Hiking with a 4 year old is harder than I thought

J

JoeyNew Dad

5d ago1 min read

Took my son on a 3 mile trail last Sunday and I underestimated how slow it would go. Lots of stops to look at bugs, rocks, streams. We turned back after 1.5 miles because his legs got tired and he wanted to be carried. I was sweating buckets carrying a 40lb kid uphill. My wife laughed the whole time. Still had fun though and he was asking all these questions about nature. Guess I need to be more realistic with expectations when hiking with little kids.

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Comments(3)

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KKyleRegular4d ago

Yeah, 3 miles with a 4 year old's pace is basically a nature observation walk. I learned real quick that hiking with kids isn't about distance, it's about letting them explore. Pick a shorter trail and you'll both have more fun.

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EEric M.Regular3d ago

Pro tip: load up a backpack with snacks and water and just accept that a 3 mile trail takes all day with a 4 year old. Don't fight it, embrace it. The scenery stops matter more than the destination.

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CChris M.Regular4d ago

Those stops are the best part though. My son finds rocks and sticks and asks a million questions and it's actually way better than just power hiking somewhere.

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