I watched her place her foot onto a rock and test it for stability. Finding it adequate, she added the weight of her body to the rock and then tested the next one.
Rock by rock she moved across the creek until—with a victory whoop—she jumped onto dry ground.
With sudden clarity I could see her, in my memory, doing the exact same thing as a three-year-old.
Photo taken near Moraine Lake / Banff National Park
If there is one thing I know as a mom it is this: three-year-olds turn into thirteen-year-olds far too quickly.
I also know that unless we let them test and push themselves while they’re young, they won’t be ready for the pressures of the teen and young adult years. It’s one of the many reasons that I’m so passionate about getting kids into nature. There’s no better place for children to challenge themselves and build their confidence.
Have you ever had an outdoor adventure in mind for your family but hesitated because one or more of your children felt too young for it?
The idea of foregoing certain outdoor experiences because your children are young isn’t one my husband and I ever subscribed to. We’ve been hiking, skiing, and boating with our kids since they were babies.
Naturally, our outdoor experiences looked different when our kids were young. We fit our adventures around nap times, we didn’t hike as far, we went slower, we took turns carrying the youngest when needed, and we didn’t make it to the end of the trail every time.
But I will always be grateful that we decided to embrace family adventure even with babies and toddlers. It is because of those efforts that I now get to watch my kids hop rocks with ease… or rappel down a rock wall with surprising confidence… or try something totally new, like zip-lining over a gorge, with courage born of practice and experience.
Benefits of Letting Young Kids Experience Nature
- By being immersed in nature from a young age, a love of nature takes root and continues to grow as they do.
- They learn to test themselves, push their limits, and grow in their confidence. {Encouraging Young Adventurers}
- They feel like they have more freedom—and parents who trust them to take reasonable risks and solve their own problems.
Tips for Exploring Nature with Babies and Toddlers
- Invest in a good sling or hiking backpack.
- Work with your personality as a parent. I know moms who never risk missing a nap (I can’t blame them!) and others whose little ones have been trained to nap on the go, whether in the carseat or in a hiking backpack. There’s nothing wrong with either, so just know where you fall on the spectrum and work within it. When our children were young, we often timed it so that they’d nap on the drive and then be ready to go when we arrived. (Or vice versa.)
- Snacks, snacks, snacks. I mentioned it a recent post about observing vs. exploring nature, but simple, nutritious snacks are essential for keeping a toddler’s energy up. Sometimes when you think your toddler won’t go any farther, you’ll find that a few minutes of rest and a yummy snack will perk that little one right back up!
- Explore at the youngest child’s pace. Or…
- Hike with friends or family so that you can split into a slower group and a faster group.
- Give up the end goal, and enjoy the journey!
I was struck by a recent article at the Art of Simple where the writer shared a Scandinavian expression:
“The safest place for a child is at the top of a five-foot tree.”
It’s a sacrifice to get our kids into nature. It requires time, energy, planning, and patience. Some outings go like we’d hoped, and to be honest, others don’t!
But when we give our young children freedom to explore and to push their limits, they gradually gain something much larger than the ability to climb a tree or cross a creek: they gain self-assurance that will carry them through each stage.
The majority of the photos from this post were taken at Johnson Lake, one of our favorite little spots within the incredible Banff National Park. Banff has something for everyone—from daring adventurers to novice nature explorers—and I think a lot of people would be surprised to learn how friendly it is for young kids.
At Johnson Lake, for example, there’s an easy trail around the entire lake. We took more an hour to explore just a small stretch of the trail—stopping to balance on logs and to collect pine cones and other nature treasures. 🙂
By keeping in mind the tips above, I think you’ll find that any outdoor adventure can be adjusted to fit the needs of your youngest adventurers, and as you know, I think it’s well worth the effort.
What was your family’s approach to outdoor adventure while the kids were small?
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My husband and I tend to take turns carrying our three-year-old when she gets tired. (Although I gotta admit, my husband does the bulk of this!) We just tell ourselves we’re burning extra calories!! 😉 As long as it’s not too hilly, this usually works just fine for us. Oh and we find that if the hike involves water, like crossing or even hiking through a creek, she is exponentially more cheerful and independent!
LOVE this post! Your daughter is looking so grown up! (I’m sure that is not easy for you to hear!) (Insert sobbing emoticon!!)
My kids have always loved water too!! When we hiked the Narrows in Zion National Park….they were in absolute HEAVEN! 🙂
I love your photos of the park and your right about allowing your children to experience nature. I just wanted to say I didn’t see any information about protecting our small children from the ” local wildlife” living in Ontario for a number of years taught us there are some animals we must be very vigilant about like black bears , wolves and mountain lions and we must be sure we have a plan of action in case we were to encounter any of these animals like some of our friends did on more than one trip. Our neighbors actually were charged by a black bear and if they hadn’t had bear spray would have been in serious trouble.Their 3 small children were with them. They didn’t let that very frightening experience stop them from experiencing nature with their small children , they just always make sure they stay on the trails and are always careful not to let the children wonder away from them, and they have a plan of action against a possible confrontation with the wild life, as we do . I can tell you are a good mom and that you want the world for your children and your are on the path to giving it to them. God bless and keep you and your family always.
The photo of your daughter sitting on the raised log is gorgeous! I always encourage folks to share their “children at nature play” photos on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/SlowChildrenAtNaturePlay/ 🙂