The adventure starts here: let's go on a family hike!

The endless benefits of family hiking

Fit as a fiddle

As you've probably already guessed, hiking helps adults and kids stay in shape. Hiking is actually an incredibly complete form of exercise: on top of improving cardiovascular fitness, it strengthens muscles, improves balance and coordination, and increases bone density.

What about mental health?

Not only will your body thank you for your efforts, but so will your mind! Besides improving the quality of your sleep (and, not to be overlooked, your kids' sleep too!), hiking releases endorphins that are sure to lift your mood. What's more, spending time in the calm, relaxing environment of nature helps significantly reduce stress and anxiety, while also improving concentration.

Stronger family bonds

Besides encouraging teamwork and communication, hiking helps strengthen emotional bonds while teaching kids important values such as cooperation and helping one another.

An open-air classroom

Of course, your walk in nature is an amazing opportunity to introduce your children to the beauty of the plants and wildlife around them, and at the same time, to the importance of protecting our planet.

Keeping everyone motivated

A tailor-made trail

Of course, when it's time to choose where to hike, it's important to pick a trail suited to your children's age and endurance level, while still encouraging them to push their limits and learn the value of effort. In fact, according to Grégory Flayol, deputy executive director of Rando Québec (Quebec's hiking federation), “In the mountains, a child can walk as many kilometres in a day as they are years old.”

Plan together

Involving kids in planning the hike will give them a sense of importance and is sure to boost their engagement and interest in the activity. For example, you could let them choose certain things, like which trail to take or what's on the picnic menu.

Games and discoveries

Trail games, treasure hunts or even making up stories straight from the kids' imaginations will help keep everyone, big and small, interested, and will surely encourage them to explore more of the environment around them.

A break, please

To keep kids motivated and happy, nothing beats a few breaks here and there to drink some water and enjoy a snack (why not treat the kids to a few of their favourite goodies to reward them for their efforts?) or simply to take time to play freely and explore the nature around them.

By working these practices and tips into your outdoor adventures, family hiking will no doubt become an endless source of joy, learning and precious memories. So lace up your shoes, fill up your water bottles and off you go!

Would you like first access to all the content published in the Magazine each month, plus our Toolbox, which includes, among other things, free downloads that are as practical as they are fun? Subscribe to Belles Combines Magazine today!