Woodland walks with children

Getting your kids out in the woods can be great fun. Woodlands are great places to explore for both adults and children: so much to see, touch and smell. There will be wildlife there in abundance and an ideal place for children to run around, get messy and have fun.

Here are a few ideas that can make for an exhilarating family day out in a woodland setting.

1 Have a scavenger hunt. There are many things to collect and pick up during an autumn woodland walk: leaves, feathers, acorns, twigs etc. Bring a bag with you to ferry home the many treasures you and the children will nd.

2 Find fallen trees and logs and encourage children to walk across them while keeping a watchful eye on them. It’s a good way for children to develop balancing skills and to be adventurous.

3 Play games of Hide and Seek. Woodlands are a near perfect setting for lively games of hide and seek. There’s always a big take-up with children for this game and you may nd the child in yourself returning when you wholeheartedly participate in this game.

4 Spot wildlife. How many di erent animals and birds can you see on your walk? Bring along a Nature Detective book to liven up this challenge. A spotting sheet is also recommended for children to carry so they can tick o the animals and birds as they nd them.

5 Hug a tree. Find a tree and give it a hug! What does it feel like? Encourage all the family to hold hands around a big tree and try to complete a circle. Find trees and guess how many people you would need to completely hug that same tree. Then have a go.

6 Build a hideout. There are lots of materials to work with: sticks, fallen branches, logs, leaves. Let the children take the lead and watch how creative and busy they will become.