Tips to make the most of your family nature walks

Most of us are familiar with these words from the popular children’s story: “We’re going on a bear hunt. We’re going to catch a big one.” Fortunately, you won’t be finding any bears in the UK, but if you explore the great outdoors with your child, we’re positive that you’ll witness some of the exciting things that nature has to offer. 

You can admire some of the fascinating wildlife in your local area by taking your child on a nature walk, enjoying the great outdoors together and maybe even learning a thing or two along the way. By using some imagination and taking some bits and bobs with you, you can plan the perfect outdoor adventure and make the most of the summer weather. At Kiddi Caru nurseries, for example, children participate in a variety of enriching outdoor activities to aid their physical and mental wellbeing, and you can further stimulate your child’s interest in the great outdoors by going on a nature walk. To make the most of your nature walks and to avoid being underprepared, I’ve compiled a list of things that you might want to take along with you.

1. A picnic

If you’re planning on heading out on a long nature walk, it’s a good idea to take some food along with you. This will prevent you having to spend money whilst you’re out and about, and allow you to fully enjoy your natural surroundings, by setting up camp and finding the perfect spot to enjoy your food. 

Taking a picnic means that you can take your time exploring, since you’ll have the supplies to keep you fuelled on your walk. What’s more, when taking your own food, you can ensure that your child has a variety of healthy snacks, alongside some of their favourite treats. Don’t forget a picnic blanket so that you have somewhere comfy and clean to sit!

2. Activities

Nature is exciting and there are plenty of games that you can play and activities that you can participate in that don’t require any additional equipment, such as eye-spy and hide-and-seek. However, if you want your child to engage fully in their surroundings and learn about nature, then it can be worthwhile to pre-prepare some fun, educational activities for them to participate in. You could organise a natural scavenger hunt, where your child has to identify certain trees or wildlife that they see on their walk or find certain objects and tick them off a checklist. If you have a pair of binoculars, you can try to see how many different birds there are, and use the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ (RSPB) bird spotting sheet to check them off, if you find them.

3. The practical stuff

You don’t want anything that nature might throw at you to ruin your enjoyment whilst on your walk, so it’s also important to pack a backpack full of essentials that you might need to combat the conditions. Make sure to take lots of water to stay hydrated, especially in warm weather, as you don’t want to risk either you or your child becoming dehydrated. Sun-cream is also a summer essential when heading outdoors, since children’s skin is sensitive and they are at high-risk from the sun’s harmful UV rays. 

It might also be handy to pack an insect-repellent, as although the plan is to immerse yourselves in nature, you don’t want those pesky bugs coming too close for comfort, causing some itchy bites!  And while we don’t want to jinx it, but to be on the safe side, it may also be handy to take a travel-sized first aid kit (just in case). 

A nature walk is a great way to spend a summer’s day out with your child. It can be educational, enriching and allow them to use their imagination, taking time away from screens to make some memories as a family.