5 Tips for Taking Your Child on an Adventure Holiday
Many parents might think that adventure and children do not go hand in hand. If you and your partner love climbing mountains, hiking wilderness trails, and exploring the great outdoors, you probably have to give this up when you have a baby on the way, right?
But this is not the case. Humans have evolved to thrive in the outdoors, and there is no reason why you can’t instill a healthy love of nature and adventure in your little one from an early age. Although booking a Disney World vacation with Ocean Florida can be a great vacation, you shouldn’t shy away from letting your child enjoy the natural wonders of the world. As long as you take proper safety precautions, you and your family can enjoy all kinds of exciting holidays together.
To help you keep your mini explorer safe and ensure everyone has the best time possible, here are five tips for taking your child on an adventurous holiday.
Start small
You don’t want to take your ten-year-old to Everest base camp right away. Pushing a child to do something too difficult will give them a negative perception of the outdoors and will make it harder for you to share your passions with them. Before taking them on a serious excursion, start with a few mini trips. Get them used to long day walks and other activities like mountain biking, climbing, and stand up paddle boarding. Then you could work up to multi-day treks and other more serious adventures.
Don’t be selfish
You may be an expert climber or ultramarathon runner, but remember your child is not an experienced outdoors person. Your adventure holiday is about spending time as a family and enjoying yourself, not tagging summits and ticking off items from your personal bucket list. Choose destinations and challenges that are suitable and enjoyable for your little one.
Take safety precautions
There are inherent risks in the wilderness, so make sure you take full safety precautions to protect your child from harm. Make sure they are fully attired for the climate, whether it’s waterproofs and thick layers for cold weather, or sunscreen and hats for extreme heat. If engaging in physical activities like mountain biking or kayaking, ensure they are wearing protective equipment and are always supervised by an adult.
Include some comforts
A young child’s tolerance for discomfort will be a lot lower than yours, so it may not be a good idea to take them on a month-long wild camping adventure without respite. Make sure to include some breaks in your schedule to enjoy some comforts, whether it be a lavish restaurant meal or a night in a hotel.
Be flexible
When you have a child in tow, not everything will go to plan. They might complain about the weather, fall ill, or have a nasty scrape. You need to be prepared for emergencies, and have a backup plan in case of unexpected challenges. By being flexible, everyone will enjoy their adventure holiday a great deal more.
