Will you be taking your kids into the Blue Hills? Perhaps you and your family will join us at our free event—Winter Fest, Tuesday, February 26th at the Blue Hills Ski Area from 5pm-8pm. There will be live music, a chili cook off, crafts and activities for the kids, hiking, and more!
Have you wanted to bring your kids or grandkids to the Blue Hills but aren’t sure how to prepare? Well, we have some great tips for bringing kids to the Blue Hills from Kelly Majmudar, mother and hiker! Kelly has always enjoyed the outdoors, participating in programs like “Nature and Me” with her elementary school class as well as bringing friends along for hikes up Great Blue Hill. Learn about tips for bringing young children on a hike or watch the full video here!
Before going out, Kelly recommends that you…
Prepare for the weather
Living in New England means that we get all kinds of weather, from sweltering summers with high humidity to freezing winters with blizzards and everything in between. Kelly would advise to “try to have clothing for all weather so that’s not a reason not to go out. And try to put it into perspective. There’s some places in the world that are much colder than here and they are still getting outside.” Think about the forecast and prepare accordingly. This may mean extra hat and gloves, a rain coat, or some breathable sweat-wicking clothes in the summer. Kelly recommends reading There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather by Linda Akerson McGurk to learn about how the weather in snowy Sweden doesn’t stop people from enjoying the outdoors with their children!
Ward off those Insects
During the spring, summer, and fall months there are pesky mosquitos out that can ruin a day in the woods if you are not adequately prepared. Remember to bring bug spray and be prepared. Another outdoor pest and concern for many parents are ticks and tick-borne illnesses. Kelly recommends that “in preparation, just make it a daily routine to put on repellent and, at night, to do tick checks.”
Make hiking fun
Kelly suggests that motivating kids on kids can be as simple as bringing supplies that engage your child’s inner creativity. Bring a magnifying glass to take a closer look at leaves or small creature or flowers. Bring a small bag to collect nature specimens like leaves or rocks. Prepare a scavenger hunt to help your kids pay attention to the world around them. Look through binoculars to see what is in the sky or in the trees. Other activities to keep kids moving on trail can be to play games. Kelly finds that games like Hide-And-Seek or iSpy can motivate children explore nature while being fun and engaging.
Did you know that there are many ways children can benefit from being in nature? Read about some of them here!
