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Planning a family vacation in Austria? These excursion destinations and activity tips will delight children and parents alike.
Hiking with children
Tips & tricks for your next family hike
Were you a "happy wanderer" as a child and loved to "go a-wandering"? Do you now want to make hiking appeal to your kids, too, and share with them your passion for the mountains? We have collected a few tips for your next hike with your whole family.
Small steps, big impact: hiking with children
If you're out and about with children, you're probably familiar with the question: "How much further is it? When will we finally get there?". After a few kilometers of walking in tired legs, the mood can change. But with the right planning, good ideas and a dose of composure, hiking with children doesn't have to be a test of patience: Here you'll find the best tips on how to ensure that the fun doesn't fall by the wayside on your next family hike, how to experience adventures in the mountains and how to enjoy the benefits of hiking together:
- Exercise in the fresh air: Hiking is a perfect way to get children moving and ensure healthy exhaustion.
- Adventure in nature: Children discover the world with wonder - every tree, every stone and every stream has the potential to become an adventure.
- Promoting independence: Children feel their abilities and stamina and can be proud to complete a route themselves.
- Time together: You have time to talk, laugh and play together - without anyone being distracted by screens or a hectic pace.
- Switch off from everyday life: Everyone can relax in nature.
Which hiking trails are suitable for children?
The exciting path is the goal! The wide forest path can quickly become monotonous, while entertaining root paths and climbs offer more adventure for young and old. It's the variety that counts: Over hill and dale is 1000 times more fun. Leave your child to take the lead from time to time: Finding the next red-white-red trail marker boosts self-confidence and motivation. And where should it go anyway? Whether it's the promised Kaiserschmarrn at the hut, the alpine pasture with a children's playground
or the stamp for the hiking diary - the main thing is that everyone knows the destination (and it's interesting for children). Perhaps you could even give the planned hike with your children a theme such as "treasure hunt", "discovery tour"... Our tip: A great option for hikes with children are the many adventure offers of the summer mountain railroads and the themed hiking trails in Austria's mountains!
How many kilometers can you hike with children?
The top priority when planning a family hike and one of the most important tips: Don't overtax your children. Above all, time on the mountain should be fun, sporting ambition is not appropriate when hiking with children.
As a rule of thumb for tour planning, you can keep this in mind: The trail length should not be longer than the child's age times 1.5. A 6-year-old mountain enthusiast can manage around 9 kilometers, with 100 meters of elevation gain counting as 1 kilometer. The walking time for family hikes is clearly based on the most comfortable member of the group. And every ... adult knows that you should be flexible on (any) excursions with children. er, every adult. ;-)
Fresh air makes you hungry. So plan enough breaks when hiking with your children. Often the little ones are not so much interested in strengthening their bodies during a break, but rather in a welcome change. Healthy and, above all, tasty snacks create popular incentives. You will find plenty of attractive picnic spots along a hiking trail - on a tree trunk, a large stone, by a stream where little toes can refresh themselves, or simply in the green meadow. Pro tip: It's best to always have a water bottle and small snacks to hand instead of stowing them at the bottom of your rucksack.
Tips against boredom: Motivating children while hiking
What to do when the most dreaded question of all is asked when hiking with children? We answer "When are we finally there?" with our easy-going tips to combat boredom and tired legs:
- Mindfulness is king Who can discover the most beautiful spider's web, the largest anthill or who can make the loudest crackling of pine cones under their mountain boots? With guidance, the little ones go through nature with attentive senses and time flies by.
- The most casual classroom is nature. How can you tell the age of a tree, which animal left these tracks and what does the forest floor actually feel like barefoot?
- For the little researchers and explorers, it's best to pack a small pair of binoculars and a magnifying glass in your rucksack to take a close look at wild animals or small animals and exciting plants (yes, they exist!).
- Delicious treasure hunts: Children particularly enjoy hikes in summer and fall. Treasures such as blueberries wander from hand to mouth all by themselves (reading tip: Pinzgau cranberry dumplings recipe). And after the hike, the world's best chanterelle goulash is conjured up together from the collected chanterelles
- .
- Doing a balancing act on the fallen tree trunk up ahead or splashing stones in the next stream
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- Rhymes and guessing games are the best distractions, we think: I see something you don't see ..., A hat, a stick, an umbrella, and Cheerful animal guessing games.
