Tips for a Fun Family Hike with Small Kids

This post was sponsored by BODYARMOR Sports Drink. All opinions are my own.

A family hike can be a lot of fun. By hike, I do mean a gentle, easy, fun walk in the park through some trails. I’m including small kids after all. A three-year-old is adventurous, but also clumsy. So no serious hiking steep cliffs for us. But we do enjoy walking the trails around the lake and in the local parks here in Central Texas. We are especially looking forward to cooler temperatures when fall arrives, so we can do them more often. Here are some of our tips to enjoy a fun family hike in your local park.

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Pick a Simple Trail

As I said already, hiking with kids is best when the trails are simple and fun. Pick a fun park with an easy walking trail with some great views. This will keep small kids from getting overtired or cranky. If you end the end the walk with a visit to the nearby fun playground, even better.

Stay Hydrated

Being hydrated during and after an extensive park hike is crucial to stay healthy as dehydration is a serious problem. Drinking water is great for these hikes and sometimes you need a drink that has a little more nutrient and power to it to help recover from a great hike. That’s where BODYARMOR Sports Drink comes in!

BODYARMOR Sports Drink is a premium, sports drink that provides superior hydration. It is naturally flavored and sweetened. BODYARMOR contains only natural flavors and sweeteners, with no colors from artificial sources. BODYARMOR also contains less sodium and less sugar than its competitors but includes more potassium, vitamins and coconut water to keep your body feeling it’s best.
BODYARMOR LYTE has all the same nutrients as BODYARMOR Sports Drink but is low-calorie and low in sugar (it has only 20 calories and 3 grams of sugar per serving).

So the Sports Drink for hubby and LYTE for me and the kiddo makes a great hydration break.

BODYARMOR Sports Drink is now available at all Walgreens locations nationwide. Click HERE to receive $1.00 off on TWO (2) Bottles of BODYARMOR Sports Drink or BODYARMOR LYTE Sports Drink (16oz Only).

Be Prepared

This simply means plan and think ahead. Be sure to wear sunscreen. Wear hats and sunglasses if it’s a hot and sunny day. Wear light fabrics that breathe and move easily. Or, if it is a chilly day, wear layers so you don’t overheat.

Are you going somewhere very wooded? Please also use bug spray. But bites are no fun and can lead to other complications you are not looking for when you want to enjoy a family hike in a park.

If your child is in the process of potty training, bring a change of clothes. Also, bring some snacks – granola bars or trail mix. No one wants a fun walk to be interrupted by a hangry toddler.

It might be a good idea to have a small first aid kit, at least with wipes and bandages. Scraped knees happen.

I like to carry a few of these essentials in a backpack.

Over to you – what tips do you have for an enjoyable family hike?