animals in a similar way to risky play, like tree climbing and swinging. Are there risks involved? Sure there are. But the benefits to my children are greater than the risks. Animals are used for therapy because their love and acceptance are invaluable to people of all ages, especially children. Caring for animals teaches children responsibility, gentleness, and so much more. In my mind and experience, the benefits far outweigh the risks.

    girls and pets

    Basic child safety tips around animals

    With that said, I’d like to cover some basic animal safety with kids. Please understand that I am not a doctor or a veterinarian. You should always seek out the advice of your medical professional if you have any medical concerns for your child. But here are some common-sense, general guidelines to help you allow your children to be involved with animals while still being safe.

    Probably the most major area of animal safety with kids is teaching them how to treat animals correctly. Unfortunately, animals can be unpredictable. They are limited in their intellect and may respond by instinct when they are annoyed or feeling threatened. Amazingly, many animals instinctively treat children with great patience and gentleness. However, especially if an animal has been provoked or mistreated (in the past as well as the present moment), you cannot guarantee that it won’t nip or scratch a child. But there are things you can teach your kids that will help them know how to interact with animals safely.

    girl and horses

    Treat animals gently

    The first thing you need to do to ensure your child’s safety with animals is to teach your child to treat every animal with kindness and gentleness. All animals deserve to be respected as living creatures. They should be handled gently and spoken to with calm voices. And animals generally will respond to gentleness with gentleness. If your child can move slowly and speak softly, he/she will avoid many problems with animals.

    girl and kitten

    Go soft and slow

    Although this behavior doesn’t always come easily to kids, it is a good discipline for them to learn. We try to reinforce it with our little ones, especially with new pets or other people’s animals. Any time kids get excited, they tend to forget to move slowly and speak softly. I try to be watchful for this behavior, and for the animal’s response to it. “Look, sweetie, the dog is hiding because you’re being loud and it’s scaring him. He’s not used to you. Try to talk really softly and see if he comes out.” It’s a good learning experience for children to realize that their behavior has an impact on animals, and to see how an animal will respond to loving and gentle behavior.

    girl and horse

    Animals are different

    Every individual animal is unique. It’s really important to teach kids to be respectful of how an animal responds to them. Maybe you have a dog in your home, and it’s used to your kids’ boisterous ways. (We do! Our dog is 100% accustomed to every bit of childish noise and behavior. They can shout and lie on top of him and brush his fur and he puts up with it all.)

    But then you go to someone else’s home, and their dog is terrified of all the commotion. In that situation, it’s our job as parents to teach our children how to calm down and respect that animal. This is both important as a rule of kindness, as well as for animal safety. Any animal who is ill at ease is much more likely to snap at a child.

    boy and dog

    Different kinds of animals

    Not all animals like to be treated the same or respond the same way to people. If you’re familiar with animals, you realize that a dog and cat are not created equal. A dog may love a vigorous tummy scratch, while a cat may hate it and scratch the person administering it. And there are even differences between the same types of animals – what doesn’t bother one dog may severely upset another. Just like people, animals are all unique and come with their own personalities, likes, and dislikes. This is a good lesson for kids to learn. 

    There are different guidelines for how to safely handle cats, birds, horses, and dogs. Not only their size, but also their temperament demands different treatment. If we want to teach our kids safety around animals, we have to teach them how to safely interact with different species.

    girl and cows

    Safety with other peoples’ pets

    If you have a cat in your home, you’ve probably already taught your children how to be safe and gentle with their own pet. When you go to a friend’s house and they have a pet, take time to ask them how that animal likes to be treated. Ask them what their rules are for interacting safely with their pet. Make sure your child is listening and paying attention to this conversation.

    Those guidelines will give your child an excellent place to begin getting comfortable with a new kind of animal, whether it’s a pet bird, a hamster, or a large animal. Following the owner’s instructions will also help keep your child safe around an unfamiliar animal.

    girl and calf

    We have extended family members who have horses, so I try to make sure my kids are learning from their aunt and grandma how to approach, pet, groom, and ride each horse. My parents own beef cattle, and at their farm, I remind my children to listen to Grandpa’s instructions around the cows. Another aunt has pet birds, large and small. She’s wonderful at letting the children interact with the members of her aviary, but I have to remind them to listen and be respectful that each bird behaves differently. One small parrot may let them pet or feed her, but the other will bite if they reach their fingers out to her. As long as they listen to their aunt’s instruction, both they and the birds are safe.

    kids and horses

    Safety with a new pet

    When you’re getting a new pet, especially a kind of animal you haven’t had before, it may bring up some new safety concerns. How do we teach our kids how to be safe with an animal we don’t know much about? Thankfully, there are as many resources available as there are pets! When we got our son a bearded dragon, we knew nothing about lizards.

    We turned to the library and the internet to help educate him. We checked out several books and found some YouTube channels for him to watch. Not only did he learn how to properly care for his new pet, but he also learned how to handle and interact with it safely.

    Now we’re doing the same thing for our seven-year-old, who persistently begged for a parakeet for her birthday. Having knowledge about their unique pets makes them comfortable with their animals and they feel a strong sense of responsibility to handle their charge with care and safety.

    bearded dragon

    Consider your pet’s history

    If you are bringing a new pet into your home, you should make sure the animal has been treated well before coming into your family. If you’re buying a young animal from a breeder, ask if the pet has been socialized and is used to children. You can also ask them for pointers on helping your new pet and your kids adjust to each other.

    Although rescuing animals is a wonderful mission, there are some safety concerns when you’re adopting a rescue animal into a family with small children. Many times rescue animals have been mistreated in the past and have triggers that a child can innocently set off. If you choose to adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue, talk to the workers about your family situation. They may be able to help match you with an animal whose temperament or history will work for a family with children. Depending on your children’s ages and maturity, they may also be ready for the challenges of caring for a previously mistreated animal.

    girl riding horse

    Kid-friendly breeds

    Some breeds of animals are just more tolerant and better for families with kids. Others can be more high-strung and irritable. When you’re looking for a pet, do some research about what breeds might best fit with your family. This article highlights some of the most family-friendly dog breeds.

    From dogs to chickens to cows, there are major temperamental differences from breed to breed. I once raised a steer for a 4-H project who remained unmanageable his entire life. We learned later that his breed was known for being skittish and wild. He simply was the wrong breed for a kid to work with, and I never succeeded in gentling him. I’ve even learned that some chicken breeds are better for kids than others. You can do a google search for the best kid-friendly breeds of any animal you might be considering. 

    girl and hen

    Respect an animals’ space

    One of the animal safety rules my parents instilled in us was that you should never, EVER get in a dog’s face. Even though I knew that very well, as a little girl, one time I started messing with my beloved pet dog, getting right in her face, and she bit me. Although she was a trusted, tolerant pet, she had had enough. I was pushing her buttons, and she let me know it. I wasn’t very old, but that lesson has stayed with me throughout my entire life. Stay out of an animal’s face, and respect its space. Even a very tolerant pet may snap at a child if it’s had enough foolish behavior.

    And along those same lines, never tease an animal. Sometimes kids don’t realize that an animal cannot understand teasing. Not only is it cruel, but it could be dangerous. An animal who is being teased and tormented is very likely to forget its training and instinctively respond to unkindness with irritation.

    girl and kitten

    Safety with strange animals

    There’s a world of difference between a pet you’re familiar with and a strange dog you meet walking down the road. It’s really important to teach children to maintain a cautious, respectful distance. Never, ever, run towards an animal you don’t know! Approach slowly and with caution. If the animal is with its owner, always ask the owner if you may pet it before reaching out to the animal.

    Dogs roaming free without an owner probably scare me more than any other kind of animal. My parents always taught us that if a strange dog came running up to you, you should try to “make like a tree.” Stand still, holding your arms perfectly still by your sides. Don’t scream or run away. As a kid, I never had to use this advice, but as an adult, I still remember it. Your best defense against an aggressive dog is to show no fear and remain calm. 

    Safety tips when approaching strange dogs with kids

    Most of my experiences with strange dogs have come in my years as a mom, when a barking dog has run out aggressively as I walk with my kids, a stroller, and our own dog. In these circumstances, I’ve found myself turning into Mama Bear. I don’t become a tree—I go on the offense. My children are always scattered up and down the street on bikes, and usually, I have one in the stroller. I know our huge dog (who’s a big baby normally) would fight a dog if it attacked us, and I’m terrified of my kids being caught in the middle of a dogfight, or getting harassed by an aggressive dog. With invisible fences, it can be very hard to know how close a dog will get to you when they come charging. And it’s oftentimes not for the faint of heart. 

    In this situation, I find myself yelling at the strange dog in the fiercest tones I can muster, “GO HOME! NO! GO HOME!” It actually works. If I can find and grab a stick quickly, I wave that, also. Although I’ve been nipped at a couple times, none of the kids have ever gotten hurt and our dog always acts perplexed at the stupidity of an animal that would come charging out to attack us. Oftentimes, the loud noise, yelling and barking attract the attention of the homeowner, who will let the dog in. 

    girls and dogs

    Hygiene and animal safety

    As a mom, one big concern I have about my kids’ safety with animals is hygiene. Let’s face it—animals can be filthy. They can carry some nasty stuff. And my kids aren’t always the cleanest, either! But teaching them some basic hygiene goes a really long way.

    A good hand-washing will eliminate those harmful bacteria and parasites. My parents drilled this into me my whole growing-up years: WASH YOUR HANDS. If you’ve been petting the dog, wash your hands. When you’re coming in from the barn, wash your hands. After you’ve changed your pet’s water, wash your hands. It’s so basic, but it really solves a lot of problems.

    girl and bunny

    Kid hygiene

    Now, I know my kids forget stuff. And this hand-washing thing worries me when they’re handling animals. It was one thing when most of our animals were outdoors animals. It seemed easier to have them wash as they came inside, or before meals. But, this took a whole new level of importance when my son got his bearded dragon. Anyone who reads anything about bearded dragons (or other lizards) will come across the dreaded word “salmonella.” That freaked me out! Fortunately, in all his own research, my son learned the great importance of hand-washing, both for his own health and his lizard’s. So he took charge of the hand sanitizing and carefully supervised every hand that touched his pet, before and after. 

    boy and bearded dragon

    Hand washing for the win

    Hand-washing reached a pinnacle of significance when we adopted some kittens this spring. We found them in my dad’s hay barn and their parents were feral cats. The kittens were too little to deworm or vaccinate yet. And we were holding and feeding those kittens all the time. So, I instilled in my children a great horror of the diseases they could bring upon themselves if they forgot to wash their hands after handling the kittens.

    I must have done a thorough job of terrifying them because they religiously washed their hands (and still do). And no one caught anything dreadful from the kittens, who have now been appropriately dewormed and vaccinated. That eases my mind quite a lot. I still consider hand washing important, but at least I know we’ve eliminated some of the health problems our cats could pass on to our kids.

    kittens

    Pet hygiene

    That brings me to the other side of this hygiene topic: pet hygiene. If you are bringing pets into your home, it’s really important that you cover some basic disease/parasite prevention measures. Your vet will help you know what to do and when, but most pets need regular vaccinations and deworming.

    A good flea/tick prevention medication is also important for not only your pet’s health, but to protect your children from being exposed to fleas and ticks from your pet. Thankfully, all these products are readily available and do so much to keep your pet healthy and free from diseases. In turn, your pet is a safer companion for your kids.

    One more thing I’d like to address is that very few viruses pass between humans and animals. If your dog is throwing up, or your cat’s eyes are runny, you need to care for the pet’s health—but you don’t usually need to worry about your children catching what the animal has. Proper vaccination and deworming, along with good hygiene practices, will eliminate most of the things you can catch from a house pet.

    Along with hand-washing, other important hygiene habits would include not kissing your pets on the mouth, not letting them drink from your cup or the toilet, and keeping their litter box/bathroom area clean.

    puppy

    What about animal allergies?

    Unfortunately, sometimes allergies are a major animal safety concern with kids. Many parents think their children can’t have pets because they have allergies. This is definitely an obstacle, but it may be possible to overcome! Not all pet dander is created equal. A child who cannot tolerate cat hair may be perfectly fine with a dog. Many kids with allergies can still live with a non-shedding animal, such as the dogs described in this list. A bird might not work for a child with dust allergies, but maybe an outdoor rabbit or even a tank of goldfish would be okay.

    Talk to your child’s doctor if you have concerns about allergies, and see if they can help you come up with some kind of animal companion for your child.

    girl and dog

    Animals are amazing

    Pets enrich our children’s lives in so many ways, and it’s worth the extra work on our part to safely give them the companionship, responsibility, and unconditional love of an animal friend. If we can educate our children on the proper way to handle and interact with animals, we can open the doors for a lifetime of happy and healthy relationships with pets. 

    How have you handled safety concerns with animals and your kids?

    About the author

    Leslie is an Ohio farm girl and chaser of light, children, and sometimes chickens. She’s a lover of Jesus, wife to her high school sweetheart, and a homeschooling mom of four wild rascals who love the great outdoors as much as she does. As a family, they love hiking, camping, fishing, and just about any outdoor activity. She and her husband are just beginning the process of building a homestead from the ground up, doing most of the work themselves. Leslie has a lifelong obsession with writing and capturing everyday life from behind the lens. You can follow along with their homesteading, homeschooling, and everyday adventures on her Instagram account.

    You can find more from Leslie in the following locations:
    Instagram: @c_l_allofus
    Client work: @lalvisphotography
    Leslie’s RWMC posts:

  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, BEACH, BOOKS, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Tips for Fossil Hunting with Kids

    Are your kids dinosaur-obsessed?  Do they love treasure hunts? Do they enjoy using tools? Then this outdoor activity is going to blow you away! Today, teacher and UK mom, Hannah Martin, is sharing all the best tips and advice on how to go fossil hunting with kids. Fossil hunting is a fun, exciting, and educational activity for the entire family!  You can do it nearly anywhere and it doesn’t take a lot of fancy gear or equipment. Just a love of learning and exploring. Let’s go fossil hunting!

    The case for dinosaur-obsessed kids

    Before I had a child, I didn’t have a clue about dinosaurs or fossil hunting. Another confession, despite hours upon hours of reading dinosaur books and taking all things dinosaur, I am still no dinosaur expert. However, I admit that I have enjoyed learning all about them with my son. From the armored Ankylosaurus to the sea-dwelling Plesiosaurus, we have played, watched, and read about what feels like every dinosaur possible.

    Interest in dinosaurs not only evokes questions and learning about history, geography and nature: a study by the University of Indiana and the University of Wisconsin reported that interest in dinosaurs as a child, leads to enhanced perseverance (definitely a skill needed when fossil hunting!), improved attention and “enhanced skills of complex thinking, such as processing information.” Turns out that your child’s dino-obsession just might be good for them! 

    Child using magnifying glass to examine leaf fossil imprint

    Benefits of fossil hunting with kids 

    While I’m not expecting my son’s interest in dinosaurs to turn him into an archeologist or paleontologist, I like that it’s made him curious about the world around him (and what came before us). Fossil hunting is an activity that we use to connect the past (and his interest in dinosaurs) to the present (and our interest in nature and outdoor activities).

    Fossil hunting takes patience and perseverance. This is an activity that definitely suits his characteristics; he’s calm and always interested in facts. Fossil hunting is a fun outdoor family activity with many benefits for children: improving their fine-motor skills when selecting small treasures amongst pebbles, risk management when working with tools along the coastline and under cliffs, sorting and ordering, encouraging reading about and researching what you collect, and best of all, it seems to have a positive effect on mental well-being.

    In my son’s own words “Fossil hunting makes me feel calm.”

    Fossil Hunting encourages reading to discover what treasures you've found

    Where and when to go fossil hunting with kids?

    We are very lucky to live near the Jurassic Coast in the UK. It’s a coastline where thousands of sea-dwelling creatures and dinosaur fossils have been discovered over the years. It is a UNESCO site for its outstanding value of rocks, fossils, and land formations.

    But don’t worry! You don’t have to live in a UNESCO site to enjoy fossil hunting and find fossils. Every continent on earth has many fossils. And new species are yet to be discovered in all areas. So, no matter where you live, you can go fossil hunting.

    From research (but sadly not personal experience), I learned that there are tons of amazing fossil hunting locations across the US. There have been hundreds of great dinosaur and ancient discoveries from Texas to Montana, Alaska to Hawaii. The Morrison Formation in the Western part of the US is a great place to be inspired, with Aptasaurus, Allosaurus and Stegosaurus fossils on display.

    There are many other amazing places across the US where you can actually fossil yourself, check out this website for an array of destinations.

    Fossil hunting can be done at any time of year but in the UK, the best months are between November and April. This is due to the rough seas churning up the beach and revealing more fossils. In the US, more fossils are found inland so, lucky for you, it can be an all-year-round activity!

    How to get started fossil hunting with kids

    Fossil hunting books for kids

    The only thing you really need to get started fossil hunting with kids is an interest in the activity! If you have a dino-loving kid, the interest has already been ignited. In order to help your kids make the connection between dinosaurs of the past and the rocks they can find today, check out Fossils for Kids or Dino Dana Both will help your child identify and understand dinosaurs and how they’re still relevant (and being discovered) today. 

    We set the scene for our first fossil hunting day out by using a story by Linda Skeers titled Dinosaur Lady. It’s about the historical figure, Mary Annings, who is now known as one of the most successful palaeontologists in UK history. What excited our son was that the story was based in the place we were planning to visit so he was expecting to find a whole dinosaur, just like Annings did!

    Best fossil hunting dinosaur books for kids

    Fossil hunting songs, games, and activities

    On the journey to our destination, we carry on the fossil theme and, as a family, we sing along to “I’m a Palaeontologist” by They Might Be Giants. It’s a fun and catchy tune that will get kids excited about fossil hunting and the fun things they can potentially find.

    We also play a game where we named a dinosaur for every letter of the alphabet. I warn you this gets pretty tricky at N and O but we had help from our 199 Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals book. 

    The Etches Museum, inspiring kids about fossils

    Dinosaur museums

    In order to give your child a better understanding of what they are looking for and how cool fossil hunting is, consider taking them to a local, child-friendly dinosaur museum. We are lucky since where we fossil hunt, there is a small museum set up by a local man who started fossil hunting at the age of 6 and now, 50 years on, he has a great collection of fossils including a whole Pliosaur and an Ichthyosaur. Our son was very inspired by The Etches Museum and was definitely in the mood to find his own fossils once we left.

