On 3 year olds and forced marches

[Fiacharrey]

This geocaching thing is cool! I can't wait to try it with my son!

[sheddi]

This forum's a bad influence on me

Having read this thread last night, today I took my 3-and-a-half year old son for a 6.5km (~4 mile) walk through farmland. The weather was prettyy good; 20 deg. C (70 F), sunny, with an inconvenient 25mph wind. We took the usual stuff; coats, drinks, 1st aid kit, map and cellphone.

He wasn't very happy about the odd steep uphill bit, but apart for that it was entirely successful. We stopped twice for drinks/sightseeing, and the whole thing took less than two hours (it's hard to be exact as we visited the playground on the way home too).

I never thought he'd manage 4 miles on his own two legs. He's now asleep on my lap while I type this

[Ricky Romero]

This forum's a bad influence on me

Having read this thread last night, today I took my 3-and-a-half year old son for a 6.5km (~4 mile) walk through farmland. The weather was prettyy good; 20 deg. C (70 F), sunny, with an inconvenient 25mph wind. We took the usual stuff; coats, drinks, 1st aid kit, map and cellphone.

He wasn't very happy about the odd steep uphill bit, but apart for that it was entirely successful. We stopped twice for drinks/sightseeing, and the whole thing took less than two hours (it's hard to be exact as we visited the playground on the way home too).

I never thought he'd manage 4 miles on his own two legs. He's now asleep on my lap while I type this

Well done you.

[CipherNameRaVeN]

What a great thread. I am really inspired by this thread to take up a new hobby.

I tell ya this forum is just filled with so much valuable information. I can surf it all day long.... oh yeah and I have been since I got off work.

My son and I have found a number of the geocaches in NYC...if you do find some, look for logs by nfa...

nfa

Now that there is a direct link from a new Family Prep section I found this thread again. I saw it for first time 1/2 year ago. That is when I learned about Geocaching from NFA. It picked my interest. So, I gave it a try. I now I do it with my wife and 2 year old daughter. Next year my little one will enjoy it more though. She does not understand what we are doing yet. She still has fun being out.
Anyway, Geocaching lead me to so many cool places that I never knew even existed right near my house. There is Tyler State Park 2 miles away from my place. I have hiked and biked it many many times. However, I never knew that there are abandoned log cabins that were used by conservationists decades ago. That was an awesome geocaching spot. Then, there is a tunnel on the abandoned rail road that is also 5 min drive away. Cool place. Never knew it is there!

NFA!... Thanks!... from the heart of my bottom!

[jclaudii]

Wow long way back from the dead..

Anyway...my wife and I have been geocaching since '07 and we love it.. Now with the kiddos it is a bit challenging to keep them interested in between caches. We love the caches that are hidden out of city limits because it is safer to pull off of the road and we usually find places we never knew were there. Before the kids, we went to so many waterfalls, springs, outhouses, picnic areas, and old rock walls that one one not have found if for no other reason than caching.

I say if you have not tried it and you have a phone that can do GPS...go to www.geocaching.com and download a few close to you and try it. The most expensive thing after the gps/phone is either gas to go caching or time to go roam around! We buy all of our trinkets at the party section at walmart or the dollar shops, I mean who doesn't like getting fart putty or a slinky or a fairy princess pen or a noise maker? Our 19 mo does like to piffle through, but for ones we do more walking at we usually put him in our Kelty kid carrier back pack. He loves it and he gets a great view.

[peregrine]

For toddlers, a lighter and versatile alternative to a backpack carrier or wagon is a wrap carrier. It can also function as a blanket, sling, hammock, pillow, sunshade... and can be simply tied around your waist like a belt when not in use. It's a bit of challenge to learn to use, but once you have practiced a few times, you can carry anything, not just a kid. It is helpful because it keeps the weight of your burden closer to your center of gravity, and it gives you the option of carrying a child on the front, back or hip. There are many different ways to carry so you can pick a type that suits you.

It would be my preferred choice to transport my toddler in a crisis because it gives them the warmth and security of bodily contact with a loved one, and they can sleep in it as well. I have used one for both road trips and plane travel with my little one, and it came in handy in a lot of different ways. Funny thing about the wraps is that the kids seem to bond with them like they do a "lovey" and so when you are away from home, riding in it is really comforting to them.

random pic of guy carrying child (wouldn't have chosen that color wrap, myself, lol)

[Banka87]

I'd never heard of this geocaching. I'm going to go try this!

[Thorne]

I'd never heard of this geocaching. I'm going to go try this!

Geocaching is what ppl invented when the cool factor of owning a gps wore off and ppl started looking for things to do with them.

IMO the combo units (gps/fmrs/gmrs) are the way to go.

[CipherNameRaVeN]

FYI, I started a new thread on this: http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=100&t=68167

[Regular Guy]

Oh, I've never heard of this Geocaching but once it stops being 100-110 heat index, I'm going to check this out. There are about 50 in my general area. Me, kids, it's on.

[mosescase]

I signed up for Geo cashing about a year ago but never really made a move on it. My son just turned 4 and he loves the out doors so its something that we might pick up as a father-son deal. The wife isn't much on the out doors.

