Seven Reasons To Go For a Walk
Are you looking for fun, cost effective ways to entertain the whole family? Then you’ll love going for a walk.
I know, it’s not exactly rocket science, but do families actually go for a walk together any more? Traditionally they used to go for a walk once a week after a big Sunday lunch, but now I’m not so sure. Anyway, to make the most of going for a walk you really should do it more than once a week.
We’re always out walking and we’re still discovering more walks to do around Noosa and the Sunshine Coast, as well as more ways to get our kids to do them. I think the Candy kids might have finally got used to the enforced marches now as they hardly even bother to complain any more. Our four year old even likes to boast about how strong her legs are. I wonder where she gets it from…
How To Get Your Kids To Love Walking
We’ve been taking our kids out on grand treks for years and that’s one tip I’ve got for getting them to do it ~ make the whole thing sound totally amazing. Even if you’re only going on a ten minute walk round the block, don’t ever call it a walk! Call it a jungle exploration looking for endangered species, call it following a river to find the source, call it building up an appetite for a yummy lunch, but never, ever, call it a walk.
When Luke was two we’d take him walking on Waiheke Island in the amusingly named Whakanewha Regional Park. Well, it’s amusing if you’re a boy under ten and you know that in Maori the ‘wh’ sound is pronounced ‘f’. Anyway, to get him moving jam sandwiches were good.
The other alternative was to take a small cuddly toy and run ahead to hide it from him, then the little lad could look for it and find it a hundred meters down the track. It’s amazing how far you can get a two year old to walk by doing this. If you forget to take a cuddly toy, you can just play a walking version of hide and seek. This time you run ahead and hide behind a tree then leap out on top of your unsuspecting child just as they’re starting to get bored. This does become a little embarrassing if there are a lot of other walkers, but I’ve got used to the odd stares people give me as they discover me squatting in the bushes. It’s all part of the fun.
Long Walks and Short Walks are Good Walks
Also, bribery helps and our kids would trek across the Sahara desert for a $1.20 bag of sweets. But only use this if you’re really desperate. You don’t need to go on a long walk to benefit from walking though. A twenty minute walk around your neighbourhood taking time to notice which flowers are blooming and what birds are singing will do the trick just as well. City-slickers can substitute people watching and vehicle spotting or head to the nearest park.
Seven Reasons For You To Take A Hike
Here are seven good reasons why you’ll enjoy a regular walk, be it long or short, solo or with company:
1. You’ll have fun.
2. You’ll get fitter and maybe even slimmer.
3. You’ll visit new places.
4. You’ll be outside.
5. You’ll save money because it’s free. Just make sure you don’t walk round the mall.
6. You’ll notice things you’d never see from the car.
7. You’ll can talk to the kids or a friend without distractions. Or go for a walk alone and enjoy an uninterrupted conversation with yourself.
Happy hiking!
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Honestly, I believe walking is the best medicine! I try to go every day and try to find a hiking trip as often as I can. These are things we need to be reminded of and thank you for putting it front of mind for us!
Well, I will admit, when I saw the blog was on walking I did have a kind of childish moment of having the word “boring” go through my head but once again you have proved your writing skills and actually made me want children and then take them for a walk! I’m serious! It sounds like fun and I will endeavour to go for a walk tomorrow thinking of my amazing friend, while feeding the ducks :)
We intentionally moved into an area with walking trails, parks and plenty of sidewalks to ride bikes. It encourages us to be outside and makes it easy for us to be outside.
I love hiking and sight seeing, but for a good workout, I find a half hour on the eliptical is the best thing for a good cardiovascular workout that’s also easy on the joints.
I love walking for a few reasons:
Great exercise with out taxing the body( jogging tough on the knees. Weight lifting boring to me)
Being out with nature is great. Quiet. Serene.
You do see things you don t see in a car as things are not Whizzing by.
Also for me, its a great time to THINK. Justy me and myself out there cruising around.
Also good for themetabolism. Helps with weight reduction.
Just my 3 cents
Tim, Smile-Therapy.com
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What a great blog. Your ideas for the kids are great.
I used to get my three year old to run ahead and read the numbers on the letterboxes. Now my boys are older they would rather play computer games. I will just have to be more creative.
Thanks for the inspiration.