    There are loads of museums around the world with great collections of fossils and dinosaur bones. If you’re lucky enough to be near any of these places, they were listed as the 10 best Dinosaur Museums in the world by http://www.thetravel.com:

    1.  Zigong Dinosaur Museum (Zigong, China)
    2. Natural History Museum (Paris, France)
    3. Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science (Brussels, Belgium)
    4. Royal Tyrell Museum of Paleontology (Alberta, Canada)
    5. Natural History Museum (London, England)
    6. The Field Museum (Chicago, Illinois, USA)
    7. Fukui Dinosaur Museum (Katsuyama, Japan)
    8. Badlands Dinosaur Museum (Dickinson, North Dakota, USA)
    9. Smithsonian Museum of Natural History (Washington D.C, USA)
    10. National Dinosaur Museum (Canberra, Australia)

    Fossils we collected on day out fossil hunting

    Fossil hunting gear and equipment

    There’s really not a lot of gear or equipment you need when fossil hunting with kids. There are a few things that help make the experience safer and feel more legitimate for kids, though. I’ve included a list of optional fossil hunting gear below. 

    Fossil Hammer – While not essential, a fossil hammer will make the fossil hunting experience more of an adventure for your child and give him/her more independence and responsibility.  Our son was very excited that he had his own fossil hammer, but of course, always make sure you talk through safety with them and supervise them while using it.

    Eye Protection – If you’ll be using a hammer and smashing rocks and chipping away at stone and dirt, safety goggles are a good idea to protect their eyes from flying stone and debris. Nothing spoils fossil hunting like a piece of stone in a little eye.

    Collection Tools – Another great thing to have is a little tin or a small collection bag so the children can collect and look after their own treasures. Our son also enjoyed using a small brush to clear away the dust (a paintbrush will work just fine), and a magnifying glass to inspect his findings.

    Hammers make fossil hunting super fun

    What else to bring on a fossil hunting outing

    That’s all the essentials tools you’ll need for fossil hunting; however, there are a few other things you should bring along on your outing. Make sure to pack and dress for the weather. A spare change of clothes is always useful whenever you’re out near the water We’ve learned this lesson the hard way – once we fossil hunted around rock pools and it was a rather soggy affair. We now take our lightweight waterproof suit whenever we’re out and about. Then again, we do live in England!

    Shoes with a good grip are also recommended as some areas can be slippery under cliffs. Also, don’t forget lots of snacks and a picnic for a day trip. In the winter we always take our Kelly kettle so we can have a hot chocolate to warm up and refuel.

    Keep the kids energy and motivation high with regular snack breaks when fossil hunting

    Where and how to look for fossils

    The most important tool you need for fossil hunting is your eyes! While you can find lots of tips on where to look for fossils, fossil hunting success is largely down to luck. The longer you spend on the activity, the more chance you have of spotting some cool finds. Here are a few of the places we tend to find the most and best fossils.

    Look for fossils in and at the bottom of cliffs

    Look for sedimentary rock in the cliffs, so anything from sandstone to limestone or shale. On our last fossil-hunting expedition, there was slate which is composed of volcanic ash and clay. It is soft and can be flaked apart or gently tapped with the hammer, which was ideal for fossil hunting with kids. The main fossil you want to look out for in the cliffs are ammonites. But, also look out for Coprolites (dino poop) and leaf imprints. We discovered lots of imprints when splitting rocks apart and along the coastline on large rocks. Sadly, many of these rocks were way too big to take home!

    Make sure that you do not hammer the cliffs, as this can cause landslides and displace large amounts of earth. Just hammer the rocks that have already fallen from the cliffs on the beach. Sometimes, when you look along the side of a rock you can see different layers of earth. This is a good sign that there might be a fossil inside. We didn’t spend too much time under the cliffs as they were constantly falling around us as we had rain the night before.

    Ammonite imprint in rock - fossil hunting with kids

    Fossil hunting in shingle and sand

    When fossil hunting, we enjoy sitting down amongst the shingle and just gently moving the sand and pebbles back. This is usually when some chill-out time is needed. Some of our most successful finds have been here!

    Keep a lookout for “precious jewels”, or sea glass gemstones (small pieces of different colored glass).  Occasionally, you can find semi-precious gemstones such as Rhodonite.  All of these treasures have history and we enjoy looking in our rocks and fossils book to see what they are and learning about them.

    We love looking in the shingle for sea glass gemstonesfossil hunting tips for kids

    Shoreline fossil hunting adventures

    During our shoreline fossil hunt, we play a game we call ‘dinosaur footprints.’ We follow behind our son, walking like dinosaurs, and whenever he turns around we have to freeze. While you’re playing, keep your eyes down and look out for black or white stone-looking objects. You will probably need to pick in the sand with your hands to find them.

    When you’re at the shore, it’s also worth looking for sea snails, echinoids (fossilized sea urchins – they are quite rare), Belemnites (sea creatures similar to modern-day squids), and Crinoid stems (ancient animals related to sea urchins and starfish).

    If you are unsure what you are looking for, there are loads of websites specific to certain areas that you can look up and research before leaving for your fossil hunting adventure.

    The great thing about fossil hunting on the coast is that if you or your kids get bored, impatient, or tired of searching there are rock pools and the sea to splash in and explore, too! Activities on the beach are endless, we love making rock towers (but remember to put rocks back when you leave), and why not have a sandcastle competition or look for wildlife in a rock pool.

    Searching along the shore line for smaller fossils and shark teethThere are loads of things to look out for along the shorelineRock pooling

    Sorting and displaying your treasures

    One of our favorite parts of fossil hunting is coming back home and seeing all the treasures we found. We put our fossils into a collection box and have even made a little resin display for them. Hobie loves taking his collection to school for show and tell and even gets them out sometimes when playing with his dinosaurs.

    Idea for displaying and presenting fossil treasures found

    Fossil fun for the whole family

    Fossil hunting is a great activity for all the whole family. We always come back from our fossil hunting adventures invigorated by the fresh air, with a good feeling of tiredness from walking and playing. We go home feeling a sense of achievement and with a tin full of historical, educational, free goodies!

    I hope this post has inspired you to get outside and see what fossils you can find in your area. We hope to see you out fossil hunting sometime soon!

    Are your kids into dinosaurs?
    Have you ever gone fossil hunting?

    About the author

    Hannah Martin has worked as a PE Teacher in the UK for 15 years. She has always loved being active outdoors. However, she discovered a new passion for nature and appreciating the environment when she had her son Hobie (now 5 years old). Hannah and Hobie’s vision is to inspire parents to spend time doing fun, creative, nature activities outdoors with their children; no matter where they live and whatever the weather. They believe spending time together outdoors as a family will encourage future generations to love and care for the world, wildlife, and environment.

    Find more from Hannah (and Hobie) in the following locations:
    Instagram: @hobies_nature_club
    Website: hobiesnatureclub.co.uk
    YouTube channel: Hobie’s Nature Club

  • INFORMATION, LESSONS, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    Teaching Map Reading Skills to Kids: Toddlers thru Teens

    Knowing how to read a map is an essential skill for kids and adults. Not only do you need to know how to find out where you are, but you need to be able to navigate safely to your destination. Now more than ever we’ve become heavily reliant on technology. Our phones and GPS devices are great (when they work), but you shouldn’t be fully dependent on devices when you’re out adventuring. Knowing how to read a map could save your life! Today, we have South Carolina mom of three, Jen Barnes, here sharing how to teach map reading skills to kids. She covers everything you need to get started teaching toddlers about maps, all the way through what teens need to know. 

    Map with a pin to mark a location with text

    The importance of map reading

    What do you do if cell coverage drops can you can’t access the map on your phone? What if your GPS information is incomplete? How will your kids know where to go (or how to get where they need to be) if they can’t read a map. Map reading skills for kids are important. They will help you and your kids gain confidence and have fun as you adventure outdoors.

    Maps are an essential part of any adventure. While many people have come to rely heavily on GPS technology, the ability to read a map is an important skill for kids (and adults) to learn. Whether you head out on a family road trip, hit an unfamiliar hiking trail, or do a self-guided walking tour of a big city, you need a map! Technology has made it easier to get around, but it has certainly not eliminated the need to know where you are and where you are going. 

    Learning to read and use a map teaches kids spatial skills. Spatial thinking and spatial awareness are some of the most important skills that students will develop as they learn how to read a map and about geography, Kids who develop robust spatial thinking skills will be at an advantage in our increasingly global and technological society. 

    Learning to love maps

    As memory serves, there is not one family vacation in my past where a map didn’t have its place. As my dad packed up the station wagon and my sister and I crammed in the back on our sleeping bag pallets (yes, it was the 80s), we set off to explore new places. Never once did we leave home without our trusty atlas full of every road map we would need.

    Admittedly, my dad is a bit of a geography nerd. He loves to pass along his interest and skills to his kids. When the Chicago Tribune published its Geography Challenge Quiz each year it was a family affair. We all participated and we all looked forward to boasting with our tidbits of trivia knowledge. At the time it was just a fun game, but now that I’m an adult, I realize how useful those skills have been and how well they still serve me today. I’m always the navigator in the family. I have an excellent sense of direction and can grasp the context of a place more quickly than others. These are skills everyone can learn, even starting at a young age and building from there.

    History of the map

    Maps have journeyed a long way over the last 3,000 years. From the first written maps to what we now know as GPS (right in our pockets). The oldest surviving map comes from a clay tablet depicting Babylon at the center surrounded by the ocean. The purpose of this map was not for navigation, but for the map reader to place himself at the center with an idea of a bigger world around him.

    The Romans created maps that were largely unrealistic, done to prove a point that their empire was cohesive. First attempts at realistic map-making came from Claudius Ptolemy who was keenly interested in giving lines (longitude and latitude) to distinguish areas. From that maps evolved as economies developed and empires expanded and contracted. Sea voyages that led to exploration and new land discoveries through travel-filled in details of how the world is shaped. Lands and bodies of water could be related to other lands. Fast forward to today and we can still find how maps are useful and helpful even with the technology we have access to.

    teaching map reading skills to kids

    Types of maps

    Most of these maps can be placed into one of two groups: reference maps; and, thematic maps.

    Reference maps show the location of geographic boundaries, physical features of the earth, or cultural features (such as places, cities, and roads). Examples of reference maps include political maps, physical maps, road maps, topographic maps, time zone maps, geologic maps, and zip code maps. Political maps are the most widely used reference maps. These are the types of physical maps that are mounted on the walls of classrooms and found in road maps. They show the geographic boundaries between governmental units such as countries, states, and counties. They show roads, cities, and major water features such as oceans, rivers, and lakes.

    Thematic maps are different. They show the variation of a topic (the “theme”) across a geographic area. Examples of thematic maps include weather maps, income maps, and resource maps.

    Making map reading for kids fun

    Most kids will learn the very basics of how to read a map during their elementary school years. However, if you want to create a proficient map-reader, you will want to start young and then reinforce those map-reading skills when you are out in the real world with your kids. Children of all ages can learn about maps. It’s never too soon (or too late) to teach this fundamental skill. There are lots of creative ways to weave map reading into your playtime and outdoor adventures. 

    You can start to teach map reading skills to kids as young as toddlers and continue to work on building those survival skills out of it as your kids move into the teen years. The key, like most educational things in life, is to keep it relaxed and make it fun. 

    I am a firm believer that kids learn best via experience so this gives them a chance to explore and learn at the same time. Whether that’s incorporating maps in your outdoor adventures or using them to aid in fun imagination play with treasure hunts, geocaching, and scavenger hunts. They’re having fun, being active outside, and learning an essential outdoor skill. As a parent, you are rewarded with watching those skills develop and evolve!

    Kid sitting and reading a map - how to teach kids about maps

    Introduction to map reading skill (toddlers and preschoolers)

    When your kids are very young, the best way to learn map reading is to start with books and pictures. When language is limited and concepts such as space and distance is hard to grasp, you can find other ways to introduce the idea of a map. Books are a great introduction to maps. By reading out loud to young children and showing them pictures of simple maps, they’ll begin to understand the concept that maps are a visual representation of a place.

    Start with books like There’s a Map on My Lap and Follow that Map!, which use pictures and storytelling to teach fundamental map skills without kids even realizing it. A map book will begin to open up your toddler’s world and get their little sponge-like minds grasping that there is more beyond what they can see and experience.

    Find pictures of maps that are beautiful and simple to keep the attention of younger kids. Point to where they are in that moment and then show them where Grandma or Aunt Jane lives so they can see the space between. The scale does not matter at this age, but toddlers can begin to understand place and space and distance.

    Also, start using directional words around your young kids to establish a rich vocabulary around map reading. When you’re out walking (or even driving), note the direction you’re traveling so they get used to hearing North, South, East, and West. Ask them whether you’re turning left or right and help them figure that out. Point out landmarks, street names, etc. 

    Practical applications for toddlers

    As a way to reinforce some of what they have learned, try an activity with a basic treasure map. First, hide a small treasure in your yard or nearby park. Then draw a treasure map using only pictures and symbols. Use landmarks they are very familiar with like the swing set or garbage can or fence so they can follow along easily and not get frustrated.

    Take advantage of showing your toddler maps as you travel or when you visit the zoo, etc. If you are open to involving technology, you can use Google Maps as a more interactive map activity. As usual with toddlers, keep it light and short to match their mood and attention span!

    Kid pointing at a map

    Map reading basics for elementary school ages

    Kids in elementary school still love books, so continue to read aloud and check out books about maps from the library that they can learn from and enjoy at the same time. There are loads books that can help teach and establish basic map skills. For example, there are so many amazing National Geographic atlases, beautifully illustrated books with pictures, fun map trivia and activity books, interesting kids’ road atlases, interactive world atlases, state map coloring books, and more. Your kids at this age will learn more distinct map reading skills as they learn the elements of a map (see below) and how to use them. 

    This is also a great age to introduce puzzle maps, globes, and maps of places they know (like their hometown) or want to know about (like Hogwarts). Let them check out Google maps to find their house and Google Earth to visit far-away interesting places. 

    Basic elements of a map

    The basic map elements of a map include title, scale, legend, compass, and longitude & latitude. Here’s an overview of map symbols, parts of a map, and how elements of a map will help your child learn basic map reading skills.

    Title – The title lets you know exactly what the map is portraying. You definitely need to make sure you have the right map and the title helps you know that you have the best tool.

    Scale – The scale gives you the ratio of a distance on a map to the corresponding distance on the ground. Maps are a tool to give relationship of where you are to where you are going. Map scale helps you decipher the tool and give context to what you actually need to do and how far you need to go.

    Legend – A map legend defines the features of a map by displaying a symbol followed by a text description of what the symbol represents. It all begins to make sense by using the legend on a map. The map key is part of the map legend.

    Compass –  Often also called the compass rose, the map compass is a figure on a map to display the orientation of the cardinal directions North, South, East, and West. The map orientation symbol allows you to understand how the map was drawn in relation to direction.

    Longitude and latitude – The system of lines that describe the location of any place on Earth. Latitude lines run East and West while Longitude lines run North and South. 

    Detailed Trail Map Shenandoah National Park

    How to practice map reading with kids

    There are loads of map reading practice worksheets for your elementary student to learn how to use the map elements. You can find some like these maps and geography worksheets online. That’s fine to start, but I think the best way to learn is by bringing the map to life!

    I suggest choosing an outside activity your kids enjoy that requires covering some distance — biking, hiking, or kayaking. Next, find a map that matches a location where you can do that activity. Study the map together and locate each of the main elements. Try to map out your route on the map and practice the distance with the scale. Make note of any landmarks that may you may be able to utilize.

    Also, consider purchasing a large colorful world map or a large map of your home country (or city or state) that you can display on the wall in your home where you kids have easy access to it. Mark home and then begin making places you visit. Show the kids the distance, use your finger to trace the route you took to get there. Perhaps you can also mark places you wish to visit someday.

    They can also practice making their own map. They can create a treasure hunt map (x marks the spot) or a scavenger hunt map for siblings or friends. They can draw a map of their neighborhood or plan out their route to school. Creating their own maps will help them conceptually visualize their area and think about spatial design, distance, the map key, and directions. 

    Practicing map skills with a travel guide book

    Map reading skills for middle school ages (tweens)

    Reading a map will become more and more natural the more practice your kids get. Tween map reading skills will be reinforced in school with greater detail in their geography curriculum, social studies, and history classes. This will further their study of map key symbols and basic concepts, as well as develop their depth in map reading activities.

    At this age, for more exposure at home, I suggest helping to build their map reading skills through travel guide books. This may seem strange, but having your tween choose some destinations that intrigue him/her will capture the interest even more. All of the great guides like Lonely Planet Kids and Moon Travel Guides have map inserts for every destination they highlight. From detailed city maps to hiking trails within National Parks, these travel guide books will be another excellent practice tool. Finding a place or area that piques their interest and having them read about it is a fun way of teaching map skills that doesn’t feel like work. 

    Tween map skills practice

    If you have an outdoor adventure coming up, task your tween with some map research by giving them specific goals. Older kids love being involved in the planning process and having a say in what you do and where you go. There are fun and simple ways to put this desire to be involved to use in building map reading skills. For example, ask them to locate any interesting pit stops along a road trip route. Hand them a paper map and have them help plan the route from point A to point B during your road trips. Ask them to calculate how far your campsite is from the hike you want to do.

    The main idea at this age is to foster leadership skills and build confidence as your tween ventures more outdoors. These are also opportunities to show your tweens how to be less tech-dependent. They need to know how to use a map when technology isn’t necessary or even possible. Technology sometimes fails, either because you’re in a remote area or maybe your phone dies. Developing your child’s map reading skills now will lead to a time when kids can use their map reading skills to help themselves and others, which will build and grow their independence and confidence. 

    Map reading skills for teens using a guide book

    Map reading for teenagers

    I truly believe that map reading falls under basic life skills for kids. By the time they reach their teen years, your kids should be able to identify the right map to use and know how to properly navigate their adventure. However, if your teen is not yet proficient at map reading, it’s never too late to learn new things.

    It’s definitely never too late to practice and hone those skills. Every teen, whether introverted or extroverted is looking to establish themselves in the world. They are out to prove themselves capable. If your teen does not yet fully grasp the purposes and elements of a map, go backwards and start from where you need to (see the steps listed above).

