Took the family on what should've been an easy 2 mile hike. My 5yo was fine for the first half then completely melted down and refused to walk. Ended up carrying him on my shoulders which killed my back. Wife is frustrated, kids are tired, I'm exhausted. How do you know if a hike is actually doable for young kids? Any tips for getting them motivated?
My advice: pick easier trails than you think you need, pack way more snacks than makes sense, and give yourself extra time. A meltdown mid-trail is brutal.
This is why I always scout the hike first and tell the kids exactly how long it is. Even so my 5yo still hits a wall sometimes. You learn to just roll with it and maybe turn back.
Halfway up is always the worst because they're already tired and can see how far they still have to go. Did you end up turning back or pushing through?
The 5yo meltdown on the hike is so real. My kids can go from totally fine to completely done in like 30 seconds. Gotta love the age when they're too heavy to carry but too tired to walk.
The meltdown on the hike is so normal for 5yo behavior. Their bodies get tired but they don't know how to communicate it so it comes out as a tantrum. Next time try snacks and water at the halfway point before the wheels fall off.
2 miles is still pretty far for a 5yo without stops. Did you have snacks and water? Sometimes they just hit a wall and need fuel before the attitude comes out.
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Welcome to hiking with small kids. What you thought would be easy is never easy. Pro tip: snacks before the meltdown, lots of breaks, and honestly sometimes you just have to call it and go back. No shame in that.