Many mountain lovers want to share their passion for the mountains with their own children. Ute Watzl writes the blog "Zwerg am Berg" and is family and group guide in the German Alpine Association. She knows the best hiking destinations for children and also a cure for laziness.
Ute Watzl writes the blog "Zwerg am Berg" and is family and group guide at the German Alpine Association. In our series "Outdoor with Children", OutDoor Society speaks with her about te best hiking destinations for children and her cure for laziness.
OutDoor Society: How do you awaken the joy of hiking in small children?
Ute Watzl: The truth is: Children experience mountains quite differently than we do. They don't care about a great panorama from the summit. Their eyes are much closer to the ground, to the here and now. Hikes must be planned accordingly so that they are fun for them.
What does this mean for tour planning?
Above all, this means that the path is the goal. Literally. Wide, flat forest paths are incredibly boring for children. If I want the kids to have fun, I should avoid forest roads. Narrow paths and climbs have a much greater experience value, preferably with small, safe climbing units. When we tackled Jochberg last year on the varied route from Kesselberg, I was surprised how quickly my six-year-old son reached the summit. That was almost 800 meters of altitude, and he hadn't been noticed before for his special joy of running. The secret is narrow, steep climbs with rocky cliffs.
A playground or small scurrilities along the way enhance every hike for children.
How long and hard can a hike be for a child?
A walk of two hours or 200 metres above sea level can quickly become a day trip with small children, if you get fully involved with them. Because children move from one break for playing around to the next. For planning, this means: Depending on the child's joy of running, 300 or 400 metres of altitude difference and four-hour tours at pre-school age are sufficient. What counts is the entertainment value of the hikes. But already with six, seven years, the first short summit tours can be undertaken. But as with everything, the differences from child to child are great. Parents have to adjust to the child.
Which hiking destinations are worthwhile for children?
Children love animals and everything that splashes. Tempting hiking destinations are therefore alpine huts with cattle breeding or a petting zoo. For my children, the most exciting things to do are running streams to build dams, ponds and lakes to throw stones or waterfalls. We therefore like to go hiking in gorges, e.g. in the Wolfsklamm near Stans, the Partnachklamm near Garmisch or the Breitachklamm in the Allgäu. There it splashes at every corner.
The best remedy against listlessness are other children. They then motivate each other and do not tire so quickly. That's why I always advise you to find like-minded families.
You said entertainment value counts. What helps against boredom and tired legs?
Distraction prevents the typical question "When are we finally there?" I like to use obstacles along the way as a break, e.g. balancing on tree trunks or climbing inlays on rocks. In addition, all senses can also be addressed when hiking: The children should just close their eyes and listen to what they hear in the forest. Or walk with alert eyes through the grass and find small animals with the magnifier, or walk barefoot over moss, wood and grass and feel the differences. With my daughter, communicative games such as guessing songs, finding rhymes and looking for colours helped.
That sounds like permanent fun. Isn't that a little exhausting?
There is an easier way: the best remedy against listlessness is other children. They then motivate each other and do not tire so quickly. That's why I always advise you to find like-minded families. If there are no mountain enthusiasts with children in the circle of friends, then the family groups in the sections of the German Alpine Association (DAV) are a worthwhile contact point. They regularly organise day and weekend excursions for families.
Children experience mountains very differently than we do. Great mountain panorama? Not so important!
When the tour is planned, how can I prepare the child for the first hike?
Picture books and radio plays on the subject are especially suitable for small children, but photos of parents in the mountains also arouse curiosity. After all, children like to emulate them. Gifts such as your first own hiking backpack, a cup magnifier or later a children's pocket knife give a special attraction to joint hikes. A special gift is also an own tour book for children. On their first tours the little ones can collect their hut and summit , as well as record observations and memories.
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