    You can assign practical map reading tasks to your teen based on their personality and interests. If your teenager is showing signs of leadership and wants to take charge, it’s time to let them fly. When you have a teen that is more reserved or cautious, you can encourage him/her to be the route planner. He/She can take a crucial behind-the-scenes role.  

    Adding elevation to your teen’s map reading skills

    During the teen years, you can introduce topographical maps and contour maps that show not just space, but the land relationship. Elevation is a big deal and very important to know and be aware of before choosing a hiking trail. You will want your teen to be able to read a map that has those markings. Contour lines will help you do this and learn about elevation. 

    A topographic map legend will show natural features and include wavy-like lines that will extend from a peak. These contour lines let you know how much elevation gain there will be on a trail. Understanding how to read elevation on a map will help you determine if you can safely accomplish a hike. Maps provide guidance and navigation by showing what to expect and guide you in assessing specific routes. 

    Washington guide books with maps

    City streets and transportation maps

    Another next step at this age can be very detailed city maps and transportation maps including an MTA subway map or a city bus route map. Knowing how to navigate around a city or plan out your transportation route is a very important skill for everyone to learn and great skills to teach teens.

    One of the best ways to experience a city is on foot and using public transportation. So, this is an awesome opportunity to let your teenager take charge and exercise his/her maps skills. Study the map before you leave home and mark your lodging and main points of interest before you drop in. Note the places you’ll be traveling to and how you’ll get there. Being prepared gives your teen all the more confidence. 

    Tokyo street map great for kids - teaching kids how to read a city map

    Detailed city map of Tokyo perfect for teens

    teenager reading a map in Mt. Rainier National Park

    Dealing with pushback

    Sometimes it can be difficult to convince kids (especially teenagers) that map reading is a necessary skill. They will argue that they can just use their phones or the car navigation system. Much of the time that is true, but not always. Technology can fail. Phones can die. Knowing where you are and how to get where you need to go via an alternate method is imperative. 

    Recently, our family was out adventuring deep in the wilderness areas of Olympic National Park in Washington. It’s an incredibly beautiful, dense, and remote location. It’s also incredibly difficult to get a cell signal for any aid on roads or trails in the area. There were quite a few times when we were unable to access maps on our phones or use our GPS.

    I felt very proud that my kids had the life skills to use a map to locate where we started, where we are, and where we want to go. And while it feels nice as a mom to watch them figure it out, it’s even more meaningful to them. To have the confidence and the maturity to use a tool and trust that their practice led them to a place of security. It gave us all more confidence and independence when out adventuring. I promise you; maps are not dead. 

    Other map reading activities

    If you are looking for other outdoor activities to practice your map reading skills, check out Geocaching with Kids. Geocaching is a real-life treasure hunt, where you find small caches (filled with trinkets and prizes) using your GPS-enabled smartphone. It’s a great way to teach kids about map reading while having fun and getting outside.

    Can you kids read a map?
    How will your kids use map reading skills on your next outdoor adventure?

    About the author

    Jen has been married to her original adventure partner, John, for 20 years. She is a mama to 3 teenagers who, although they have busy and independent lives, love to adventure in the outdoors when they can. Jen is a native of Chicago, but has lived in South Carolina for two decades and calls it home. She’s always planning the next adventure for herself or her friends, whether near or far. Hiking, kayaking, sailing with her family, or traveling the world is all about the experience and the journey. Her extroverted nature keeps her talking and smiling with anyone she meets along the way. She’s on a mission to show other busy families that traveling with teenagers is possible and fun!

    You can find Jen online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @gofamilyadventure
    Website: Go Family Adventure

  • CAMP, FAVORITE GEAR, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    The Ultimate Guide to Camping with Kids

    The idea of camping overnight with kids can be overwhelming at first. While it does take planning and preparation, we are here to tell you that taking your kids on an enjoyable camping trip is very doable. All you need is a little preparation, the right gear, and a positive mindset! Today, Creative Team members, Colorado parents, and outdoor enthusiasts, Misha and Tyler, share how to relax, enjoy spending quality time with your family, and make some sweet memories camping with kids. They share everything from different types of campsites, supplies to bring, simple camping meal ideas, and so much more.

    ultimate guide to camping with kids

    Overnight camping with kids

    Hi! We are Tyler & Misha, an outdoorsy Colorado family enjoying and experiencing the outdoors with our kid. Overnight camping with your little ones in tow may sound like an expensive and stressful effort. However, it doesn’t have to be. With a little bit of courage, some preparation, and the right gear, camping with kids can be easy and enjoyable! Not only will you appreciate the time outdoors, but your kids will also be thrilled with this new outdoor adventure.

    Camping is one of our family’s favorite outdoor summertime activities. Unlike most daily outdoor summer activities, camping can cool you down in the summer. This is especially true, if you venture up into the mountains, where the temperatures tend to be at least a few degrees cooler. We’ve spent a lot of time this summer camping with our little one and we’ve learned a lot about what works (and what doesn’t) along the way. We’re here to help guide you towards making a plan for your first (or next) overnight camping trip with your kids.

    Camping is a learning experience

    Our experience camping, especially with kids, comes with a lot of practice and trial and error. Don’t expect to get everything right the first time. And don’t be afraid to get things wrong. That’s how you learn! (And for the most part, most camping mistakes and forgotten items tend to not be as big of a deal as you might expect). Confidence in overnight camping with kids will only come after you practice, make mistakes, and find your groove. And you can’t make mistakes if you never go — so let’s go!

    A fair warning though, once you start camping with kids, there’s no going back! Camping with  This amazing outdoor activity will be so much more fun than you can imagine. It’ll be worth all the work. At the end of your trip, the stories and experience will pull on you and you’ll be compelled to take your kids out almost every weekend for a fun camping trip.

    how to go camping with kids

    Benefits of camping for kids

    There are so many benefits of camping under the stars and even more when you’re camping with your kids. The biggest benefit to camping is breaking the monotony of daily life. Did you know kids love change? Not only does a new activity or location change a child’s perspective, but it also stimulates their brains. Kids love challenges and doing something different from everyday routines. Introducing new activities with camping can also make the trip that much more of an adventure. They learn new things, try new things, and push their potential.

    As a family, camping can also help you rediscover your bond, away from the creature comforts of home. While camping, kids learn valuable skills hands-on, responsibility and independence. It is a great time to introduce lifestyle changes and distribute responsibilities by giving simple chores for everyone to do at the campsite. Camping is not just a fun activity, but a life skill. It is a survival tactic and every kid deserves to get exposed at a young age. 

    There’s also no denying that kids love the outdoors and spending time in nature makes everyone feel better. Happiness doubles when they are able to be outdoors all day and night. The fresh air, sunshine, Vitamin D and lots of unstructured free time to play and explore are all great for kids. 

    Tips For Overnight Camping With Your Kids

    Planning a perfect camping trip with kids

    There’s no one right way to plan the perfect camping trip. Each family should evaluate what type of camping trip they’d like to experience and plan accordingly. Start by thinking about or writing down the things you want to accomplish with this family camping trip and/or things you’d ideally like to do. Once you’ve listed your target idea(s), do some research on the best location for achieving your goals and move towards the execution part of the trip.

    It’s always good to have a purpose, but the goals for your trip don’t have to be lofty or aspiration. If your only goal for camping is to spend a great evening with your family in the woods around a campfire, then gear your preparation and research towards finding a wooded campsite and bringing lots of firewood and marshmallows. If you envison fishing, swimming or canoeing, look for a campsite near a stream. If you’d like your kids to be able to run around safely with a bunch of other kids and play, look for a group camping area in a park. 

    Choosing the right camping location

    We always recommend that for your first camping trip, choose a location close to home. Maybe within your city (or close enough to drive home if you need to bail in the middle of the night). If for any reason you find you or your kids are not enjoying the camping vibe and desperately want to leave, you can easily get back to civilization or your own home easily. With kids, you never know how they react to anything they are doing the first time. Being close to home and having the option to leave at any time gives first time campers extra peace of mind. Hopefully, you won’t need to leave, but knowing you can makes the decision to try camping in the first place a lot easier. 

    If you’ve gone camping before and are ready to venture out a bit farher, here are few tips for choosing the right camping spot for your family:

    • Check out overnight campgrounds nearby and the availability of camp spots at your local state park/national park. Pick a location that has trees or preferably a water stream. 
    • Look for locations that are not too remote. Camping areas should not disturb wildlife and should avoid wildlife encounters. 
    • Find a spot close t0 other people camping in a dispersed fashion. It’s wise to choose an area as a first-time camper with other people just in case you need help at any point. Other campers are usually more than happy to lend a helping hand. 
    • Do a little research about the location you choose for camping. For example, read up on the local wildlife and know whether it’s mosquito/tick season, rattlesnake season, what poisonous plants are nearby, etc., so that you can take necessary precautions beforehand (bring bug spray, warn kids of poison ivy).
    • Choose a spot that caters to your hobbies. For example. if you like hiking you can camp up in mountains or a state park that has trails to explore. Or if you like boating, paddle boarding, look for a campground close to a lake or water body. It’s always fun to do activities you love along with camping.

    Camping list for first time camping with kids

    Types of campsites and camping locations

    There are so many campsite options you can choose from when it comes to taking your family camping. Weigh your needs and requirements and choose the type of campsite and set up that suits you best. Timing can play a big role in choosing camp spots; it can be time-consuming to research options and during peak camping seasons, campsites book up quickly (and sometimes way in advance). Beginner campers should opt for comfort and safety when going with kids. However, with that said, camping is a rugged activity, so don’t be afraid to get a little off the beaten path!

    1. Reserved campground (paid )

    If you’re a first-time camper, we’d highly recommend you to choose the option of camping at a reserved campsite. 

    Reserved camp spots are a hassle-free smooth option for convenient camping. For this, you will have to look into camping options at your local state parks, National Parks, lakes, BLM, etc. to book a spot. You can usually book online and get all the info on the website that you need about what ammenies are available nearby and what’s provided. These spots are usually open reservations 6 months to 1 year in advance, so you need to be way ahead to book a spot for yourself. This is not always the case, but for peak season (summer) expect to book further out. 

    Reserved camp spots are usually set up for you beforehand and offer you a site to pitch your tent and park your RV/camper. They often provide you with picnic tables, grill/campfire pit, trash cans, clean toilets (if you’re lucky you may find clean showers). These campgrounds may offer a good amount of shade from the trees and are usually well maintained. 

    2. First come first serve (paid or free)

    Most US National Parks and National Forests hold a loop in the campground that is open for first-come, first-serve purposes. These are a great option for spontaneous campers. These spots are under the state authority hence they usually provide you with all basic amenities as the reserved camp spots. 

    Sometimes these sites have restrictions, like tent camping only, so make sure to read the fine print and weigh your options before camping here. They also usually offer a picnic table, toilets, trash cans, and some shade depending on what state you’re at. No prior booking is needed so there’s a good chance you may find a spot if you arrive earlier in the day.

    types of tents for camping and campsites

    3. Dispersed camping (free)

    Dispersed camping is a term used for camping on land outside of a designated campground. Yes, you guessed it right, it’s camping on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land. BLM land offers you the opportunity to camp anywhere on public land. You can take your RV’s/campers/tents and camp under the stars wherever and whenever.

    Sometimes there are readily used BLM campgrounds, which operate like first-come, first-serve campgrounds. They may have campfire rings and they may have toilets, but these are usually not part of the BLM camping experience.

    There’s almost always no fee involved for dispersed camping because there are usually no amenities that come with it. You just have a giant chunk of land all to yourself to enjoy with your family. This is our favorite camping style and the camping style we prefer 95% of the time. You’re usually not dealing with any other campers nearby, so you don’t have to keep the kids quiet (and you won’t have rowdy campers waking you up in the middle of the night).

    However, dispersed camping also calls for a lot of personal responsibility because there’s no one around to help you out if needed and no one there to question your actions. That said, you must be mindful to pick your own trash and dump it at a nearby dump when you get a chance. Always remember the Leave No Trace principles!

    4. Camping on private land (paid or free)

    If you’re lucky enough to know someone with private land, that’s another option for camping. Similar to dispersed camping, camping on private land means that you’ll probably have the entire area to yourself. There may not be cleared locations for a fire and/or tent, so be mindful of your surroundings and make sure you have permission to clear spaces or make a fire. 

    You can also pay to camp on private land. Websites like hipcamp.com are great for finding provide land to rent that’s away for others or only allows small dispersed groups. HipCamp rents tent and RV sites, as well as unique camping and glamping properties like teepees, hammock camps, cabins, etc. 

    Tips for Camping with Kids - everything you need to pack when camping with kids

    Choose a style of camping that suits you best

    Just like there are a variety of different campsite options, there are also a lot of different ways to set up your camp. Whether you’re tent camping, car camping, cabin camping or something in between, you’re guaranteed to have fun. Try one, try them all! Find the style of camping that best suits your family and have fun experimenting along the way. Camping with kids is all about getting outside together. The point is to connect your kids to nature and encourage them to spend time outdoors right? Any form of camping does just that!

    Tent camping

    A good tent can cost anywhere from $250- $1000 new. However, you can also get a tent second-hand much cheaper, or you can borrow a tent from a friend, if you are new to camping and just want to try it out. In that case, any tent that will fit your family is perfect for this adventure.

    Tent camping is the cheapest most affordable option without a doubt. It’s also a lightweight option when camping with kids. Tent camping is our most preferred option because we love sleeping under the stars and feeling the earth beneath us. Also, this is the simplest style of camping. If you love the outdoors and love hiking, this will give you more opportunities to explore than any other option out there.

    Please note, tent camping comes with a little more safety prep than other options.  (Please refer to the Safety section above for details.)

    Rooftop tent

    Rooftop tent can cost anywhere from $750 (basic) to $5000. These are more expensive than regular tents and you need to make sure your vehicle can handle them. We recommend looking for used ones.

    Rooftop tents are an upgraded version of plain ol’ on-the-ground tent camping. A lot of parents are opting for it due to the convenience of it being a smooth camping option, off the ground, but still under the stars. You don’t have to worry about pitching and un-pitching a tent because your rooftop tent is practically already set up (you just have to unfold it). Plus, they come with a thick mattress pad and are set on top of your car roof, so you can basically take it anywhere and anytime without paying any extra cost.

    This is a fun way to camp with your kids on the go! Also, you have a lower risk of bugs and critters bothering you.

    Overnight Camping with Kids - what to eat, what to bring, what to wear, what to do when camping

    RV/camper camping

    RVs and/or campers can run anywhere from $6000 and up (way way up). You can get them used (we highly recommend this) or buy a new one from a dealer. You can also rent an RV/camper before purchasing to see if this is the type of camping you and your family enjoy. 

    If you’re a first-time camper, unless you have a lot of money to invest on your first camping trip, this is not the most recommended option. RVs are expensive, so it makes sense to ensure you enjoy camping before you jump in and spend a lot of money. However, if you know you love camping and exploring the natural world around you, RV camping can enable you to extend your adventures, camp in dispersed campgrounds for longer periods of time, and camp in pretty much in all weather conditions very very comfortably. 

    While RV camping is a more glamourous way of camping (glamping got its name from somewhere), you and your family will still spend a lot more time outside and will connect with your kids more than you may have by remaining at home. Campfires, hiking, playing with nature finds, digging in the dirt, playing card games or board games on a picnic table, swimming in the nearby water, fishing, cooking over an open flame, enjoying a campground playground, and so many more outdoor adventures still happen while RV camping.

    Vehicle camping

    Yes, it’s a thing! And all you really need is a car (or truck, or minivan, or SUV) with room enough for all of you to lay down and a mattress pad for comfort. Vehicle camping means that you can camp even if you do not have a tent or RV. If you have a vehicle with seats that flip down, an air mattress, and some blankets, you can cruise over to the mountains for some car camping with your kids.

    The most spontaneous camping trips we’ve ever done, and the most successful ones, have to be when we decided to take the road less traveled and made our way to the county roads. Try it once and thanks us later! 

    camping checklist for camping with kids

    Be aware of the weather in your camp area

    Weather plays an important role when it comes to camping. Prepare ahead of time by checking the weather forecast for the area to help you avoid forecasted rain, strong winds or storms. But also know that sometimes rain and other inclement weather can appear suddenly, without much warning.

    Rain is a common thing when overnight camping in the woods. Luckily, tents usually come with a rain cover. Make sure your bring your rain fly and know how to use it. Also, be prepared with a few indoor tent activities (card games, coloring books, etc.) or rain gear (boots and rain coats), so that you can continue to enjoy your camping experience despite the surprise weather.

    NOTE: Along with weather, you may want to check forest fires and flash flood warning in your area. Interstate openings/closing info to avoid waiting in long traffic and your local weather-related forecast.

    Camping essentials for first-time campers

    There’s a lot of gear you can take with you when you go camping. However, you don’t always need all that stuff. Your first time caping with kids means that you’ll probably significantly overpack (and that’s ok!). With a little experience, you’ll quickly realize that you don’t need much for an overnight camping trip with kids. And actually, the less stuff you have, the easier it is to get out of the house and the more creative and resourceful you (and your kids) will learn to be. 

    We have made a list of essential camping gear for overnight camping with kids that exclusively caters to tent camping/roof tent camping. 

    • Tent (with rain cover) 
    • Tarp
    • Mattress pad/air mattress 
    • Mattress pump
    • Sleeping bags, pillows, blankets
    • Down jackets (or any cold-weather jacket)
    • Rain jackets, boots
    • Water containers (keep two 10 gallons)
    • Water filter
    • Food supplies
    • Coolers/ice chests (to keep necessary food cold and fresh)
    • Stove/grill
    • Lighter/matches
    • Dry wood (for campfire)
    • Plates, utensils
    • Soap
    • Trash bags
    • Towels
    • Toilet paper (even if the campground has toilets, sometimes the bathrooms run out of TP)
    • Ziplock bags
    • Totes for supplies
    • Lighting (headlamps, lanterns, flashlights, fairy lights)
    • Music/speakers (optional)

    Camping safety is important

    Safety is of utmost importance when camping out in the wild, especially with kids. It is always good to be proactive and prepared. Below is a list of the most basic things you can take along with you to keep you safe and prepared for any situation.

