Activity for hiking kids: First-time Journal

First time seeing a desert tortoise

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 First-time Journal.

Each time a child goes on a hike, have him keep track of the first time he sees or does something – spots a waterfall, climbs a fire tower, hears a certain songbird, etc. They should include where the site was seen (such as the trail and park) and the full date (day, month, year). As children grow older, they can include additional information, such as a description of the sight or the story about how they found the object.

For younger children, the journal is a great way to learn how to spell, as you’ll probably have to help them with the words. For older children, the journal is a good way to practice writing outside of school.

Years from now, the journal will be a great way for (grown) kids to remember the great hiking experiences they had with you.

Materials: Journal, pen or pencil

Ages: 5 and up

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