Fun game/activity for kids on day hike: New Old Song

"Happy hiking to you, happy hiking to you..."

Generally, exploring and discovery is enough for kids, but sometimes even they can grow bored with that and become restless. Remember that they naturally have shorter attention spans than adults.

Fortunately, there are lots of tried and true activities you can do on the trail that’ll keep kids from getting bored. Among them is New Old Song.

Pick a melody or tune that everyone in the hiking party knows – for example, “Happy Birthday to You,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “Yellow Submarine”. Now make up new words to the song. Go round robin, having each person in the hiking party come up the next new line. For a nature twist, have the new words be about where you’re hiking or the trip you’re on.

Materials: None needed

Ages: 10 and up

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.