    • First aid kit
    • Flashlights
    • Airhorn
    • Bear spray
    • Bug spray/tick spray
    • Sunscreen
    • GPS-device
    • Map of the location (internet may not work everywhere)
    • Tool kit
    • Rope 
    • Duct tape

    Note: If a life-threatening emergency happens, do not fiddle around using your first aid kit, call 911 immediately. First aid kits are for minor injuries. Unless you are a skilled medical practitioner or have some kind of training related to a medical emergency, call for help!

    Campfire food ideas

    Camping food that can save you time and energy

    Usually, when camping, you can take pre-prepared meals or raw produce to cook at the campsite. If you opt for the latter, we have some quick meals that we cook at the campsite and you’d enjoy it too. 

    • Chicken/turkey cheese sandwiches. All you need is sliced meat from a deli, some cheese, bread, and any condiments you like. You can eat it raw or grill on your campfire. (If you have never used a cast iron skillet before this is a great time to make good use of it)
    • Pasta/ mac & cheese. Kids love pasta (with tomato sauce or just butter) and mac & cheese. Both are pretty quick meal ideas or sides you can offer them.
    • Soup (any kind your family loves). You can make your own or buy cans or packets from the grocery store. Heating up soup is quick and easy.
    • S’mores! Do we have to explain that?
    • Burgers (or hot dogs) on the campfire. Burgers are the most cooked food at our campsite. Throw some patties on a cast iron pan, cheese on top, grill some buns and you have another quick meal ready. Hot dogs can be cooked on a stick!
    • Sauteed veggies, mashed potatoes, and campfire grilled chicken with toasted buns. This looks like a super fancy thanksgiving dinner kinda meal but this is a very quick and yummy meal that gives everyone their favorite item on one plate.
    • Box of oatmeal – Oatmeal packets make for an easy breakfast. (Pancakes or waffles are other delicious easy to prepare options too.)
    • Pack some beverages of your choice and juice for kids to cool yourselves down. Make sure you have plenty of water in addition to your other beverages.
    • Coffee or tea for mornings, so you don’t run around like zombies the whole time.
    • Chips and dips. Kids enjoy this snack and so do adults. It’s a great appetizer to keep everyone satiated while you learn how to cook over the campfire. 
    • Grab and go fruit. Apples, bananas, mandarines, and even grapes are perfect fruits to pack on camping trips. They don’t require any prep work (except washing) and are easy to store outside of an ice chest.
    • Lots of snacks & protein bars. These are obviously perfect for snacking on all day, but also for when you go off on adventures away from the campsite. 

    You can add anything you like to this list. These are just simple food ideas we use on our camping adventures. Make sure you have good coolers so your food is fresh and ziplock bags to store leftovers.

    NOTE: Do not put food anywhere close to your tent or even inside of it, as it will attract wildlife. To be safe lock the food in your car, use provided bear boxes or other campground recommended options.

    Overnight Camping with Kids - food, snacks and meal ideas for camping with kids

    Easy ways to pack your food supplies and camp gear

    When camping with kids, be sure to organize your supplies and camping gear in a way that makes sense and works for your family and situation. You do not want to reach your campsite and not be able to find important things. As a parent, we already have our hands full and we do not want to leave any room for more any issues or forgotten items. Camping with kids is not hard, but it is way easier when you pack what you need and can find it easily.

    Organizing camp gears

    When leaving for a camping trip, make sure you have everything organized and ready to load. Separate things into categories and pack accordingly. We suggest making separate totes/crates for these separate supplies.

    • Dry food & supplies
    • Camp gear
    • Coolers full of cold/perishable foods
    • Miscellaneous

    Label your totes

    Once you’ve separated things into totes, label and make sure they are closed securely. One trick is to take a piece of paper, write the contents of the totes, and seal it with clear tape. This looks like a lot of work but it comes in super handy for parents. If you have older kids this is a great way to start distributing responsibility amongst them and start your trip in an organized manner. That’s right! Getting your older kids to help you organize for the camping trip, helps them build skills they can use their whole life.

    Pack perishable food in a cooler

    Invest in at least two good size coolers. We highly suggest having one 60-65 hard and one 40-45 Soft cooler. The hard cooler can be used to store all beverages, meat, milk, and premade food from home. The soft cooler for cheese, dips, sauces, and other quick food items you may wanna eat on the way. A bag or two of ice is gonna be good for an overnight trip, if you plan to extend the trip, dry ice is a better choice. You can always buy more ice at local grocery stores or gas stations if you are camping near a town.

    Insulated coolers that keep the food cold and fresh for over 5 days are good to invest in. Also, look for bear-proof coolers, those are a game-changer.

    Organize baby/toddler or kid items in a separate box

    Basic everyday essentials for your baby/toddler should be easily accessible. Do not forget to bring extra diapers, wipes, itch/rash creams, or their favorite toys. Keeping it separate will keep your children from digging through other important supplies (where they shouldn’t reach). Kids tend to dig into stuff and during camping trips because items that are usually inaccessible are stored in different locations. They can find lighters, matchsticks, or certain items they shouldn’t play with or be close to. 

    Overnight Camping with Kids

    Explore, pitch, and enjoy your night

    When you arrive at your destination, well equipped with all the essential items, the first thing is to find your campsite. If you have pre-reserved your camping location, you just have to unload and pitch your tent or park your camper in your designated spot. The site is almost ready for you to start your camping adventure.

    If you haven’t pre-reserved the campground and reach a National Forest for dispersed camping, here are a few tips to get started.

    Explore the area thoroughly

    Before you begin to unload your stuff, it’s a good habit to investigate the area.  As parents we all have an instinct, we know if the place gives us the right vibe. Go explore the place and see where are you on the map. We mentioned GPS as one of the essentials and it comes in handy right now. It basically gives you a solid idea of your location, nearby forest, weather, etc. Also, you may want to decide where you want to park your family for the night so this is the time when you can find a spot at your dispersed camping area.

    Pitch your tent

    After you’ve found that perfect spot, it’s time to unload your stuff. We recommend pitching your tent before unloading everything. You want to do it before dark unless you have a rooftop tent or a camper. Spread a plastic tarp under your tent before you pitch your tent, this will keep all the dirt and dust out of the tent and you will have a clean tent to step into.

    Once you have pitched your tent, spray the bug spray inside your tent and zip your tent back up. You will have no mosquitoes or bugs all night this way. If you have made it to your camp early and you have a lot of daylight time, you can go and explore or do some fun activities with kids before the campfire or you can just let your kids play around and spend this time settling down and unload rest of the stuff.

    Campfire and food time

    Gather the wood or use the dry wood you bought for this camping trip. If there is not an existing campfire ring, use some rocks/bricks to make one. We have a great post on how to build a campfire with kids. This is a great time to teach your kids fire safety and caution. This is also a great time during the camp night for music, discussions, or just fun with kids. The campfire is also perfect for making S’mores with your kids and cooking or reheat your meals.

    Make good use of this time because we truly believe campfire nights are magical. You can make your own family campfire songs or a game that you play during overnight camping with your kids. Have a great time together, eat delicious food, and watch stars the whole night. Create something exclusive to your family, so your kids enjoy spending time with you and you can make some beautiful memories together. Here are some ways to make campfire and bonfires magical for kids! 

    Sleep under the stars

    As it gets dark, you will want to switch on your tent lights or lanterns for everyone to find their space to sleep. If you have a baby/toddler you might want to place a travel bed inside or co-sleep, whichever you are more comfortable with. Change your kids to warm clothes. Generally, nights are colder, and tents, cars, and RVs are not insulated as well are your home.

    You all might want to wear an additional layer to keep yourselves toasty throughout the night. Get inside your sleeping bags or under your blankets and call it a night. It’s gonna be a cozy night, so hug each other before bed. Have a wonderful night! 

    Note: Go into a camping trip knowing that you probably won’t sleep as well as you do at home in your own bed. Yes, you may be extra tired in the morning, but that’s a small price to pay for the memories you’ll have of this adventure. Knowing this before going into your trip will prepare you. 

    Overnight Camping with Kids - tips and advice for parents and new campers

    A few more tips and tricks for camping with kids

    • Plan and prepare your trip ahead of time. If you leave it for the last minute, important things may get missed.
    • Leave anything you find at the campsite as-is. If it doesn’t belong to you, it may belong to people who camped before you. Leave it behind. Except for obvious trash. Always pick up trash and leave the campsite looking better than you found it.
    • Do not leave any traces behind. It should look like you never camped there.
    • Be extremely mindful of trash disposal. A simple trick is to throw trash in trash bags as you make it. Hang a trash bag from a table or your car and keep loading it until full. Do not litter. If there’s a place to dispose of your trash properly, do so. Otherwise, take it with you and make sure it gets taken care of. 
    • Minimize campfire impacts. Use campfire wood in small chunks to avoid creating a big fire. Once you are ready for bed, calm down the fire and put the fire out before going to bed. Forest fires are a major issue! Be careful.
    • Please respect the wildlife in your camp area and do not disturb their lifestyle. Always remember you are visiting their home and you need to give them their space.
    • When camping at campgrounds with other people, make sure you are not disturbing their peace or encroaching their space. With kids, it’s hard to not be loud but this is the time you can teach your kids to be considerate of other’s space and privacy. Also, remind kids not to walk through other people’s campsites.
    • Before you go into the tent at night, use your flashlight to check for bugs or other critters. This is just for extra peace of mind.
    • Keep the airhorn, bear spray, or other items like this in the tent, but away from the kid’s reach. Maybe keep a child-proof box or just clip it in your tent.

    We hope this guide, full of tips and tricks for an overnight camping trip with kids is handy for you as a parent. We would love to hear how it went for you as a first-time camper.

    Additional camping resources for parents

    If you’re looking for even more info on how to camp with kids, we’ve got you covered. Check out these great camping resources below:

    family camping gear packing checklist

    Printable camping gear lists for families

    To make it easier for you to get started on your next family camping trip, we put our ultimate camping packing list for your family in a free printable 2-page PDF for you! Use this as the perfect start to create your own master packing list. You’ll also be signed up to receive our  AMAZING weekly newsletter, filled with fun outdoor activities and inspiration for getting your kids and family outside! You can opt-out anytime (although we’d hate to see you go). 

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    Where will your next (or first) camping adventure be?
    Happy camping!

    About the author

    Indian Oracle is an interracial family of 3 based in Boulder, CO: Juno (Tyler), Misha (Uplabdhi), and their son Zen (Tarakshya). Juno and Misha have been raising Zen exclusively outdoors ever since he was born. His first outdoor exposure was a short hike at 2 weeks, and his first travel experience was an international flight at 2 months to India. Misha firmly believes that the outdoors brings out a holistic personality and growth of a child. Their family is always in the wilderness, raising their kid in the wild outdoors. They are passionate hikers, mountain bikers, and motorbikers. The Indian Oracle family is always on the go and encourages other families to quit a monotonous lifestyle by opting outdoors. They share easy, doable, and feasible ways to live an outdoor lifestyle. “You don’t need awesome gears and comfy campers to be outdoors, you need a passion and love for mother nature.”

    You can find more from Misha online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @indianoracle
    RWMC posts: Indian Oracle

  • FAMILY TRAVEL, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PRINTABLES

    Get Out Guides

    Traveling and exploring with kids is so much fun, but finding those adventures and planning the activities can be time-consuming and frustrating. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a resource for parents, put together by like-minded outdoorsy parents, all about getting OUTSIDE with kids in the city you’re visiting?! And what if that resource included all of the fun ways to spend time together OUTSIDE, from outdoor dining to hiking and biking, to water activities and playgrounds? Friends, you’re in luck!

    Run Wild My Child has that resource just for you! We are pleased to announce the launch of our Get Out Guides! Executive team member Nichole Holze has put her talent for finding unique kid-friendly outdoor adventures to use as the Editor of these new guides, which are available now!

    get out guides pinterest

     

    What exactly are Get Out Guides?

    As super-outdoorsy parents, we get asked all the time for our favorite outdoor activities with kids. We’ve tried so many. We love finding new creative, and unique ways to spend time outside together. And we want you to do the same. So, we put everything together for you in one convenient place! Introducing…our Get Out Guides! 

    The Run Wild My Child Get Out Guides are our one-stop resource for travel planning! We know what outdoor activities kids (and parents) love. We designed these digital ebooks (which you can print, if you want) with outdoor-loving families in mind! These guides are meant to help you plan your travels (both near and far) or perhaps even help you be a tourist in your own city. 

    They’re cultivated to be a resource to help you discover fun places to explore both close to home and while traveling. The Get Out Guides are community-sourced and vetted, with lists of things to do and places to see, each carefully selected to highlight a different adventure in a specific city or area. 

    EXPLORING VIRGINIA BEACH WITH KIDS - BEST OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

     

    What is in the Get Out Guides?

    Our Get Out Guides are packed full of enough adventures to keep you busy for an entire vacation and beyond. While each guide is unique to the area it covers, there are a few commonalities that you’ll find in all of our Get Out Guides. The following items and topics can be found in each of our Get Out Guides:

    • hiking trails
    • biking trails
    • outdoor dining locations (and to-go food options for outdoor picnics)
    • parks and playgrounds
    • farms and farmer’s markets
    • unique outdoor attractions
    • nature centers and gardens
    • water adventures
    • sample itineraries (if you only have a day or weekend to explore)
    • resources

    Each Get Out Guide is unique

    Each Get Out Guide is jam-packed with our favorite tried and tested outdoor activities. We’ve included all the favorites (listed above), but each city has so many things that make it unique, so each guide will be a little different and tailored to highlight what’s great about each area.

    For example, our Bentonville Get Out Guide has a “day in the life” page that highlights an ideal day from a local parent, extra biking adventures (because Bentonville is known for that), links to websites or social media for all of the adventures listed, places to stay and camp, and an interactive map that you can use to play your activities! The St. Louis Get Out Guide has all the traditional outdoor activities listed above, but includes additional fun things to do like golfing, fishing (fly fishing and spinning rod), geocaching, baseball, urban adventures, animal encounters, and more! 

    cossatot river state park

    Why do you need a Get Out Guide?

    Why wouldn’t you?!

    But really, these guides are going to help so many parents just like you find new ways to explore outside with your kids. We want to cultivate a resource for busy families that aligns with our core value of getting kids off screens and outdoors. That applies while traveling or adventuring in your hometown. We want to make it a little easier for parents to plan outdoor adventures while traveling and be a resource for local families to discover even more adventures right in their own city. 

    Our Get Out Guides are different than traditional travel guides. You won’t find many major indoor attractions in them. Fewer play centers, more parks, and playgrounds. Fewer museums, more hikes, and creeks. Fewer restaurants, more patios, and picnic options. They focus on the OUTDOORS, on connecting you and your kids (not only to each other, but also) to nature. They’ll give you tons of ideas and inspiration for making lifelong outside memories with your family, and help you raise a nature kid.

    We hope that these Get Out Guides inspire you to examine how you spend time outdoors while vacationing and open new doors to adventure right at home. 

    Who are the Get Out Guides for?

    Busy parents that want to spend more time adventuring outside with their kids. Is that you? 

    Truly, our intention with these guides is to share adventures that are accessible for everyone. Whether you’re a local parent wanting new ideas for places to explore and things to do in your own city or just passing through the area on a family road trip and want to get outside to explore and play, this guide is for you. We know that you don’t have a million hours to research all the best outdoor places to play and plan your activities. And sometimes the research won’t get you the “good spots’ that only the locals know about! That’s why these guides are so good – they’re written by parents that know, live, and play in that area. 

    We hope our guides will bring value and a little relief when it comes to planning outdoor adventures. They will save you time. They will save you the headache. And they will blow you away! 

    virginia beach travel guide for familiesplayground el dorado arkansas

    How does RWMC put them together?

    Each Get Out Guide is put together a member of our team or volunteer from our community that lives in the area they’re covering. Not only do we each know our respective areas VERY well, but we also reached out to other local moms in our online community to make sure all our bases were covered. 

    With each upcoming new guide we put out, we hope to gather contributions from our amazing community! And yes, that includes YOU! We have an intake form for anyone and everyone to make submissions of their favorite outdoor activities, adventures, and locations in their area. If your submission is included in the Guide, you’ll receive a spot on the contributor page with a link of your choosing! 

    What format are the Get Out Guides and how can I get one?

    The Get Out Guides are digital downloadable PDFs. When you purchase a Get Out Guide, you’ll receive a link to download a zip file that contains the guide. You’ll also receive an email with the link. You can save the Get Out Guide to your computer or phone for easy access anytime you want. Or, you can print them out and refer back to them as you need to. Feel free to make notes on the places you want to explore or check them off as you check them out!

    The Get Out Guides are for sale on the Run Wild My Child website. 

    Make sure to sign up for our newsletter so that you can be one of the first ones to know when a new guide is released! 

    treehouse garvan gardens, hot springs, arkansas

    Get Out Guides – Bentonville, Arkansas

    Northwest Arkansas is a not-so-hidden-anymore gem of a place to visit, especially with kids. It’s where art and nature combine, where bike trails connect the entire city, and public art can be found on every corner. You’ll also find a thriving foodie culture and a world-class coffee scene. Northwest Arkansas is so much more than the home of Walmart and we want to invite you to see all it has to offer! Get the Guide!

    Get Out Guides – St. Louis, MO

    We are also launching the Get Out Guide for St. Louis, Missouri. If you know STL, you know that nature is everywhere in this city! It’s easier than you would ever think to find a challenging hike through the woods with gorgeous bluff overviews, a shallow rock-bed creek to explore, or long flat biking trails through parks, fields, and neighborhoods. Yes, St. Louis is home to the Arch and the Budweiser Clydesdales and the Cardinals (all of which we cover), but it’s so much more! It’s surrounded by limestone caves and coldwater trout streams and art and food! It’s a lovely place to live and fun to explore if you’re in the area. Get the Guide!

    crystal bridges arkansas flys eye dome

    Get Out Guide – Cape Cod, MA

    Cape Cod is a charming and picturesque geographic cape in the southeast corner of Massachusetts. It is a popular summer vacation destination but features tons of year-round outdoor fun and adventure. It’s an expansive area, and can be a bit overwhelming to find all the good outdoorsy stuff you’re looking for. The Guide will help you find a gorgeous beach to explore, a bike trail to trek, a windy river to kayak, a tidepool to explore, the best kid-friendly hiking trails, and our favorite ice cream shops. There are so many unique Instagrammable locations, amazing restaurants and boutiques, beautiful lighthouses, historic trails and museums, and so much more!

