If your children are older, allowing him to bring a friend is a great way to keep them excited about a day hike. With younger children, though, this primarily is your time to bond with them.Bringing another adult can be invaluable in helping during an emergency or assisting in carrying the load. On the downside, you could end up spending more time talking to the other adult than interacting with your kids.
With older children, that may not be an issue, but with preschoolers and early elementary school kids, children, it may send the message that they are unimportant – then again, they may be just too busy exploring all the natural world has to offer to even notice. You’ll have to decide what’s right for you and your child.
Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.
