Our first tip is to try and add some variety to your walking route so you are not doing the same old circuit again and again. If possible try and change your route as much as you can to try and see new things. Play some of the games below whilst walking along or have an I spy list so you have something to look out for. Little legs don’t seem to get as tired when there is something to look out for.
Please put safety first on your family walks and keep at least 2 metres apart from other people when you are out at all times. Please take time to read and follow the guidelines to keep your family and everyone else safe.
This idea is pretty similar to how you might pass time on a long car journey. Try and think of different games you can play together whilst walking along. Here are a few suggestions:
Make up your own simple ‘I spy’ lists to take out on your walk and tick off. You can do a new list each time you go out. You can include anything from road signs to nature! We’ve listed some ideas below:
If you have a magnifying glass, why keep your eyes on the ground and go looking for some bugs! You could even make and print off a bug hunt sheet (0r find one online) and tick them off as you find them!
Letting your child take some photos can add some variety to your daily walk and they will probably love being in charge of the camera. Try writing a list before you go out of things to photograph. It’s also a good way to ‘collect’ the items on your ‘I spy’ lists.
You could set a theme for the photos you take on your walk and print them off when you get home to turn into a collage.
Of course, you also get to enjoy ‘editing’ 3 million photos from your camera/phone when you get home. 😂
Try balancing on any lines you see, not standing on the cracks or jumping over any covers in the pavements.
As a lot of us are simply walking around our local neighbourhoods at the moment there are probably plenty of road and street signs to see. Ask your child to read the signs or ask them what they think they mean.
You could design your own trail for your children around your local streets. Decide on a simple circular route and write down basic directions and clues for them to solve. The clues can be based on street signs, road signs or shop names, even manhole covers – there are plenty of words out there when you start looking. The answer to the clue should reveal one letter and then all the answers (letters) make up an anagram your child needs to work out at the end.
Why not try to beat your previous day’s step count…another lap around the block anyone? 😂
Or you could do the same walk a few times and see if you can beat your time! Might get everyone moving along to try and shave a few seconds off your personal best!
Give your child a map (either print off a map of your local area or use your phone). You can teach your child how to read the map, identify north and south, and try to navigate. Maybe you can encourage your child to plan a route or draw a map of your route before you head out.
You could also use a mapping app on your phone and show your child how to use it.
See if your child can find all the colours of the rainbow in nature whilst out on your walk. Before you go, they could make their own sheet with the colours of the rainbow on with space next to each one to write down what they’ve found.
And one for luck….
A Mumbler told us that her children sometimes take their walkie talkies on walks and have great fun running, hiding and finding each other using them!