    Get Out Guide – Virginia Beach, VA

    Virginia Beach is hands-down one of the prettiest, most fun, and outdoorsy beach towns on the Eastern Shore. Virginia Beach is the largest city in the state and covers a huge area, so it can be really overwhelming for families to find all the good outdoorsy stuff you’re looking for. That’s where our guide comes in! We’re here to help you find a gorgeous beach to explore, a bike trail to trek, a place to see wildflife, a tidepool to explore, and an outdoor patio to enjoy a seafood lunch with your kids. There are so many unique Instagrammable locations, amazing restaurants and boutiques, educational outdoor activities, skate parks, historic landmarks, gorgeous trails, kid-friendly museums, and so much more!

    More Get Out Guides coming soon!

    Stay tuned because we’re working hard on a few more Get Out Guides. Upcoming Get Out Guides include Lake Tahoe, Kansas City, San Diego, and MORE! We have boots on the ground with Creative Team members in these areas that are busy helping us find the absolute BEST outdoor activities. If you’re interested in submitting an idea for the Get Out Guides, visit THIS link or reach out to our Get Out Guide Editor, Nichole. You can find her on Instagram at @coleyraeh or on her website. 

    best outdoor activities for kids in virginia beach

    GET THE GUIDES

    We are so thrilled to launch the new Run Wild My Child Get Out Guides! We hope that they help to inspire you to get outside and adventure together, whether close to home or on the road! Happy adventuring! 

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  • FAVORITE GEAR, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    How to Get Started Playing Golf with Your Kids

    Summer is the time of year when children tend to have a lot more downtime. School is out, the days are longer, and children want to be outside doing something fun. What better time to introduce a new sport to your child! Not only will it give them something new and exciting to spend time doing outside, but learning a new sport is full of opportunities to gain new skills, make friends, burn off energy, and so much more! Today, Creative Team member and outdoor adventure dad, Matthew Marvich, is sharing his knowledge on introducing golf to kids. This guide is perfect for anyone interested in golfing with kids, including what equipment is needed, ideas for practicing, the steps to encourage a love of the game, and much more! 

    {This post contains affiliate links.}

    Golfing with Kids - A Complete Guide to Getting Started Golfing

    Introducing golf to kids

    Have you ever wanted to introduce your kids to the game of golf, but do not know where to begin? Perhaps you play the game yourself and want to get your kids involved to create a family experience. Or, maybe you are a grandparent who wants to pass the knowledge of the game down to your grandchildren? If you have contemplated these questions, breathe a sigh of relief because I have too!

    Golfing with kids is a fun activity for the whole family. A golf course is a great place to make memories and spend quality time together. You don’t have to be Tiger Woods to enjoy a round of golf. (Trust me, you don’t have to be very good at all to have fun.) I am here today to share tips on how to get started golfing with kids.

    Tips for Teaching Kids How to Play Golf

    Golf is a generational family sport

    Golf is a generational game. I am not only referring to its origination in Scotland during the 13th century, but more so the generational relationships it will create. If you are reading this and play golf, then you are already taking the steps to pass down the game to your children. My grandfather played golf, his sons (my dad and uncles) still play, and most of their children (including me and my siblings) play. And now I am teaching my four-year-old son to play. I want my son to have similar memories of playing with his father and other family members. I want him to take this game through his teenage years and into adulthood. Someday I hope he teaches his children how to play golf.

    So, if creating generational family memories with your children is something you want too, I encourage you to try golfing with your kids.

    Benefits of playing golf for kids

    Golf teaches life lessons

    Many other sports allow you to bend the rules or push them to their limits. In some professional sports, you are encouraged to break the rules until the referee catches you. Golf couldn’t be further from this. It is an individual sport and you are the ref of your own game.

    In the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA), integrity must be held to the highest standard. If you feel some intimidation at this point, let me ease your mind. The point is to encourage your kids to enjoy golfing and to do this, the rules of the game are gradually introduced as a child’s skill level increases. We will discuss below how to adjust the game to your child’s skill level and enhance their experience. 

    Golf takes time and patience to learn, but if you see it through the payoff is a lifetime of enjoyment. Once you learn to play, you can play well into your latest of years. That is an advantage that golf has over many of the other sports. Other sports also depend upon your physical attributes and fitness level. This is why golf is a great sport to learn at a young age, even as a secondary sport. As time goes on the main or number one sport may fade, but golf will always be an option. Golf was always a secondary sport for me and I am glad I listened to my dad years ago and stuck with it. Now, it is my main sport and I get to play with my son.

    Benefits of golf

    There are so many physical and mental benefits of playing golf. Golf is a great way to get the kids physically active in a safe environment. It teaches them a sport they’ll love that can last a lifetime. It helps develop hand-eye coordination and large gross motor skills. Golf is a low-intensity sport that won’t over-tax their small, growing bodies. It’s low-impact, but still provides vital cardiovascular exercise that promotes overall health and staves off obesity. 

    Through learning the game of golf, children will also learn discipline, patience, respect, and individualism. There is prestige to the game of golf because of its desire for honesty. These are learned character traits that will stay with them forever. Golf can help with mental and emotional development. It can serve as a stress reliever, as well.

    Because golf can be played both alone and in groups, it’s a good sport for both introverts and extroverts. It can help quiet kids become more confident. It can help active kids with concentration. When played with others, golf can foster friendships and help develop conversational, social, and emotional skills that will last a lifetime.

    Father son bonding on the golf course

    Golf is gaining popularity

    We all can agree that 2020 was difficult for everyone. We all were challenged, tried, and forced to seek new outlets. Golf was a beneficiary of everyone’s recent emphasis on spending time outdoors. For the most part, this is because golf can be played individually (socially distanced), doesn’t require any gear-sharing, and is all outside. In 2020, golf had a net increase of 500,000 players. This includes new golfers such as those who played their first-round ever and returning golfers who had not played in years. 

    It is the highest increase for the sport in over 17 years! I can speak directly to these statistics! I played more golf in 2020 than I played in the last 5 years combined. And many friends who hadn’t played before decided to pick up the game on their local courses as well. These numbers are important because I want you to know that you are not alone. Right now, there are mothers, fathers, caregivers, grandparents, and beyond who are deciding today is the day they will go golfing with their kids! 

    So let’s join in on the fun and get started together! 

    Having fun golfing with kids - father son outdoor activities

    Best age to start playing golf with kids

    There’s no right time age to learn how to play golf. You can learn to play golf from age 2 through 102. Research suggests that kids that start playing golf early are more likely to play golf as adults, but there’s no right or wrong time to start. If your child needs lessons or formal instruction, it’s best to save that until your kids are school-age (5-6) when their attention span is long enough for them to take in the lessons and rules. All kids (all golfers) progress and develop at different rates. What is right for one child is not necessarily right for another, so use your judgment as a parent (or grandparent) to know what’s best for your kid based on his/her age and personality. 

    Golf equipment for kids

    Here’s a list of basic golf equipment you may want to have when playing golf with kids:

    • clubs (driver, iron, wedge, and putter)
    • golf bag
    • golf balls
    • tees
    • ball markers (you can use a coin for this as well)

    Having the right golf equipment is important, but, golfing with kids does not need to be expensive. You don’t need to go out and buy a bunch of new equipment and clothes. For your first outing, try renting clubs (or borrowing them from a friend), just to see if this is a sport you’d like to continue to play. 

    If you know you want to purchase clubs and/or any gear, let your children be a part of the process. Your purchases can be as simple as tees, a sleeve of balls, and ball markers, and your child’s involvement can go a long way with increasing their engagement level. What kid doesn’t love using the new toy or equipment they helped pick out?

    Practicing golf with kids

    Golf clubs for kids

    The first thing you will need is golf clubs. Golf clubs can be purchased new or used. Clubs are categorized by height and club weight when they are at the junior level. You can measure your child’s height and determine which set is best for them. The most essential clubs that a child would need when playing golf are a driver, a wood, irons, sand-wedge, and putter. You’ll also need a golf bag to carry your clubs in. 

    Having the right size and weight of the club is really important when you’re just beginning. Golf is a hard game to learn and clubs that are not the right size can make it impossibly hard. It’s better to only have a club or 2 that’s the right size/weight than a whole bag of clubs that are way too big and unwieldy. 

    Best golf clubs for kids

    I am a researcher at heart and before I do anything, go anywhere, or make any purchase I research everything possible regarding the subject. I hope that I can make your search for golfing equipment very simple and ease the burden for you. You can get a full set of very decent junior golf clubs brand new that includes a bag and enough clubs for $80-$200. You can usually find gently used junior sets in resell shops for a fraction of that price. 

    Here are the golf clubs for kids that I recommend:

    • 5 and up – I purchased the Top Flite Junior Boys Set for my son. He is almost 5, so I bought the 5-8-year-old size. He is 45” tall and this set is for 46-52.” I purchased them with the future in mind, so my child can get multiple years out of them. This is set is perfect for this age and has the essential clubs that he would need. The club set also comes with a bag with a stand and back straps so he can carry it with ease.
    • Under 5 – For the younger golfer, the Precise XD-J Junior Set is a great option for 3-5-year-olds. This set comes highly recommended from multiple sites and is similar to the Top Flite set. The only difference is it does not include the sand wedge. This is intentional because shots from around the green and in sand traps are difficult for that age group.
    • Under 3 – If your children are younger than 3, then there is a perfect plastic set for them! It comes with three clubs (driver, iron, and putter) and a bag with a carrying strap. This particular set looks more similar to an adult set than other plastic versions out there. 

    Best Golf Clubs for Kids

    Best golf balls for kids

    The next item is golf balls. Here’s a place where you certainly don’t need to spend top dollar when getting started. For the most part, any ball will do to learn the basics of swinging a club and chasing down your ball. Plus, kids are much more likely to lose balls, so don’t give them anything expensive that you’re not ok with mysteriously disappearing. 

    You can purchase any low-dollar golf balls such as the Nitro golf balls which come in multiple colors. Letting your child pick a color will help them feel a part of the process and get them excited about using them on the course. You can also purchase practice balls that can be used in the backyard or a nearby park. These can be a great way to introduce the game without having to leave your house.

    Playing on a golf course with kids

    Golf attire for kids

    What do golfers wear? This is usually specified in the rules of the golf course or club where you’re playing. Some courses require a collared shirt. Unless otherwise stated by the golf course you are golfing on, it doesn’t really matter what you wear. But, in case you want to look like a typical golfer, here is what you may consider wearing.

    Typical golf attire for a male from top to bottom is a hat or visor, polo/collared-shirt, shorts (no jean shorts), belt, and golf shoes. For a female, it is a hat or visor, polo/collared-shirt, shorts/skirt/skort, and golf shoes. These do not need to be expensive “golfing” clothing line choices like Titleist or Nike. They can be any clothing brand that fits and makes your child feel comfortable. 

    Golf shoes have adapted over the years from spikes to a hybrid shoe. I believe the hybrid shoe is more practical and convenient for beginners and the average golfer. I personally use a hybrid shoe. Kids and young people usually do not need anything fancy or specific golfing shoes. Flat-soled non-slip tennis shoes work just fine. Since my son is only 4, he just wears regular sneaker shoes when we play. 

    Golf Attire and Equipment for Kids

    Golf instruction for kids

    Now that you have the proper equipment it is time to start swinging! The object of golf is to get the ball from the tee box into the hole on the green in as few strokes as possible. You hit the ball over and over until you accomplish your goal. Sounds easy enough, right? Yes and no. 

    If you’re a golfer, you know it’s not as easy as it sounds. And if you’re new to golf, you may be surprised by how easy golf is (in theory), but how difficult it can be (in practice). Golf can take years and years to get good at. That’s why it’s a wonderful sport to play over a lifetime. Every day and every course is different. It’s what makes golf so exciting (and frustrating) for players. 

    If you’re familiar with the sport, you can easily teach your child how to play golf yourself. I recommend keeping instruction as simple as possible for beginners. Let your child’s natural swing take over and do the work. If they have played baseball previously then the swing and grip can be easily adjusted for golf. If not, there are plenty of Youtube and PGA instructional videos out there to give you the basic idea. You don’t want to get too technical and make them overthink it. The most important thing is that you have fun with it. Show them how much fun you’re having and make sure to laugh at your own mistakes.

    Make sure you communicate with your young golfer on their level. Kneel down and look them in the eye. Talk gently with enthusiasm when teaching them how to play. Simplify the terminology and teach them in ways they will relate to and understand, using shapes, sounds, and humor.

    Golf lessons for kids

    If both you and your child are beginners, I recommend getting a lesson from a local golf pro at a nearby driving range or golf course. Lessons are a great way to not only learn the rules of the game, but perfect your swing and get some pointers on how to play and improve. This will help take your skills to the next level. 

    Golf Lessons - Practice range with kids

    Practice golfing

    Golfing with kids should be fun, even while practicing! Even experienced golfers need practice. We all know how children can turn on an activity when it is no longer fun or captivating. It is important your children feel involved, so ask them what they would like to practice (driving balls or putting). Let their minds explore the sport and answer any questions they may ask.

    Practicing is also a great time to encourage your child with a “great swing” or “wow, awesome putting stroke!” My son loves to try and make long putts, so I help him line it up and he tries to get as close as he can to the hole. Practicing is a great way to get younger kids involved with golf without actually taking them to the course just yet. Let their confidence and comfort level grow with these activities. 

    • Make it a game: You can practice in your backyard with plastic balls and make games out of it. Set up a bucket or crate in the yard and see if they can hit the ball near it or better yet, in the bucket.
    • Take them to a driving range or practice green: Look up what is available to you locally and let your child see others practicing the same way they are. 
    • Sign your child up for lessons, golf camp, or junior programs: I worked at a country club during my college summers and helped with the junior program there. It is fun for the kids to be with friends and play the sport together. It’s also really beneficial for kids to see other kids their age playing golf and their skill level (and not just that of a parent or grown-up). They’ll get instruction from a golf professional who can guide children in getting better at the sport. The PGA is focused on golfing with kids so there are plenty of ways to find assistance through their association as well, including lessons and summer camp. 

    Golf putting with kids - tips for teaching kids how to play golf

    Tips for taking kids to a golf course

    Congratulations, you have made it to the best part…actually golfing with your kids! My first time taking my son to a golf course was one of the best days of being a dad for me. I woke up excited for the opportunity to enjoy this moment with my son.

    • Be prepared: I prepared all of our equipment, snacks, and drinks the night before so that I could avoid forgetting anything or getting stressed out by the preparation. 
    • Shorten the hole distance: Golf courses have grown in size to keep up with technology and the strength of today’s players. However, we don’t need to let that interfere with our goals for our kids. Instead of having them hit from the tee box, have your child tee the ball up from where you hit your drive or 100 to 50 yards from the hole in the fairway. This will allow them to play the hole without having to hit it over and over again to keep up the pace. You can also hit the ball from the same spot as your child. We all know children are visual learners. Golfing with kids is a bonding experience and they will watch and learn from you.
    • Shorten the number of holes you play: You can play 9 or 18 holes, or maybe you play 6 or 12. Whatever lets you have the best experience with your child is the right number of holes to play. 
    • Forget the rules. When you first start golfing with your kids, throw the rules out the window. Allow your junior golfer to enjoy this experience without having to worry about the rules in the beginning. Let them hit the ball a couple of times and pick the best ball to use. 
    • No scorecard: Our objective is not to see who won or lost. If your children are older and they want to keep score you can still adjust the way you do it. You can come up with your own method together. Maybe you just keep track of good shots and bad shots by getting a + or a – sign. 
    • Embrace the golf cart: This is one of the best parts of golfing with kids. Children love riding around and viewing the golf course from it. Make sure you take safety persuasions while driving the cart but also enjoy it. 
    • Make it about them: It’s not about you when you take your kids out golfing for the first time. Forget about your game and focus all of your attention on your child so that they can enjoy it as much as you do.
    • Choose the right time: I recommend going to the course during non-peak times. Choose tee times later in the day or early evening, to avoid a crowded course. This will give you more time to enjoy the moments and the practice without feeling rushed through your game or like you’re holding others up. 

    how to get kids started with golfKids in the golf cart

    Different types of golf

    18 hole courses aren’t the only option when it comes to playing golf. There are a few other ways to play golf and all of them are a blast to do with kids.

    • Miniature golf (putt putt): Mini-golf is where it all started with my son. We have a great miniature golf course nearby that has a fun putt putt course and sells ice cream we like to enjoy as a post-game treat. This was the best way to get him interested in the sport. Even if that is all the further it went, we always have a blast together. And who doesn’t love ice cream?!
    • Par 3 courses: If you are lucky enough to have a Par 3 course nearby, take advantage of it. Your children will greatly benefit from having this smaller course to practice on. I recommend seeking one out even if you are on vacation visiting a new area.
    • Top Golf: Golf is a family sport as well and Top Golf brings that to fruition. Regardless of skill level or interest, a family night out at Top Golf will not disappoint. It is an interactive driving range with large holes to hit the balls in for points. There are a variety of games you can play. There is also food and drinks available for you to make an event out of it. 

    how to get kids started with golf

    Take a full swing

    Golfing with your kids can be one of the best choices you make today. They will be able to play golf their entire lives and they will have you to thank for it. Go get started and encourage them to stick with it s0 they will be able to play with their friends, coworkers, and maybe someday their own children. 

    Where are you planning to take your kids golfing?

    About the author

    Matthew is a loving father to one nature-seeking son. They live in western Pennsylvania and focus on visiting every trail, waterfall, and scenic view they can find. He works full-time and his son is in preschool. They are adventure enthusiasts who love to hike, travel and learn everything they can about nature. Matthew grew up loving outdoor play and adventures so he has become intentional about displaying that love for his son to emulate. He focuses on creating and capturing moments that they experience together through photos and writing in a journal to one day give to his son about their journeys together.

    You can find more from Tine online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @matthew_marvich
    RWMC posts: Matthew Marvich

  • INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, SUMMER

    How to Keep Kids Cool in the Summer

    Summer is officially here and it’s already a HOT one! We’ve had a heat advisory all weekend and it’s just now July. We’re hoping you and your kids get a chance to spend a lot of time outside this summer, but we also want to make sure you stay safe. Being outside and active in the heat can cause your body’s internal temperature to rise, which can lead to heat rash, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke. We’re here to offer some tips and advice on how to beat the heat and stay cool in the hot summer sun with kids.

    beat the heat how to keep kids cool this summer

    How to beat the heat with kids

    Summertime is one of the best times to be outside and active with your kids. Beautiful sunshine, no school, and lots of things to do make summer the perfect time to get out and explore, all day long. But, the heat can be brutal. This year is no exception. There are heat advisories across the US already and it looks like it’s going to be a very hot summer across the globe. Of course, we want you to get outside, but we also want to keep you safe. We’re excited to share some of our favorite ways to beat the summer heat with kids, keep cool and make the most of your long summer days.

