Where the Wild Kids Are: Ages 3 to 5

AMC Outdoors, June 1999

The energy of a preschooler is hard to match, and that's really evident when you take her outside. Most likely she'll run ahead to check out the wildflowers on the side of the trail, sneak up behind you with a caterpillar in her hand, or try to scare you as she pops out from behind a tree screaming, "Boo!" Preschoolers have a keen interest in what's going on around them. Take some self-guided or naturalist-led nature trails where children can learn about the local flora and fauna, or pick up a guidebook or two and learn about the environment together.

"In our programs for preschoolers we do a lot of looking under rocks and guessing what's in the water," says Ritger. No matter what your age, learning through experience is a lot more fun than listening to a lecture, but with preschoolers it's essential.

The pace of activity with children this age varies widely. After expending all that energy, they'll need to rest for a bit, so plan for numerous stops on the way. And since their attention spans aren't all that great, a resting point by a waterfall, stream, or other scenic view is ideal to keep their interest. "Try to always be one step ahead of a preschooler's attention span," says Ritger. "Playing games or telling stories while you rest works for a lot of families."

"It's helpful to find something my son really wants to collect, like pine cones or acorns, and point them out along the way," says Howard. "I admit we also plant some for the walk home. When Graham starts to drag, whoever is walking ahead will slyly pull a few of the cherished items out of their pocket. We drop them on the trail and say, 'Look, I found some more acorns!' at which point Graham comes running the 50 yards that just a second ago seemed like miles. This can be kept up for quite a distance."

If your child is strong enough (and willing), she can also start carrying her own small and lightweight backpack, perhaps with a treat or two in it. This brings up another good point — stopping for small snacks is essential to keep up morale and energy. "A good rule of thumb is to take a break for at least 10 minutes every hour," says Ritger. On hikes, stick to flat terrain. Three- and four-year-olds may be little walkers now, but their legs are still short, and they haven't had that much experience on them yet.

If you're camping, you'll find there's still a lot of extra baggage you're hauling around. "In our first few years of camping with our daughter Katie, it quickly became apparent that all her stuff took up too much room, so we invested in a tent trailer. The kind that keeps you off the ground, but not exactly in the Marriott. While it isn't roughing it, it sure has made life easier," says Ondrasik.

With preschoolers, the most important thing you can do to make your trip enjoyable is to keep your child's needs in mind. "Keep your trips simple and small, and build up as your child becomes more able and interested. Try to pique your child's curiosity continually about the outdoors and all things natural. Choose walks with interesting things to see and do: shells to collect, streams to cross, or rocks to climb. Always bring enough food and liquid, and pack extra plastic bags and children's clothes," says Howard.

 Wild Kids Intro, Ages 0 to 2  |  Ages 3 to 5  |  Ages 6 to 8  |  Ages 9 to 12  |  Ages 13 and Up