Equipment tips for hiking with children
The essentials are suitable hiking boots, sturdy sneakers or ankle-high hiking boots. Functional clothing is also recommended for the little ones, we rely on the onion-shell principle. This allows you to adapt quickly and easily to changing temperatures, and a change of clothes in your rucksack also makes sense when hiking with children.
I pack my rucksack and take it with me ...:
- sufficient to drink & a healthy (and tasty!) snack
- Map material, a cell phone with a full battery
- a first aid kit, mosquito repellent depending on the region
- Sun protection (sunglasses, sun cream, cap)
- Rain protection (poncho or rain jacket, depending on the weather an umbrella makes sense)
- and a change of clothes
If you come across streams or a water playground, think of a second pair of socks and a small functional towel! For the breaks in between, seat mats are ideal for keeping the seat of your pants dry, and there is room for packaging and garbage in a bin bag you have brought with you, as this will of course be taken back down to the valley. This bag can also be used to collect garbage that hikers have forgotten along the way. Good role models don't leave anything lying around in nature.
Little explorers and discoverers also like to pack binoculars or a magnifying glass in their rucksack. With a hiking book or hiking stamp cards, children can document their hiking adventures and earn hiking pins or a stamp as a nice souvenir.
Safe on the move: you should definitely pay attention to this when hiking with children
Hiking with children can be a great adventure. However, you should take care and be well prepared. To be safe and relaxed on the trail with your children, it's best to have the right equipment and well thought-out planning. Take note of the following points:
Suitable equipment
- Sturdy, non-slip (hiking) shoes suitable for the hiking trail
- Comfortable, weatherproof clothing (preferably in layers)
- A well-fitting children's rucksack, preferably with a chest and hip belt
Correct behavior on the trail
- Always stay within sight
- Discuss clear rules in advance (e.g. "No running here.", "We wait together before steep sections.").
- At critical sections such as narrow climbs or steep slopes, take the child by the hand or secure them if necessary.
- Let older children lead the way (within sight!) so that they pay attention to the path themselves. It also boosts their self-confidence.
Additional safety options
- Chest harness or climbing harness with rope: A lightweight climbing harness can help in very exposed areas (e.g. on alpine paths). The child is then additionally secured with a short rope.
- Carrying aid/back carrier: A good back carrier is useful for small children who are not yet able to walk safely on their own (up to around 3 years). This way you have both hands free.
- Child carrier with integrated safety harness: Look for models that securely fasten the child in it.
Choice of tour
- Choose child-friendly, safe routes (no exposed ridge hikes or via ferratas without special experience)
- Shorter, varied tours are better than long marches.
Attention and breaks
- Children tire more quickly. The risk of tripping and accidents is higher with tired children
- Schedule regular breaks, drink plenty of fluids and take enough provisions with you
7 reasons why children whine when hiking. Make it better with our tips!
- Boring paths: Eternally long forest roads quickly bore children.
Tip: Choose exciting paths - with water, rocks, roots or animals. - No visible goal: Missing highlight at the end? Lack of motivation!
Tip: Waterfall, playground or hut with Kaiserschmarrn work wonders. - Too fast: Adults may want to cover distance - children want to discover. Tip: Allow time for small detours, climbing stops and explorer breaks.
- Not enough breaks: Tired legs + empty stomach = bad mood.
Tip: Take regular snack and play breaks. - No adventures: Just "running" is boring.
Tip: Set small tasks: Who can spot the first butterfly? Who can balance over the tree trunk? - Inappropriate route: Too steep, too far, too bumpy - and nothing works.
Tip: Adapt the difficulty to the age and fitness level of the children. - Uncomfortable clothing: Bubbles on the feet and wet socks spoil the fun of every tour. Tip: Good and suitable equipment is a must.
FAQs: Frequently asked questions about hiking with children
Copyright © ALPS RESORTS, Titelbild: Salzburger Land Tourismus; Kaiserschmarrn auf der Hütte und Kinder am Waldteich: Salzburger Land Tourismus; Familie in der Almwiese, Kaulquappen und Familie wandert im Wald: Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe Tauern (Innerhofer)
Verena Junger
Content Manager at ALPS RESORTS
Millennial with a passion for solitary mountains and compelling stories, always on the lookout for exciting destinations and experiences.
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