Walking is one of my great loves and it is a love and passion that I want to pass on to my son. Sometimes it can be really hard work trying to encourage a 5 year old to go out for a walk' I'm contantly trying to think of ways to persuade him that it's a great idea to get outdoors and come for a walk. The reason I try so hard is because it is a great idea and everytime we go for a walk, he enjoys himself and wants to go back out on an adventure!
We go around in circles because the next time we suggest it or tell him that we are going for a walk, he pulls his face and moans that he doesn't want to go! We take him anyway and there are lots of ways in which we make him forget that he didn't want to go and persuade him to put one foot in front of the other.
We don't often go out for 'a walk' anymore; We go out on 'an adventure' We take lots of snacks to keep his energy levels up, wrap him up warm in waterproof coat and trousers and invested in some lovely walking books for him. We sometimes sing to him and remind him that 'those boots are made for walking and walking is what they will do'. A promise of a hot chocolate and a warm bubbly bath with his sea creatures when we get home from the adventure definitely helps!
We took him out a couple of weeks a go to a place called Tandle Hills Country Park, near Rochdale. Legend has it that a money fairy leaves silver coins around trees and on branches for little feet that walk well! We decided to go and see if this was true. After an hour or so of walking, making fishing rods out of really big sticks and looking at the colourful fungi on the forest floor, we came to the dry trees where she is known to leave her rewards. We couldn't believe it! The toothfairies cousin DID leave silver coins in the woods for him because she had seen how well he was doing so well on his walking adventure!
The benefits of exploring the great outdoors and spending time in nature are immense; It keeps you healthy, helps you to relax and inspires creativity.
You can read more about the benefits of taking your children out doors by the Queen of walking, Julia Bradbury in this Millets article: The Benefits of Taking Your Children Outdoors with Julia Bradbury
