OUTDOOR
Adventuring With the Family Immersing your kids in nature helps them develop a deep love for the outdoors BY EMILY JACKSON World champion kayaker, mom and outdoor lover, in Rock Island, TN EMILYJACKSONK AYAK
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etting out with the entire family can feel challenging at times, not only when you have to try and guess what Mother Nature has planned, but also how your kids are going to react to whatever the adventure entails. Trust me when I say, I’m no exception. My kids, Tucker, 8, and Parker, 4, are out with me several times a week, if not every day! Spending so much time with them in the outdoors has taught me, as well as them, a lot! Here are some pointers I have for anyone who wants to get the kids out with them.
54 Outdoor Summer 2021
GENERAL TIPS • Dress Appropriately and have back-up clothes! Weather can change fast, having a sweatshirt, or a sun shirt, for when the weather change surprises you, can really help keep the kids comfortable. • Snacks Snacks Snacks! Snacks can not only be used to help replenish energy but they can also be used as bribes for getting to the next mile marker. • Turn it into a mission or expedition. Often I empower my kids by saying,
MAIN Adverturing with the whole family doesn't have to be a challenge. Making things fun is part of the play. RIGHT Parker, 4, gets a little help from mom, Emily Jackson, at the bike park.
we’re going on a mission, and you guys are trying to do . This makes it seem like more of a game for them. Or they have an idea of what they are trying to overcome versus we are just walking to walk. Kids often need a bit more stimulation so this perspective helps them stay engaged. • Distraction — bring the tools and toys that will keep them engaged. My favourite is bionoculors. • Invest in child-sized water bladders. Stopping for water for multiple people multiple times can be tiring and really slow you down. We invested in the kids’ own water bladders and it saves us a ton of time, but also helps the kids stay hydrated without slowing the group down.
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