Fun kids hiking game: Signs of the Season

Photo courtesy of Maryland DNR.

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 Signs of the Season.

As spring, summer, and autumn begin, start a discussion with your child about how the natural world changes with each season. Questions you might ask them include:
g How do you know it’s (insert season)?
g How has the environment changed now that it’s (insert season)?
g How will the environment change from the way it is becoming when the next season begins?

This activity is excellent if you regularly hike the same trail from season to season.

Materials: None

Ages: 4 and up

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