www.ramblers.org.uk

Going to school in a car...sitting in classes most of the day…coming home and watching TV or being at a computer into the evening…the potential risks for our children’s health are worrying.
 

The level of inactivity among children has rocketed in recent years, resulting in rising levels of obesity and the likelihood of serious health problems in adulthood. Making walking a regular part of children’s everyday lives is a good way of counteracting this worrying trend, and they could be reaping the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle for many decades to come. The important thing is that walks need to be planned to suit the child’s interests and abilities: don’t expect them to enjoy walking or landscapes for their own sake in the way that many adults do.

Here then are some tips for making walking fun for kids:

• Suggesting a walk can be a bad idea - instead, make plans to go to a place they will like or on an outing or adventure. This could be a local event, a pond, a beach, a hill to fly a kite, a park or some swings, a visit to a friend or an ice cream van, a ruin, a railway, a waterfall or canal side - there are so many possibilities.

• Make it a treat rather than a chore. Take nice things to eat and drink on the way, and maybe have a picnic.

• Don’t make it too long and hard. Do stay patient and be prepared to go at the child’s pace, stopping to look at things along the way. The chances are they will need to build up their fitness gradually just like an adult does.

• Children can have a staggering amount of energy one minute and be totally exhausted the next, so be prepared to cut the walk short if necessary and congratulate them on any special efforts or achievements.

• Show them where they are on a map if you have one.

• Make sure children have comfortable clothes and shoes. Carry extra layers for them and be prepared for them to get hot and cold in rapid succession. Take something to change in into in case they get wet and remember sun cream and lotion for bites and stings.

• Give them a small rucksack to pack and carry - this will add to the sense of adventure. But remember you’ll probably end up carrying it so don’t let them pack too much.

• Choose routes with plenty of interest along the way. Children generally like clambering over things - boulders, tree trunks or small steep hills or dunes. They like jumping over streams and climbing trees and rocks - it’s the straight flat paths that bore them silly.

• Let them take a friend. Joining forces with another family is often a good idea. This way the commitment each parent has to make can become more feasible and the children have fun walking together.

• Think up things they can look for - animals, birds, trees, people, buildings - or collect - tree seeds, leaves, shells, small stones. They could take photos, bike or roller skate some parts, walk the dog or even collect litter!

• Try to make walking part of their regular journey to school. Not only is this good exercise (and helps reduce the congestion on the “school run”), it is also sociable and has actually been shown to improve children’s academic performance. If you’re worried about them walking on their own, see if can link up into a “walking bus” project. See www.walktoschool.org.uk or www.walkingbus.org for details of this and other ways of getting to school safely without a car.

A list of books and fact sheets is available from The Ramblers’ Association. Ask at the London office (020 7339 8500) or visit the website www.ramblers.org.uk

Whatever fuels your passion for walking, the Ramblers will help you get the most out of the city on your doorstep and the countryside around you. And your membership will help our work on behalf of walkers across Britain, safeguarding and protecting the countryside, maintaining paths and increasing access for walkers. Benefits of membership include:

• Our Yearbook and Accommodation Guide packed with information about walking and places to stay around Britain.

• Walk magazine four times a year.

• Discretionary discounts in many outdoor shops.

• Membership of a local group with access to walks and social events.

You can support the work of the Ramblers by joining us or making a donation.
Call us on: 020 7339 8536 quoting reference INFOMAT to receive a 20% discount on standard membership rates or visit our website www.ramblers.org.uk for more information.

www.ramblers.org.uk