This tip brought to you by our Dad Guru John Valadez
on May 19, 2009
Its spring and that means outdoor activities are back with all their glory. There are many things to do with the kiddies outside and my all-time favorite is going for walks. Socializing while going for a walk in the woods is a great way to spend quality time with your children.
A wilderness trek is not complete without a little knowledge being passed from one generation to another so I suggest a navigation tip I learned when I was young. Just bring along a white piece of chalk before heading into the great beyond.
As you enter the woods begin marking tree bark with your piece of chalk and, of course, our inquisitive kids are going to begin asking questions. The first time I did this I explained to them, “We are marking the trees so we can find our way back to where we started”, they laughed and giggled. When we got deep enough to turn around I asked my oldest daughter to lead the way. She was confused. I then persisted by explaining to her that she only needed to follow the chalk marks and she light up with anticipation. It was a little game of “who can find the markings first” and they loved it. When we exited my oldest was overwhelmed with accomplishment. We all had a great time.
Now when we go for hikes in the woods we take turns marking trees, navigating in and navigating out of the woods. Give it a try and see how it works. Thanks for your time and please leave a comment.