    Tips for beating the heat with kids in the summer

    1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate (cold water or sports drinks)
    2. Eat cold/frozen foods (popsicles, frozen fruit, smoothies, salads)
    3. Stay in the shade (go into the woods)
    4. Avoid peak heat hours (11:00 am – 2:00 pm)
    5. Dress accordingly (light, loose, airy clothing)
    6. Get wet! (pools, creeks, lakes, sprinklers)
    7. Cool you hot zones (the areas of your body that get hot quicker)
    8. Make the most of early morning and evening hours when it’s cooler
    9. Know what the signs of heat rash, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke are

    Image credit: @brandimarkham

    Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

    I’m sure everyone knows that staying hydrated is one of the best ways to beat the heat. But did you know that drinking super-cold beverages in the heat can make your stomach cramp? Or that alcohol and drinks with caffeine or lots of sugar could actually cause you to lose more body fluids?

    Liquids are a must in the super-hot summer heat. Plain water is great, as are sports drinks with the right mixture of salts, sugars, and electrolytes.  Offer drinks often to kids and make sure they’re getting enough. Have them each pack their own water bottle and keep an eye on how much they’re consuming.

    Any liquid is better than no liquid. However, make sure you’re not drinking coffee, as it’s a diuretic and can have dehydrating effects. 

    Image credit: @groovybananaphotography

    Cool foods for the win

    In addition to drinks, you can stay hydrated with cold treats and foods. Freeze a mix of liquid (plain water, juice, or coconut water) and fruit into popsicle molds (or ice cube trays) and let the kids eat these. Make smoothies with fruits and juices. Or just freeze fruits and eat them as snacks – frozen grapes or frozen chunks of fruit like watermelon, pineapple, mango, banana or strawberries are delish! 

    For more on this, check out this great post about how to make healthy fruit popsicles with kids. 

    how to stay cool in the summer heat

    Stay out of direct sunlight

    If you can, try to stay out of direct sunlight. One of the best ways we’ve found to do this is to go into the woods! The upper tree canopy blocks out a lot of the harsh sunlight and keeps moist cool air low to the ground. Summer is a great time for hiking, so take advantage of that tree cover and check out some wooded hikes.

    Otherwise, be on the lookout for other ways to avoid the harsh direct sun when you’re out. Find shady spots for outdoor picnics and look for park playgrounds located in the shade.

    how to keep kids from overheating

    Dress accordingly

    Make sure you and the kids are dressed properly for the hot sunny weather.  A tank top and shorts might seem like the best choice but keep in mind the fabric, material, and how much skin is exposed. Even without sleeves, many thick or heavy fabrics can trap warmth and make you hotter. Bare arms could leave you exposed to a nasty sunburn.

    Loose-fitting, light-colored breathable fabric is best. Choose airy clothes that let air flow through and not get trapped. Also, look for clothing with built-in UV protection for days when you’ll be spending time in direct sunlight.

    how to keep kids cool in the summer heat

    Get wet

    Everything’s cooler if you just add water! Staying wet is a great way to stay cool in the summer and there are million different fun ways for kids to play in the wettest way. Try any of the following:

    • have a water fight with the hose
    • set up a baby pool in the backyard
    • explore a creek
    • place a sprinkler under the trampoline
    • set up a slip ‘n slide
    • go for a swim at the pool
    • take a dip in a cool bath indoors
    • make water balloon pinatas
    • set up a water table for little ones
    • wash the car
    • set up a “car wash station” and let the kids wash their outdoor toys (bikes, etc.)
    • water balloon fight (or use wet sponges for less mess)
    • rinse a pair of cotton socks in cold water and wear
    • squirt gun battle

    If you’re out and about and need to cool off, wet a long strip of fabric and tie it loosely around your child’s neck.  Or, keep a spray bottle filled with water in a cooler for quick face spritzes.

    beat the heat how to keep kids cool this summer

    Cool your “hot zones” 

    There are pressure points in your body that can quickly add to the heat your body is producing. When you’re super hot, try applying a little ice pack or a bottle filled with iced water to these specific spots and that will help you cool down immediately.

    • Temples
    • Neck
    • Ankles
    • Behind the knees
    • Wrists
    • Bends of your elbow

    Keep things calm during peak heat

    The coolest parts of the day are the morning and evening, so try to plan your outdoor adventures during those times of the day. The very middle of a super-hot summer day is the perfect time to rest and take a break from the heat. If you know it’s going to be a scorcher plan ahead for getting out of the heat during the middle of the day.

    Instead, go to an air-conditioned cinema, play center, or museum during the day. At home, plan craft or coloring activities indoors. Read a book, set up a tent in the basement, and have an indoor camp. Or pull down the blinds, make up some frosty drinks, turn on the fans, and have a movie day at home. The less your body has to do during the brutal midday heat, the better!

    how to keep your kids cool in the summer heat

    The signs of heatstroke in kids

    Babies and toddlers have an increased risk of overheating as they are not as efficient at regulating their body temperature. It’s important to know the first signs of heatstroke or heat exhaustion and constantly be on the lookout for any symptoms if you’re going to spend time in the summer heat.

    The symptoms of heat exhaustion can include stomach and leg cramps, thirst, being tired, or cool moist skin. Touch your children often to feel the texture and temperature of their skin. If you notice any of these things, act immediately to cool your child down to prevent heat stroke.

    The symptoms of heatstroke in children include:

    • skin that is hot, dry, and red
    • a high temperature of 103F (39.4 C) degrees and above without sweating
    • headache, which can cause irritability
    • restlessness
    • lethargy
    • vomiting
    • breathing that is shallow and quick
    • unconsciousness
    • dizziness or confusion

    Remember that sweating, being red-faced, thirsty, and warm are normal reactions to heat. It is when your child shows any abnormal reactions (as those listed above), that the situation becomes incredibly dangerous. Act immediately to get your child help.tips for staying cool in the summer heat

    Stay safe from the heat this summer

    We hope this information will help keep you safe and cool this summer when you’re out and about adventuring with the kids. There’s so much fun to be had in the summer sun, but just remember to be prepared, be sensible and be safe out there! 

     

    How do you beat the heat in the summer?

  • BIKE, HIKE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, PARK

    Trail Building and Maintenance with Kids

    Have you ever traveled down a trail and wondered who built it or how it got there? Have you given any thought to how trails are actually made? Have you ever thought about creating your own hiking trails that go exactly where you want them to go? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’re going to love this post! Today, Jared Ryan, Oklahoma dad of 2 and literal trailblazer is here sharing his experience building trails with kids and how to maintain hiking trails. 

    How to Build and Maintain Hiking Trails with Kids 2

    An idea is borne

    As a father who is constantly seeking ways to inspire my kids to be adventurous, and wild, and borderline primal, I usually find our journeys heading down a trail. We LOVE hiking, and mountain biking, and even just finding a place to picnic where our conversations and thoughts are not interrupted by other people… Ironically, people like us. 

    We wanted to get away from it all. And so, an idea was borne. 

    The idea started on a particular hike when my son (7) and I were looking for rocks to add to his collection. We had let my wife and daughter hike ahead while we searched and chatted. He made a comment on how “cool” the trail had been. This sparked an amazing conversation about what he’d do if he could build his own trail. I kept note of this conversation and naturally as any sane and loving father would do, I started cutting a private trail on family land. With my kids…

    building hiking trails

    Planning our trails

    Using a little Field Notes book, we began collecting data on all of the trails we hiked. We noted what we liked, what we disliked, what we would do differently, what worked well, etc. We even started taking pictures of how features were built and laid out. This really helped my kids recall previous conversations we had as we could pull up the photos and discuss. 

    Then, when we were ready to start creating our own trails on our family land, I allowed my kids to pick the routes we wanted to take and even choose what features they wanted to incorporate. Luckily they kept it mild, aside from a few bridges. 

    Survey the land

    We started by completing a hasty survey of the land to determine what we were working with. Then, we flagged and staked the trail. Initially, we did this with orange flagging ribbon so that it stands out in the timber. Once each section of trail is completed we will go pack and remove the flagging, replacing it with wooden DIY arrows and trail ducks (stacked rocks).  Our arrows are simply burned into 1-inch thick slices from a wooden fence post. 

    hiking trail maintenance

    Blazing trails and teaching moments

    Currently, we have hand-cut 1 mile (one way) of singletrack hiking trails on our land. This has allowed me to teach my kiddos the parts of a trail and how they function. Through our trail building experience, they’ve learned about adding berms to allow mountain bikers to carry speed through a turn. They know how to benchcut an off-camber section to keep the trail from eroding downhill. They’ve even learned how to out-slope the trail to keep water from pooling on it.  These are all attributes of any good trail that no longer go unrecognized by our kids. Trail building is much more than just a path through the woods (although, sometimes that is exactly what it is). 

    Trail building has given us so many opportunities to get them to think outside the box and exercise those engineering and problem-solving skills. I like to ask them how they think we should fix or mitigate a problem with the trail, which allows them the opportunity to have input and use what they’ve learned so far. They’re quite the problem-solvers and often bring up ideas I hadn’t thought of. And then sometimes their ideas are along the lines of “just build a ramp, Dad, so we can jump the creek!” 

    Helping build trails on public land*

    Our favorite public trail systems can almost always use our help. If you’re interested in helping build or maintain trails on public land, reach out to your local trail bosses or state parks. Volunteer yourself (and your family!) to help them cut and maintain those magnificent trails that you use and love. Most organizations even have designated trail workdays that you can jump in on. This is a great way to use the knowledge you already have and gain even more experience working with professionals. 

    *I should probably add that you should never do any work that is not authorized or planned by the maintainers of the trail. Even something simple like removing rocks or detouring around a mud puddle can completely alter the layout of a trail. 

    trail_arrow - getting kids involved in trail building

    Trail building tools

    Whether you are joining a trail crew for the occasional workday or starting your own network of trails on your land, there are need a few basic tools you need for building trails. 

    Rakes

    After flagging your trails, you’ll want to rake away all the loose grass and leaves down to the dirt. I like to use a leaf rake where the grass is already sparse and a garden rake when trying to pull out any shallow roots or small rocks. (A garden hoe works well for this also). Raking the path is an easy, simple, and safe task for any age kid and gives them immediate gratification. 

    Hatchet

    A good hatchet might become your most used tool on the trail. You’ll want to use the hatchet for most smaller diameter limbs and little shrubs. I also find myself using it for ripping out briar bushes and busting up softer sandstone rocks with the blunt side.  Make sure to closely supervise kids when using tools like a hatchet. Older kids can probably handle them, but little ones will need assistance. 

    Handsaws

    Carrying a compact handsaw will make quick work of any small trees or medium-sized limbs. Where a hatchet may take several minutes to chop a small tree, a handsaw can fell it half the time. Again, supervise kids and make sure to teach them proper tool safety lessons. 

    Quality work gloves

    It only takes forgetting your work gloves once and a nice big blister to realize your mistake. I prefer to use leather gloves over synthetic ones, but it’s really a personal choice. For my kids, I was able to find full leather gloves at our local Tractor Supply store. I’m sure you can find them at most big box stores, or online if you know your kid’s glove size. 

    Other trail building supplies

    Probably goes without saying, but pack in plenty of water and snacks when you’re out building trails with kids. It’s really easy to lose track of time when you’re all working hard. Time has escaped us enough times now that set alarms on my phone to remind us when to eat and when to call it a day. 

    I prefer to bring a backpack to carry anything that will fit. After working all day, the last thing you and the kiddos will want to do is hike out while fumbling around with your hands full of your tools.  

    I also like to bring along a map so that I can map my trails and see the progress we’re making as we work. While I use a combination of my Garmin watch along with the Motion-X GPS app on my phone (any GPS device will work). The app is free and allows you to record your tracks and even set waypoints with notes. There are plenty of GPS apps out there and most will work just fine as they all use your phone’s built-in GPS receiver.

    Trail building with kids & trail maintenance

    Some necessary trail building rules

    After building trails for a while, we’ve figured a few things out. We’ve had to set a few ground rules for the kids (and adults) that we’ve laid out for our trail building workdays:

    The hatchet is BY FAR my son’s favorite tool, naturally. So we have a little saying of “One swing, one strike”. Simply meaning that he swings once, and then resets before swinging again. This was just my way of keeping him from swinging too fast or uncontrollably. The other hatchet rule is to never swing the hatchet over their heads. This is really a sound rule for kids and adults alike.

    We all wear our gloves anytime we are working. Aside from avoiding blisters, I require them to prevent cuts from the handsaw and to protect our hands from scorpions and “trick sticks” (what my son calls snakes) that often hide under the rocks and brush. 

    We also stop when it is time to stop. My kids have really impressed me with how dedicated they are to their task-at-hand. And how hard they will work to complete it. But, the last thing I want is for them to have overworked muscles the next day and to be tired at school. So we set a sort of ‘quitting time’ and when it’s time to stop, we stop. This also allows us time to admire our day’s work and not be rushed to leave it. 

    Maintaining trails with kids

    Building trails and maintaining them is a never-ending project. Nature continuously repairs itself, so maintenance and upkeep will be necessary for the life of any trail or nature will take back over. That’s both a wonderful thing and an exhausting one. Once you’ve got a well-packed centerline along your path, most of the maintenance will consist of seasonal upkeep.

    In the spring and summer months, weed-eating along the edges and trimming limbs will be the bulk of your work. But, be prepared to fix any low spots that are holding water or eroding away as a result of the spring rains. 

    Winter and fall maintenance is a little easier, in my opinion. We walk our trail with a rake and leaf blower and this is usually all that needs to be done. For us, this needs to be done 2-3 times per season. The cooler months are also when we prefer to add any new features or big projects to our trail. While my kids prefer the warmer work days, working in the cooler temps provides more safety for the kiddos from any slithery snakes or even scorpions. 

    tools needed for trail building and maintenance

    Trail building through all weather

    My kiddos have never shied away from the tough work, so I never shied away from letting them do it, even in tough weather. As I mentioned above, trails are a never-ending project and always need work. That’s why I don’t cancel a trail day due to “bad” weather. I’m not talking about thunderstorms or sauna temperatures, but if the weather forecast calls for showers or hot weather, I simply plan accordingly.

    Pack up the rain jackets for storms or the frozen water bottles for the heat. Dress accordingly (always layers). It’s much cooler in the woods than you might imagine on a hot day. And, working in the rain can be an easy way to see where your trail might be holding water requiring more adequate drainage points. 

    Kids are resilient. I am continuously impressed with how often my kids want to work on our trails regardless of the weather. We have had plenty of HOT workdays and days where a warm fire and some hot chocolate were the perfect end. They seem to forget about the conditions when they’re focused on their task at hand.

    Why we love the work

    We love being in the woods, getting dirty, and how we always feel better after exerting our energy through a productive outlet. There is so much about trail building that we love and too few ways of explaining it. Everything from the pride you get in your labor to the sense of ownership you get to have over the trails you love.

    For me, the benefits of trail building seem to come in unexpected ways. Like when we’re hiking in a state park or on any public trail and my son points out the attributes of a trail that he wants to incorporate into ours. Or even parts he’d fix differently. This has been a wildly unexpected and prideful result of this entire process. I knew my kids would learn and grow from the physical and mental work, but I could not have imagined the joy they would have from working so hard and how proud I would be of them. 

    Get into the wild

    At Run Wild My Child we are adventurists and explorers of the wild. We all have a connection to trails, so let’s not be scared to reach out to a local trail boss and offer up our weekend to help maintain them. The trail crews and patrons alike will GREATLY appreciate you and your littles’ hard work. And we can all continue to reap the benefits of like-minded trail-lovers everywhere. Because we are all part of nature and it belongs to us all. It’s our responsibility to take care of it. 

    National Trail Day is June 5

    Did you know that National Trail Day is coming up? This Saturday, June 5th is National Trail Day. How are you going to celebrate? By hiking your favorite trail or blazing a new one? If you want to help, visit the American Hiking Society, International Mountain Bicycling Association, or your State Parks Department to find out how you can become involved. 

    About the author

    Jared Ryan is a husband to a talented and beautiful wife, Kristen also a father of two fun-loving and adventurous kiddos. He enjoys leading family adventures to both near and far destinations. Whether it is hiking, camping, climbing, bike riding, or playing in the backyard, he loves it all. He instills in his family the importance of nature and all the benefits it can bring to one’s life. Jared is a GIS analyst by trade, so he is naturally drawn to creating maps and all things trail-related, whether it is creating new trails, recording family hikes, or teaching his kids land navigation, he loves to tie in his own work with family adventures.

    You can find Jared online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @bikeshikesbiners
    RWMC posts: Beginner’s Guide to Mountain Biking with Kids, Winter Car Camping, Roosevelt Walks

  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, FARM, GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, URBAN NATURE

    Raising Chickens with Kids

    Have you ever dreamed of raising your own chickens, but weren’t sure how to get started? Do you want to know if chickens are the right pet for you? Are you wondering if chickens are safe to raise around kids? Today, Leslie Alvis, our resident crazy chicken lady, Creative Team member, and homeschooling and homesteading mom of four is sharing her love of chickens with you. Leslie grew up raising chickens, had a long chicken drought during college and early motherhood years, but has started up a backyard flock again with her own children. This makes her the perfect person to share, tips, essentials, and all the ins and outs of raising chickens with kids. 

    raising chickens

    The beginnings of a chicken mama

    I was seven or eight years old when the first chicken arrived in my life. My parents were both veterinarians and our farm was often the rehoming site for a variety of animals. Pecky, a stately Light Brahma Rooster, came to us because his elderly owner couldn’t keep up with his antics. I fell in love.

    I loved his silky feathers, his majestic red comb and dangling wattles, his audacious crow, his feathered feet. It wasn’t long before I decided he needed a family, and so it began. We bought some hens from the little lady who sold eggs just down the road. Soon I was showing chickens in 4-H and selling eggs.