[yeti101]

great thread. I worry about handling my boys (1 1/2 & 2 1/2) in a bug out situation and gearing them up.

[Kutter_0311]

Oh, my kids are going to hate you...

My 5 y/o is a panzy. I need to toughen him up a bit before Scouts (which he is REALLY JAZZED ABOUT) next year.

I'd preffer if he, and the wife, didn't notice, lol! Great tips, guys! Thanks!

[AnimalMother]

Excellent post, Ricky! Great tips, and you actually DID it instead of being an "armchair bugout expert." Good for you to be so patient with the little trooper, too... Keep it up!

Cheers!

I've been trying to think of a fun way to get my family outdoors and practice bugging out. Geocaching is a great idea and I can't wait to try it!

[Pomegrante]

I can't say that I have taken my children on a long walk without wheels yet, but it seems to me the same principles apply to a long car ride. Take the mapquest eta and add 33%. recognize that the children can't hold out for things like food and water and bathroom breaks like you can. be aware that it's better to keep them occupied and happy then recover from a meltdown and don't be a hero, maybe you can drive 16 hours, but that doesn't mean your children can.

[duodecima]

My 5 y/o is a panzy. I need to toughen him up a bit before Scouts (which he is REALLY JAZZED ABOUT) next year.

So was mine, big time, in spite of NOT being reinforced for it, or her dramatic tendencies. She very abruptly grew out of it at about 8 1/3 yo. Keep up the support, modeling, and overall good parenting, and have faith. Her ability to calmly handle small-to-middling crisis or physical challenge is now suddenly excellent.

[lagna245]

great posts and thread, my 4 year old daughter hardly wants to walk to the car half the time, hikes have been hard, there's some great advice here I'll be sure to try, thanks.

[Tater Raider]

I'd nix the wagon until they get used to walking, but that's definitely a YMMV thing. Also, on the wagon, go for one with bigger tires so you can pull it on a trail. Something like this:

[CipherNameRaVeN]

My daughter is 3.5 yo. I am trying to get her used to hiking. However, she does not get the point yet. She stops every 10 feet because something catches her attention: a leaf, butterfly, pretty flower...

I have more luck with a jugger stroller. That thing goes through anything. It is my all terrain vehicle.
http://www.babystrollersblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/expedition_jogging_stroller.jpg

[Jamie]

Geocaching is a trick that still works for me in getting my son psyched for a hike...the idea of following a hidden map to a treasure gets him going.

Jamie

[ZombieGranny]

Tommy is 2.5 now, and walks a half mile at a time (the loop road is a 1/2 mile).
We go at his pace for the most part; I suppose because having a short stride due to short legs, I was always being yelled at to keep up as a child.
As a 5 foot person, I still need those 6 footers to slow their stride. If they won't I'll meet them there, but I won't scuttle to keep up.
We want him to want to hike.

[Tater Raider]

Tommy is 2.5 now, and walks a half mile at a time (the loop road is a 1/2 mile).
We go at his pace for the most part; I suppose because having a short stride due to short legs, I was always being yelled at to keep up as a child.
As a 5 foot person, I still need those 6 footers to slow their stride. If they won't I'll meet them there, but I won't scuttle to keep up.
We want him to want to hike.

Absolutely and I totally agree.

[bacpacjac]

The secret, IMO, is to keep it fun for kids. We want them to like this stuff, right?

If you NEED to go, take a stroller or a wagon (and practice pushing it so you get in shape for that) and if you don't NEED to reach a certain destination let him walk, but don't hesitate to turn around before you expected. Remember, kids get tired and whiney in the blink of an eye, so by the time you reach your planned turn around point it may be too late.

If you've got different aged kids with different endurance levels, bring a stroller for the little one for the ones can keep going.

Start with short hikes and build up slowly.

Take lots of breaks for them to look at stuff, explore, throw rocks into a lake or splash in a puddle.

When my son was that age, we got him his own little toddler-sized backpack. He couldn't carry much at first, just a juice box, bag of goldfish crackers and his Teddy. As he got bigger, we added a little canteen cup (he loves army stuff) and a jacket. I did the same thing with my nephew and niece, who often hike with us. They all grew into it.

Bringing a friend along can make it fun too!
Even though you'll have to stop to pee more (nature pees are trickier in the winter) make sure they drink frequently.

A boonie hat and a bug jacket are your friends, and don't over estimate the value of a flashlight when it gets dark, like s6, walking into a forest at midday.


The boys both loved their packs right away at 3 and 4. The 3 year old (newphew) brough his toy sword and the 4 year old (son) brought Teddy.


Watch the babe (niece) still in the stroller...


She's walking on her own now but no pack of her own yet...


She was pretty excited when she graduated to carrying her own pack like the boys!

[LyraJean]

My son will be 1 in October. He is not walking yet but he loves his stroller and being carried in his baby backpack. We have a Baby Bjorn. It's not the best and planning on getting one that hubby can use as well. But it was a gift and has come in handy. I'm going to look into those wrap carriers. Hubby wants to be able to carry the baby hands free too.