Hiking with children: getting ready correctly

Let's start with the first question: from what age can you go hiking with your children? Previously, the answer was unequivocal: the child should be at least two years old if the trip is on foot, and five - if the hike is water, mountain or ski. Now you can freely buy a variety of children's products, special camping equipment, and some parents are not afraid to take even the children to hikes. But is it worth it?

A child from such a campaign will not benefit - ifhe is not two years old, he will not notice anything and will not remember. And you will not be up to the beauty of the surrounding nature - most of your time will be taken care of by the child. Please also note that you are likely to "brake" the rest of the group - it's unlikely they will like it. Things for hiking with an infant need to take a lot more. A beginners of infants are better not to take at all - too dangerous.

So it's better to go camping with children who are already two years old. But for children at the age of 2 years, the hike time should not exceed 1-3 days, and for children 3-4 years old special driving mode: half an hour of transition - half an hour of rest. Beginning from the age of 5-6 the child can already take part in the duties and perform simple tasks, but the schoolchildren will feel better in the campaign.

What should I take with me to camping with children? In addition to the usual equipment in a hike with children you can come in handy:

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  documents for the child: a birth certificate and a policy of compulsory medical insurance;
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  a minimal individual first-aid kit in addition to the general (antiseptics, sunscreen products, medicines that your child needs);
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  if the child is small and can not walk for long distances - a special backpack for carrying the child;
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  repellents (always make sure that a particular product can be used by children and that it does not cause allergies) and the means to reduce itching from bites;
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  waterproof things - a raincoat, a jacket or raincoat, pants, rubber boots;
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  hypoallergenic wet wipes odorless;
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  "Sidushka" made of foam;
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  toys and sports equipment (depending on the age and temperament of the child).

If the child is very small - then this list will expand by an additional number of items (disposable diapers, inflatable bathing basin, etc.).

Next, you need to think carefully about the child's wardrobe. A common mistake is when inexperienced parents take a little warm clothes during summer hikes with children: summer, heat! But without warm clothes anywhere. What kind of clothes do you need to take your child on during the summer hike?

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  running gear - clothes for transitions: light, durable and fast drying clothes, best of all - pants or semi-overalls and anorak jacket;
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  sleeping set - knitted, cotton or wool, depending on the degree of insulation of the sleeping bag;
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  waterproof kit - raincoat, jacket or raincoat, pants, rubber boots;
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  warmed kit - a warm jacket, a hat (in case of night cold);
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  headwear for sun protection - panama or baseball cap;
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  shoes - not less than two pairs: tourist boots with thick soles, rubber boots, you can additionally have sneakers or sneakers; Sandals and other open shoes on the hike are undesirable;
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  knitted shirts with short and long sleeves for running gear;
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  linen and socks (ordinary and warm) in sufficient quantities, a towel.

And where all this good put? Part of the equipment and clothes the child can carry on his own, you only need choose the right backpack. It should be bought only ina specialized store for tourists. The backpack should have an anatomical shape, wide straps S-shaped, conveniently adjacent to the shoulders. To ensure that they do not leave, you need a fastener fastening on your chest, and if the volume of the backpack is more than 20 liters - then another latch at the waist. If you plan to navigate in the dark, special reflective elements are needed.

How many kilograms can a child carry? If he is less than four years old - it is better to take the whole weighton himself, and give the child a "symbolic" backpack. For a child from 4 to 12 years old, the maximum weight is half his age in years, but if the child has no experience of hiking, it is better to load less of it. The teenager is already quite a way to wear a backpack, whose weight is equal to his age.

Traveling with children is not only an active holiday, but also great responsibility. But if you provide all the details, you will have an unforgettable vacation, and the child - an unforgettable vacation!