    My little flock grew quickly and I loved every member of it. All my chickens had names and personalities. They roamed our barn and yard, providing us with multi-colored and multi-sized eggs and endless entertainment. At one point, my mom clipped an article from a local titled, “Chickens: Better than Television,” and stuck it on the refrigerator. It was true for our family. The chickens were my responsibility, but they entertained us all.

    Raising Chickens with Kids

    Raising chickens with kids

    After years of living in a town where we weren’t allowed to raise chickens, we now live in the country and my children are helping me build a flock again. We started with 11 chicks last spring, and just added 13 more. My daughter gleefully announced recently that right now we have three separate flocks: the grown hens, the adolescent chicks, and the newly hatched Ameraucana chicks I couldn’t leave the feed store without last week.

    I’m a firm believer in the benefits of kids raising kids with animals. Taking care of animals helps children learn responsibility, gentleness, and the importance of looking after other living things. They learn empathy and compassion. They also get to experience the joy of friendship with those animals. So, although my older kids have their own pets they’re responsible for and I’m the person primarily responsible for the chickens, I make sure all my kids are involved in our chicken raising adventure.

    Raising Chickens with kids

    The joys of chickens

    If you’re looking for a pet that’s both productive and personable, you really don’t need to look any farther than a chicken. These feathered friends are relatively simple to care for, make enjoyable pets, and a good laying hen will reward you with up to 300 eggs a year! They’re also pets that children of every age will enjoy.

    Our children (ranging in ages 3-13) all help me with different parts of the chickens’ care on a daily basis. While they may grumble sometimes about chasing the chickens out of the neighbors’ yard again or running out to lock up the coop at dark, they truly enjoy these quirky birds. Everyone loves how the hens come running when we bring them food scraps. We’re mesmerized by the soft fluff of the baby chicks. And the daily wonder of finding fresh brown, green, and blue eggs never wears off.

    Raising Chickens with Kids

    A family affair

    Our teenage son might complain that chickens aren’t very smart, but he’s the first person to help me solve a problem with laying boxes or roosts or leaking waterers. And even our three year can march out in the yard and catch a chicken, which delights her endlessly. My husband recently asked if he had to start cheeping to get any attention around here. And if you come visit our house, consider yourself forewarned: at least one, and possibly several, of my children will surely thrust a chick in your face, and expect you to be as delighted with it as they are. A full-grown hen may quite possibly appear also. In the house. Just so you know. Welcome to our zoo.

    Raising Chickens with Kids

    Getting started raising chickens

    If you’ve never raised livestock, getting started raising chickens might feel intimidating. Chickens aren’t terribly hard, but there are a few details to consider first. As with any pet, you need to make sure you can provide what chickens need.

    The first thing you should do is make sure chickens are allowed where you live. Many towns and cities have allowances for small backyard flocks, but it’s always a good idea to check your local ordinances if you live in a suburban area. 

    Chickens also need some yard space, whether you intend to let them free-range around your yard, or keep them in an enclosure. You can also do a hybrid of the two: we have an enclosed run to keep the chickens contained when we’re not around. Usually, in the afternoons and evenings, we let them free-range around the yard. They carry a special affinity for the neighbor’s yard, however, so we have to keep an eye on them. When we finish building our homestead, they will have plenty of space to roam freely. 

    free range chickens

    Coop details

    Next, you need a secure, draft-free coop for your birds. A general guideline is to allow 2-3 square feet of coop space per chicken. You can buy really cute little coops for a small flock, like this one.  If you or someone in your family is up for a bit of a project, check out these great chicken coop plans!  My skilled carpenter husband built us a coop out of scrap and repurposed materials. We use a movable dog kennel for our run enclosure. 

    building a chicken coop

    What you need for baby chicks

    But before you get overwhelmed by coop details, take a deep breath. If you’re planning to start with baby chicks, all you need to get started is a deep cardboard box for a brooder. Baby chicks need a cozy, draft-free environment and not too much space to start off with. For the first two weeks of their life, baby chicks only need 6 square inches of space per chick. (But don’t put off the coop plans—these little chicks grow fast!)

    In all honesty, we’ve kept baby chicks in roomy boxes in our laundry room, basement, garage…even in the living room. Yes, I’m really that crazy chicken lady. I always prefer to keep the tiny peeps close for a while. Besides, we all just want to hold those little fluffballs every chance we get.

    Baby chicks

    Chicken brooder set up

    Getting your brooder set up isn’t hard. Get a nice-sized, sturdy box or build your own, line it with newspaper and pine chips, and hang a heat lamp overhead. A red bulb for your heat lamp helps keep chicks from pecking at one another. The heat lamp should be 18-24 inches away from the chicks. Initially, the ideal brooder temperature is between 90-95 degrees (think body temperature–a mother hen spends most of her time keeping her chicks at her own body temperature). 

    I always count on the chicks to let me know where it needs to be: when they are cold, they huddle together directly under the heat source. If they’re too hot, they pant and try to get away from it. I watch them very carefully the first few hours after adjusting the heat lamp, to make sure they are comfortable. Although chicks are surprisingly tough and resilient, the wrong temperatures can cause stress and illness. I also arrange the brooder so there is a warm side and a cool side, keeping the food and water on the cooler side.

    Additional chicken accessories

    If you’re raising chickens, you’ll also need a chick feeder, a waterer, and chick starter feed, which has a higher protein level than adult chicken feed, along with other essential nutrients for healthy chicks. Although you can purchase everything online, I highly recommend using your local farm or garden supply store as much as possible. Not only are you supporting a local business, but you are also tapping into a valuable resource.

    A local feed store has knowledgeable employees who can often answer questions for you, as well as competitive prices on everything you need. You’re going to need a regular supply of feed. And if you should ever need medication or supplement for your chickens, you’ll already know right where to find it.

    Raising Chickens with kids

    Getting your chicks

    Now comes one of the most fun parts of raising chickens: getting your chicks! Once again, you can order chicks online from a hatchery, but you usually have to order at least 25 chicks so they can keep each other warm during shipping. And in my mind, nothing beats picking out those chicks in person. For years, we passed by the chicks at our local feed store on our way to the dog food aisle. We looked longingly into each brooder and told our children, “Someday we’ll live in a place where we can have chickens.”

    Last year, just a couple of weeks after moving to our country home, we marched our whole family into the feed store and hand-picked our chicks. It was addictively fun. So fun, in fact, that we couldn’t wait to do it again this year. We talked about it for months, even as we enjoyed raising our bigger chickens. There’s just nothing like getting baby chicks.

    baby chicks and kids

    Chicken breeds

    What breed of chicken you choose really depends on what you’re looking for. Do you want lots of eggs? Brown eggs? Blue and green ones? All pullets (young females), or straight run (a random mixture of males and females)? Docile chickens? Just bantam chickens who look cute? The options are endless, even at a feed store.

    If you look in a hatchery catalog, there are more breeds than you can ever imagine. This article has quite a bit of helpful information about the best laying hens, while this one highlights some of the most kid-friendly chicken breeds. And if you’re interested in different breeds based on the different colors of eggs they might lay, check out this article.

    rainbow eggs

    How to pick your chicks

    When picking out chicks, we’ve used several different criteria. First, my husband’s vote was that he wanted to see lots of variety in our flock. So we’ve picked several different feather colors. I wanted different shades of eggs, so I picked out brown, green, and blue egg-laying chickens. I also selected some breeds because of their reputation as docile and family-friendly birds.

    So our entire family trooped around the chick display, saying, “We want some of those, and a couple of those, and a couple of those…” And we love what we’ve ended up with. Our current laying flock has 3 Ameraucanas, 1 Black Australorp, 2 Light Brahmas, and 3 Rhode Island Reds (we actually got the Reds by accident—they were mixed in with some other chicks. I wouldn’t have necessarily picked them, but they are excellent layers and have also become great pets). This year we picked up some Barred Rocks, ISA Browns, more Ameraucanas, and some bantams for the pure fun of their personalities and plumage.

    raising chickens

    Caring for your chicks

    After you get your chicks set up in their brooder, they need what any other animal needs: freshwater, food, and clean bedding. Chicks are messy little critters who love to scratch around. They will kick food and chips into their water, so I try to hang waterers when I can, or at least set the waterer up on a wooden block so it’s slightly elevated. You want to make sure they can still reach it, though! The kids love helping me make sure the chicks have plenty of food.

    If your chicks are cheeping loudly, they are probably hungry, thirsty, or too hot or cold. Noisy chicks need attention. The conversational chirping of contented chicks is very different from the yelping cheeps of uncomfortable ones. I can tell as soon as I walk into the room if my chicks are uncomfortable or upset.

    Chick maintenance

    Sadly, once in a while a baby chick will get sick or simply fail to thrive. Many times, if you are vigilant in checking your chicks often for problems such as lethargy or pasty vents, you can address these issues and resolve them, saving your chick. This article helps outline basic chick problems and how you can identify and treat them. 

    Every day or two, I get a couple of helpers and we clean out the whole brooder. The kids hold the chicks (I mean, I can put them in a small box if I need to. But the kids love helping by holding the chicks!) while I take everything out of the brooder, roll up the soiled bedding into the papers on the bottom, and put out fresh papers and chips. This is also a good time to clean the waterer thoroughly with soap and water to prevent bacteria build-up.

    Growing chicks

    After a couple of weeks, those tiny fluffballs get a surprising amount of feathers. It doesn’t take long for chicks to hit what we call the “ugly” stage. They get a little gawky and awkward, no longer cute balls of fuzz but far from the lovely plumage of adult birds. At this stage, I put my son in charge of some exercise equipment for the chicks. They love to hop and perch. You can use a dowel rod or even just a straight stick for a roost, and a small cardboard box gives them something to jump on. 

    Your chicks are also old enough to start feeding some small treats now. Chickens love all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and even table scraps. However, there are a few foods are bad or even toxic to chickens, so be sure to check a list like this one before you start feeding them everything from your fridge! 

    When you start feeding your chicks treats, make sure you also include a bit of chick grit in their food. Chickens need grit (crushed up bits of rock) to help them digest their food by grinding it up in their crop. Chick starter feed is very digestible, so I don’t add grit until they start foraging for food or getting supplemental treats. Free-range chickens usually find the bits of rock they need for grit in their natural foraging, but I like to toss a bit of grit in their food to just be sure they have what they need.

    feeding chickens

    Chicken treats

    Our favorite part of feeding treats to the chickens is how much they love it—and consequently, how much they love us. When we step out the back door and call, “Here, chick-chick-chick!” the hens come running from every corner of the yard to see what we have for them. They’ll come up and eat out of our hands and follow us around looking for handouts.

    In fact, the other day my daughter was holding a chicken under one arm and eating a cookie (don’t judge! We do try to keep the livestock and the eating separate!), and her siblings say the chicken was taking bites out of one side of her cookie while she ate off the other. I didn’t see it, but I fully believe it. We have more than one hen who will sneak up and take a bite off an unattended plate when we eat outside.

    Raising Chickens

    Transitioning chicks outside

    I like to start transitioning 4-week-old chicks to outdoor life a little at a time on warm days. They still don’t have enough feathers or mass to maintain their body temperature in cool or windy conditions, but they can handle short visits to the great outdoors. We keep them close to us at first. Usually, the kids sit in the grass and let the chicks peck around in the space between two kids’ outstretched legs.  When the chicks start hopping away too quickly, we move them to a portable pet enclosure where they have some freedom.

    At first, even just a few minutes outside will wear them out completely. But soon they’re able to spend hours outside when our unpredictable Ohio spring weather permits. We give them a windbreak, their food and water, and watch them carefully. Sometimes one child just gets assigned to chick-watching detail, making sure they are handling the outdoor experience okay and aren’t acting chilled.

    growing chicks

    Outdoor chickens

    When all the chicks are fully feathered, they are ready to live outside the brooder. You should begin that transition a few weeks before by moving the heat lamp up an inch each week or reducing your brooder temperature by about 5 degrees. This helps them adjust to living without an extra heat source. I’ve noticed that even my biggest chicks love to bask right under the heat lamp whenever they get a chance, even after they no longer need the extra warmth. (Currently I have some standard-sized chicks in with my smaller bantams, so I’ve had to keep the heat lamp available for the little ones. My kids have accused the big chicks of roosting so close to the heat lamp that they’re going to fry their combs!) Moving that heat lamp away slowly toughens them up for outdoor life.

    raising chickens

    Life in the coop

    Now you’re ready for the next step in chicken raising: moving your chicks to the coop. The coop should be secure against predators and draft-free, bedded down with a generous layer of chips and straw. They need a roost to sleep on and some sort of nesting box. And, of course, a supply of feed and water. If your feeder is outside, make sure it sits out of the rain, or you’ll end up with moldy feed very soon!

    Even if you plan to let your chickens free-range, you should keep them locked up in the coop/run area for several days so they learn where their home is. Then start letting them loose for short periods of time, keeping an eye on them to make sure they don’t wander too far. Chickens are generally herd animals who stay together and somewhat close to home. They will instinctively go into their coop to roost at dark.

    raising chickens

    Chicken herding

    But when you want to put your chickens up and it ISN’T dark, it takes a little training! Although it sounds impossible, herding chickens into the coop is doable, if you work with them.

    First, get your kids involved! This activity requires some helpers. Next, train your chickens to come when you call. Do this at random intervals throughout the day, and make sure there are always treats involved. The children or I walk out the door and yell, “Here, chick-chick-chick!” whenever we have a bread crust or apple peels or any kind of scraps for the chickens. This teaches them to come running when we call. (As a side note, the dog has learned it’s beneficial to get in on the action when we call the chickens, too. He doesn’t want to miss out on anything good!)

    When you want to herd the chickens to the coop, have one person walk toward it, calling the chickens and tossing treats. Have a couple of others walk behind the flock, gently herding them in the right direction. As you practice this, the chickens WILL learn the ropes. They might revolt from time to time, but as a general rule, they’ll go into their coop without too much trouble.

    The kids will learn their tricks and how to best herd them along, too. I can send my 6 and 9-year-old girls out to put away the hens at any time of day, and they can do it by themselves. We always put our flock away when we’re leaving, both to protect them against predators and to keep them from roaming into the neighbors’ yard.

    rooster

    A word about roosters

    A rooster is a fun addition to a flock. They are full of personality and help protect the hens, but they can also have the potential to be aggressive. We had a rooster with our original flock, and we loved him. He was funny, beautiful, and took excellent care of his hens—but he also became aggressive with our little girls. We worked so hard to try to train him not to be mean, but eventually, we had to rehome him to a family with no small children.

    Over the years I’ve had both nice and mean roosters. You can’t write off all roosters because of an experience with a mean one, but you also can’t guarantee that a rooster will be nice, even with lots of love. If you get a male with your flock (and sometimes you will get one even if your chicks are all supposed to be females), just be prepared that you may have to deal with an aggressive one. But don’t assume the worst–treat him with love and respect, and hope he’ll respond well! We currently have two suspected roosters mixed in with our young pullets, and we’re loving them up all we can. We’re all hoping for some nice fellows this year.

    rooster

    How to handle chicken predators

    One of the harder parts of raising chickens is the sad reality of predators. Unfortunately, chickens are an easy mark for any number of predators. Even in suburban areas, you may have to watch out for hawks, owls, and even dogs. Out in the country, we also have to worry about raccoons, foxes, and coyotes.

    The best way to protect your birds is to make sure their coop is secure from top to bottom. Latch them in every night at dusk to protect again nocturnal invaders. Make sure their fenced area is as secure as you can make it, with sturdy walls and some sort of mesh or wire covering.

    But if you let your chickens free-range, you have to realize that they may be exposed to predators. Quite unexpectedly, we had a red-tailed hawk swoop right up to the back edge of our yard and kill a hen last year. It was a heartbreaking experience for all of us. Although it was something of a freak event that we couldn’t have expected or prevented, it also reminded us of the importance of caring well for these somewhat helpless creatures. Our chickens depend on us to look after them and keep them safe–that’s part of the responsibility of pet/livestock ownership.

    Sometimes illness or accident will still strike our animals, but I’m trying to teach my children to be good caretakers of our animal friends. We do our best to provide them with a safe, healthy home. In return, they provide us with endless entertainment, fun, and a wonderful supply of delicious eggs.

    raising chickens

    Have you ever considered raising chickens?
    Let us know if you have any questions about chickens and kids.

    About the author

    Leslie is an Ohio farm girl and chaser of light, children, and sometimes chickens. She’s a lover of Jesus, wife to her high school sweetheart, and a homeschooling mom of four wild rascals who love the great outdoors as much as she does. As a family, they love hiking, camping, fishing, and just about any outdoor activity. She and her husband are just beginning the process of building a homestead from the ground up, doing most of the work themselves. Leslie has a lifelong obsession with writing and capturing everyday life from behind the lens. You can follow along with their homesteading, homeschooling, and everyday adventures on her Instagram account.

    You can find more from Leslie in the following locations:
    Instagram: @c_l_allofus
    Client work: @lalvisphotography
    Leslie’s RWMC posts: Owling with Kids, Homemade Apple Butter, Dealing with Poison Ivy, Mosquitoes & Ticks, Creating Nature Fairy Gardens, Eco-Friendly Bird Feeders, Getting Kids Outside During the School Year, Pond Nature Study, Maple Syrup with Kids, Cattle Farm Chores

  • GOOD FOR NATURE, INFORMATION, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

    How to Get Started Volunteering with Kids

    Are you looking for ways to give back or get your children more involved in your community? Volunteering is the perfect way to give back, get involved in the community, and can even help you get outside more! Plus, volunteering not only benefits the community and individuals in need, but research shows volunteers see a positive boost in their mental health. The best part…volunteering with kids is fun and easy. Today, Creative Team member Ashley Greenhalgh, Nevada mom of two, is here sharing why volunteering is worthwhile, tips for how to get started volunteering with kids and community service ideas for kids.

    How to Get Started Volunteering With Kids & Community Service Ideas for Kids

    Volunteering with kids

    Do you worry that your children aren’t aware of others? Or are unaware of their impact on the world or environment? Do you wish there were a way to help them feel confident and important? Volunteering just may be the answer! 

    Volunteer work can be an amazing tool to help with these issues. Spending time helping your community is an invaluable experience for kids. Volunteering your time and efforts can make your neighbors feel appreciated, your community areas cleaner, and even impact people on a higher level. Getting kids involved early and often can show them firsthand just how much volunteering matters.

