10 fun walking activities for families

Do your kids groan when you say “Let’s go for a walk”? We’re here to help.

1. Hide and seek.
   This classic game is still a winner! Parks, woodlands, and gardens can offer perfect hiding spots along your way.
2. Adventure trails.
   Create advanced hide and seek games with clues and arrows made from stones or twigs. Leave a trail for others to follow and leave a small surprise at the end.
3. Invite a pal along.
   Walking with a friend makes any outing more fun! Suggest your child invites a buddy to join you.
4. Picnic adventure.
   Pack some yummy snacks and head out to find a nice bench or place to eat outside. The walk becomes just the way to get to the picnic spot.
5. Nature detective.
   Create a list of items for children to find during your walk like a pinecone, a red leaf, a smooth stone, or a bird.
6. Photography challenge.
   Give children a phone or camera to document their “expedition” findings. It could be unusual trees, cloud shapes, or interesting buildings.
7. Try Geocaching.
   Use the Geocaching app to find hidden treasures in your area. It’s like a real-world treasure hunt! Visit the Geocache website.
8. Use Pokémon Go or similar apps.
   Combine digital fun with physical activity using augmented reality games that require walking. Search ‘Pokémon Go’ in the App Store or Google Play to join the fun.
9. Litter heroes.
   Turn your walk into a wee mission to look after your local environment! Lots of kids are eco conscious and want to look after nature. Bring a bag and some gloves to see how much litter you can collect along your route.
10. Eye spy.
    Another classic game! Take turns picking something you can see and giving a clue (like “I spy with my little eye, something green”). This makes kids really look around!

The secret is to make walking feel like anything but walking! When it’s fun and feels like an adventure, kids will be much more likely to join in.

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