The excursions in natural environments are among our favorite activities to spend free time with our children. You already know that in Peques and Más we pay close attention to all the details that parents and moms may be interested in: routes (we have enough entries about it), planning and equipment, precautions, etc.
In particular, I could recommend you review this interview with Javier Zarzuela Aragón, author of 'Excursions for children in the Sierra de Madrid', during which he talks about immense possibilities that has the field, the mountain, the forest, ... for the kids, and how much they can have fun without having to bring any entertainment from home. Anyone with minimal experience taking their children on an excursion knows perfectly that children are 'awaken' imagination with tremendous ease, and are able to manage to discover new ways of fun, and live 'a thousand and one' adventures', and usually without our help.
Of course, parents must provide at least three conditions:
The possibility of take a trip with more children. When my oldest son was nine years old I discovered that he likes more (much more!) To go to the field in the company of other children - and not only with his parents -. Otherwise he says he is bored (rather he repeats it to satiety), and if he walks with other children, whether they are friends or not, he is able to travel up to 12 kilometers.
The freedom of choose activities to have fun and plan your time, and at the same time, the confidence of knowing that 'they know how to take care of themselves'. Always within a minimum (for example, do not let them lose their sight / hearing in a place they do not know). It is not necessary to have them by our side, but No one who does not know 'orientation' (adult or child) You should venture off roads or places with which you are familiar.
The assurance that they will have our collaboration if they need it, yes: let's be able to adapt to their expectations.
Fun excursions for children ... à la carte
I want to take this opportunity to recommend this post on Ebayers, entitled 'How to plan a picnic successfully and not die trying'. In it, our partner Nuria Ovejero, makes a good Review of successful ideas for food in the countryside: both barbecue and other culinary possibilities.
He also tells us about activities that can entertain children and are related to animal observation, and the direct experimentation of contents that the children study in school but only from theory. The practice is provided by us, so learning will be richer.
The most important contribution I can make today is the following: let them invent and develop their imagination on the mountain. If we do so, and if we look at them with the 'childish look' that we still have, we will discover the beauty of children's initiative, and the simplicity of knowing how to entertain themselves without too much planning or accessories.
For example: it is likely that when there are several children gathered, it will not help much of all the equipment we have prepared to study plant species. You know: a field notebook for each one, materials for making a herbarium, etc. Why ?, because they will be happier (and we will see them too), organizing on the side of a hill to prepare an ambush for parents who have not yet arrived, challenging them to a pineapple war ... Do not worry that they already know that only those that have fallen to the ground are taken (and not from the tree) ), and also that it is not thrown at the head of the 'enemy'.
And of course they would rather imagine that the bushes are houses, before we tell them if they play hide and seek or 'run that catches you'
And if they tell us 'we get bored'? we answer them, what could you play now ?, 'sure you can think of something, you have so much imagination'. When they ask us to play with them, we join the group, why not? And nothing to fault if they play throw stones at the stream splashing water ... except if we are in winter and do not wear spare clothes.
Let the children discover the possibilities of mountain excursions, always with common sense, and knowing how to guide (not to impose) when they need it.