    Finding volunteer opportunities where kids can be involved can be a little tedious, but definitely worth the time. Today, I’m going to walk you through tips on how to get started volunteering with kids, ideas of ways your kids can give back, and why volunteering is so important. 

    Volunteering is good for your health 

    Helping others feels good. Think about a time when someone helped you and how much you appreciated it. Or a time when you helped someone else and how great you felt afterward. Many studies show that small acts of kindness boost happiness. According to the Mayo Clinic, volunteering decreases the risk of depression, gives a sense of purpose, teaches valuable skills, decreases stress levels, and may even help you live longer!

    Children can also experience these benefits. In fact, spending time volunteering in their communities just by planting trees or helping neighbors can increase their happiness and mental health. Volunteering is a great way to get your children outdoors and helping the earth. It is not necessarily about spending days and days volunteering; which we all know is close to impossible with children. In fact, it is the small acts done repeatedly that really make a big difference. 

    Volunteering opportunities based on your interests

    When you’re just getting started on your volunteering journey, a good place to start is to think about what your children like to do. Do they like walking, hiking, cooking, gardening, playing with animals, visiting with people? There is a good chance an opportunity to volunteer exists that appeals to them and their interests.

    Volunteering and community service doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Tailoring your volunteer activities to your kids’ interests will help keep them involved and invested. Look for volunteer opportunities near you that involve your kids’ or family’s interests.

    Volunteering in the garden with kids

    Volunteering outside with kids

    Picking up trash

    An easy way to help your community and get your children outdoors is to take a trash bag and a pair of gloves on a walk or hike with you. If you want to make it extra fun for the kids, get a reaching tool (to pick up yucky things or hard-to-reach items). As you walk or hike, put the pieces of plastic, snack wrappers, fishing line, or whatever into the bag and dispose of it all at the end of your hike. If you want to tackle a larger area, organize a group clean-up hike or a park or beach clean-up project. Get your friends, family, and neighbors involved. 

    Clean-up projects are such a great way to instill an appreciation of nature and respect for the planet into children. To leave a place better than you found it. The concept is simple and the results are benefits are amazing. Plus, it’s like a treasure hunt for the kids! Sometimes you can even find fun items to recycle or repurpose.  

    Community gardening

    If gardening appeals to your kids, many towns have community gardens or organizations that teach gardening. Pulling weeds, organizing the plants, watering the gardens are all ways your children can give their time to others. We have been working with a local nonprofit in our community http://www.ourfarmily.org for the past couple of years. It’s an incredible organization that works with school-age children to plant, tend, harvest, and prepare their own organic foods. Our girls pull weeds, plant seeds, wash fruits and vegetables and thoroughly enjoy every minute of it. 

    Outdoor volunteer activities that can benefit your community

    Here are a few more fun ways that your children can volunteer and give back to their community:

    • Participating in an organized walk or run that gives the proceeds to a charity (as a runner or a water station volunteer)
    • Make and give popsicles to delivery drivers or garbage truck workers
    • Volunteer to walk dogs at an animal shelter
    • Plant flowers or trees at their school or library (with permission)
    • Sit outdoors to write thank-you notes to people who have done something nice for them
    • Adopt a local monument or block and keep it clean
    • Volunteer at a local nature center, farm, or zoo
    • Organize a neighborhood yard sale, bake sale, lemonade stand or car wash and donate the proceeds to charity

    Gardening with kids

    Volunteering indoors with kids

    Cooking

    If your children like cooking, there are lots of fun ways to volunteer their cooking services. Perhaps reach out to an organization in your community that helps provide meals to children. This can give them an idea of the needs in your community that affect children their age. While helping to prepare healthy meals for others, they can learn about what types of foods are healthy to eat and why. They could also organize a local bake sale or set up a lemonade stand to sell baked goods and/or lemonade and donate the proceeds to a charity.

    Helping animals

    Local animal shelters are always looking for people to walk dogs, socialize kittens, and provide foster care for animals. Another way to help could be for them to earn money to buy pet supplies to give to your local SPCA or organize a fundraiser to help. 

    Assisting the elderly

    Are your children social butterflies? Do they love chatting with anyone and everyone? Likely there is an elderly neighbor that they can visit with and help with tasks. Examples can be bringing in the trash can for a neighbor, running an errand for them, or making a small treat. Shoveling a sidewalk in winter, or bringing in the mail are small acts of kindness that will make both parties feel good.

    Our society does not value older people as it should. The wisdom and experience of the elderly is incredible and teaching our children to appreciate people of all ages can make our communities better. 

    Other ways to volunteer with kids

    Virtually

    There are even virtual volunteering options! Check out Volunteer Match to find opportunities while Covid is still affecting our lives while waiting for an in-person local opportunity, or indefinitely if virtual volunteering is the best match for your children and family. 

    Local non-profits

    Perhaps you know someone who works at a non-profit? If you do, they can be a great resource to direct you to organizations that can use your help! Through the work, at http://www.ourfarmily.org we have met other amazing people in our area that are involved in even more community projects. 

    Volunteering and gardening with kids

    Why volunteering with kids is so important 

    We’ve all heard the saying “It is better to give than to receive.” Doing something kind for others is the best feeling. Think of the smiles they will receive from others, the empathy that can be built, as well seeing their effect on others is incredible. Volunteering is never a waste of your time. 

    In addition, hands-on learning is so much more fun than just seeing or hearing about a topic. If your children can get out in your community and talk to others, make social connections, and clean up the earth, they will remember the experience and see firsthand that their choices and actions do make a difference.

    Be a volunteering role model

    Children usually love many of the things that they see that their parents love. Passion is contagious and if you really want your kids to love helping others, they need to see how much you enjoy it. Let your kids follow your lead and be a volunteering role model for them. Kids that volunteer become adults who volunteer. And when a parent is actively involved and part of the process, kids look forward to the action more and the family gets to spend quality time together. Kids are never too young to see their parents helping others. And parents that love volunteering will get so much joy out of watching their child make a real difference and impact. 

    Get others involved

    Once your kids are invested in making a difference and feel great about their service, it’s time to spread the word and get friends and family to join in! Kids’ enthusiasm for their service work will be contagious and will inspire others to help out as well. Look for opportunities to volunteer together as a group, so it’s extra valuable and fun for the kids. When everyone is involved, kids can see what a difference they can make together and will be encouraged to keep recruiting others to make a difference, too! 

    Think globally, act locally

    While it’s noble to want to save the planet and a very worthy cause, sometimes it can seem overwhelming. Start with small movements at a local scale. The decisions and actions we take each day in our communities have a global effect. If we can leave an area or community better than we found it; to consider the health of the planet and others by helping others, we can truly help on a global scale. Imagine if a group of people in 20 towns were committed to trail cleanups once per month. Over the course of a year, that would mean 240 cleanups! So by acting locally, the world as a whole can benefit. 

    A few hours a month, or a couple of days per year can make a big difference in your area and how your children feel connected to the community as a whole. If you love something, you’ll take care of it. So, getting children outside for simple trail cleanups, walking shelter dogs, or helping the neighbors with chores is a win-win for all involved. 

    What volunteer opportunities have you found to get your children involved?

    About the author

    Ashley is an RN certified in Advanced Wilderness Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. She’s a nature-loving mother of two who is passionate about outdoor education for parents and their children. Ashley grew up in Alaska, where her family spent most of their time outdoors fishing, camping, skiing, and hiking. She currently lives with her husband and children near the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe, where they can be found outdoors year-round; hiking, backpacking, biking, skiing, and camping. She is also very passionate about photography and owns a small photography business.

    You can find more from Ashley in the following online locations:
    Instagram: @sage.and.summit
    Website: Sage & Summit Photography
    RWMC posts: Ashley Greenhalgh

  • ANIMALS/WILDLIFE, BOOKS, INFORMATION, NATURE SCHOOL, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, URBAN NATURE

    Exploring Worms with Kids

    Worms are fascinating creatures and your child is bound to stumble onto one at some point in their childhood. Chances are they’ve spotted one on the sidewalk after rain or found one while digging in the dirt. Worms are not just exciting to explore and easy to find, but they are also incredibly beneficial to our soil and plant health. Today Katie Fox, full-time RV traveling and hiking mom of two, is here to share all about exploring worms with kids.

    {This post contains affiliate links.}

    Exploring Worms with Kids - Run Wild My Child

    “I do not want to be a fly, I want to be a worm!” — Charlotte Perkins Gilman

    Ways to explore worms with children

    That magic moment when a child finds a worm for the first time is not something you soon forget. Maybe your child shrieked and ran away, leaving behind a fun story to tell them later in life. But, if your children are anything like mine, they will be excited and joyful at finding worms.

    And if your child is the shrieker, have no fear. Exploring worms with kids isn’t all about digging for them and handling them. In fact, you can learn all about worms without ever touching one. So strap on your outdoor play shoes and let’s dive into easy ways to explore worms with your children.

    Where to find worms

    When you go on a worm hunt, one of the very first things you need to know is where to find these elusive creatures. This is not always an easy feat. But with a little determination and some ideas on where to look, you have a high chance of being successful. And remember, if at first, you don’t succeed, dig, dig again.

    Dig in wet dirt

    Wet dirt (not mud) is one of the best places to begin looking for worms with kids. Not only do children enjoy digging in the dirt, but they are more likely to find worms in wet dirt. We always like to start by digging under rain gutters or near water faucets. These areas are usually a bit wetter than the rest of the yard and make great starting points.

    Other places to dig with a high chance of success are in a garden or near a green lawn. These areas are usually watered often and thus make great homes for worms.

    Looking for worms under rocks

    Look under large rocks/stepping stones

    If you’ve ever turned over large rocks you know it is a hub for all dirt-loving critters. If you have access and permission, gently lifting large rocks or stepping stones is another great place to search for worms with kids. Not only are you likely to find worms, but there is a host of so many other tiny critters living in these spaces to explore, identify, and learn about.

    Watch the sidewalks

    If you’ve ever gone for a walk in the rain or immediately after a rainstorm, you’ve surely come across one or more worms resting on the cement. In fact, when it rains a lot, worms surface because the raindrop vibrations feel like predator vibrations. In other words, they are running away from a threat that does not exist. So if digging in the dirt and flipping over rocks aren’t options, just wait until the next rainstorm and head on outside for a walk. The worms are bound to make an appearance and give your children a chance to see and explore them.

    Sometimes the rain will wash them into the street, driveways or sidewalks. We love “saving the worms” when they’re trapped on concrete and gently put them back in the grass to be found another day! 

    Buy them

    Don’t have a good place to dig or keep coming up empty? You can buy bait worms pretty cheap at local bait and tackle shops. Take a small container home and place them in a larger bin or bowl for exploration. If you go this route, make sure to include some moist soil to keep the worms healthy.

    Exploring worms with kids safely

    Worm exploring safety tips

    Exploring worms with kids is such a fun and easy activity. Little to no prep is needed and it can easily happen spontaneously or with a little planning. As with any living creature, it is important to know how to explore worms safely. Here are some quick tips to make sure you handle your worms as safely as possible.

    • 30 minutes or less: Make sure all worms you catch are released back into the wild after about 30 minutes of exploration. However, if you still have more activities to do or just want to watch the worms some more, try to find some new worms.
    • Worms are very sensitive: Do not handle them too much and always use a gentle touch.
    • Keep the exploring area damp: Use a damp cloth or paper towel to set your worms on if you remove them from their habitat.
    • Keep them in the shade: Make sure to handle the worms in a shady space, out of direct sunlight.
    • Mist the worms often: Keep a misting spray bottle on hand and gently spray your worms often to ensure their bodies are kept moist.

    Worm castings

    Worm facts for kids

    When you’re exploring worms with kids, they’re sure to be curious and ask questions. I don’t know about you, but I’m not up to speed on all my worm facts these days! So, I’ve done some of the work for you and put together this list of fun facts about worms that are sure to please inquiring little minds. Whip these facts out and your kids are sure to be wowed with your extensive knowledge! (you can thank us later)

    • There are thought to be 4,400 (or more) species of earthworm.
    • Earthworms have no resistance to the sun’s ultra-violet radiation, so daylight can be fatal to them.
    • Worm castings (also known as vermicast) improve soil health.
    • An earthworm can lose one end of its body and grow a replacement, but the worm will die if it is cut in half.
    • Earthworms are attracted to one another by scent.
    • There are fossilized worms in 600 million-year-old rocks – meaning worms were living in the time of dinosaurs.
    • Earthworms eat a lot! They can eat about ½ to 1 times their body weight every day.
    • The largest worm ever found was a South African Earthworm measuring 22 feet long, though they average closer to 6 feet long.
    • Worms need moisture to live, so if their skin dries out they will die.
    • Baby worms hatch out of a cocoon smaller than a grain of rice.

    worm science

    Worm science experiments for kids

    If your kids are curious about worms, it can be even more fun to learn these facts with hands-on activities. Here are two simple worm science experiments you can do with your children.

    Moist or dry?

    This is a simple activity that requires a moist area and a dry area and at least one worm. You can use paper towels or dirt to create the experiment. Create one wet side and one dry side and then place your worm’s body half on the wet side and half on the dry side. Observe which way your worm travels. Does the worm prefer the moist side or the dry side?

    Light or dark?

    This easy experiment is very similar to the first, but this time you are testing to see if the worm prefers the light or the dark. To set up this experiment you need to create an environment with a dark side and a light side. This is explained really well on Education.com. Which way do the worms travel? Why do you think they went that way? Did they prefer light or darkness?

    Exploring worms math

    Worm activities for kids

    If you want to extend your worm adventures and add some more learning into the mix, here are some simple and fun worm activities for kids.

    Measuring the worms

    When you go out on a worm hunt, bring a ruler along with you. Children love measuring things, even if they don’t understand the concept yet. And for the older kids, have them measure each worm, write down the measurement, and then compare the findings. With this simple activity, you’ve added math to your learning.

    Exploring worms math

    Creating a wormery

    If you want to take exploring worms to the next level, consider creating a worm bin. This is a fairly simple project and your children are sure to delight in checking in on the worms and seeing how fast they eat through your food scraps. Here are some wonderful, kid-friendly tutorials for how to create a wormery with kids and creating worm farm.

    Worm arts and crafts for kids

    Kids love art and there is always something special about creating art projects that align with what you’ve been exploring in nature. If you want to add a little art and crafts into your worm exploring, look no further! Here are some fun worm-inspired arts and crafts for your kids to do and enjoy! 

    worm craft - run wild my child

    Upcycled paper bag worm weaving

    If your house is anything like mine you often find yourself with an excess of brown paper bags. Turn these paper bags into a fun worm activity in only a couple of steps.

    1. Cut your paper bag. Remove the handles (these will be the worms) and cut the bottom of the bag out (this will be the worm weavery). Save the remaining large paper bag portion for a painting canvas or wrapping paper.
    2. Fold the paper bag bottom in half and cut from the folded side 4-5 lines, leaving 3-4 inches uncut at the top and bottom. Voila, this is the dirt the worms will weave in.
    3. Decorate your worms with markers, googly eyes, or anything else that your children want to use.
    4. Add nature finds to the top of your worm weavery. This is totally optional, but it does make it seem more obvious the worms are underground.
    5. Now you can grab your worms and weave them in and out of the weavery. This can be done once and displayed like art or over and over again to help improve fine motor control.

    painting with yarn worms

    Painting with yarn worms

    Painting with yarn worms is a simple project that requires only paint, yarn (or string, twine, spaghetti noodles, or anything else you can think of that is wiggly and worm-like), and paper.

    After you’ve gathered supplies, simply dip the yarn into the paint and then let your children find their own way to use the yarn as a paintbrush. Children will come up with their own way of using their string-worms to paint and the resulting art will likely reflect the way they chose to paint.

    painting with yarn worms

    Worm coloring pages

    Sometimes having a coloring page to work on during family read-aloud time or whenever the mood strikes, is a simple and fun way to bring your nature learning into other aspects of your children’s lives. Here are two great options available for free.

    Exploring worms with kids

    Worm jokes for kids

    Add a little laughter into your worm exploration by cracking one or all of these worm-tastic jokes. In fact, there is bound to be at least one that makes your children laugh out loud or at least sigh heavily as they bask in the worm humor.

    Q: What is invisible and smells like a worm?
    A: A bird fart!

    Q: What reads and lives in an apple?
    A: A bookworm!

    Q: What does a worm do in a cornfield?
    A: It goes in one ear and out the other!

    Q: What do you call a worm with no teeth?
    A: A gummy worm!

    Q: What do worms use to leave messages?
    A: Compost-it notes!

    Q: What is life like for a wood worm?
    A: Boring!

    Q: What do you get if you cross a worm and an elephant?
    A: Very big holes in your peanut garden.

    Worm Books to Explore with Kids

    Worm books for kids

    Bring your worm nature study into other areas of your family life with one or more good worm-themed books. Not only are many of the following books full of worm facts, but many are funny too. Grab a book or two and head on outside to read to your children and the worms too. 

    Learning about worms with kids

    Exploring worms with kids is such a treat. Not only is it an easy activity that requires little to no preparation, but worms are everywhere. Under any given acre of land, there can be 250,000 to 1.5 million earthworms helping to create and maintain Earth’s soil. They are an incredibly important critter and one that is almost always easy to find. In other words, exploring worms with kids is kind of impossible to avoid, so you might as well make it fun! We hope these worm facts, worm jokes, worm activities and worm books will help! 

    What is your favorite way of learning about worms with kids?

    About the author

    Katie lives in a tiny home on wheels and travels full-time with her two mostly wild children, tech-minded partner, two well-traveled pups, and adopted pet snails. As they wander the North American continent, Katie explores as much as possible, with a particular fondness for the adventures her family enjoys in state and national parks. When not trekking through the outdoors, Katie enjoys baking, homeschooling, consuming mochas from local coffee shops across the continent, practicing her photography skills, and soaking up as much knowledge as she can.

    As an advocate for families exploring the great outdoors, Katie co-founded a Hike it Baby branch in her hometown in Northern California and tries to encourage families to get outside whenever possible. Katie has a Master’s degree in human development from the University of Missouri, Columbia, but her passion is really history and humanities (which is coincidentally what her Bachelor’s degrees are in). She currently volunteers on the Hike it Baby National team as a contributing blogger.

    You can find more from Katie online in the following locations:
    Instagram: @familyinwanderland
    Website: http://www.familyinwanderland.com
    Facebook: @familyinwanderland
    RWMC posts: Katie Fox