Fun Things to Do on a Walk With Your Kids

Vanessa M. said:  Paint kindness rocks and hide them around your neighborhood or a local nature trail!

Shila said:  Draw funny messages, write words of encouragement, draw hop scotch squares for your neighbors and fellow walkers, etc. Keep a bucket of chalk out and encourage them to write something back.

Shila said:  Become a nature photographer! Kids love to take pictures and you'd be surprised to see what outdoor items actually inspire them! If you're willing, allow your kids to use your digital camera phone to capture their shots. Or, purchase a disposable one.

Shila said:  You'll need to prep ahead for this one - write a checklist of items to search and discover. Simple items to find could include: a bird's nest, an Oak tree, fire hydrant, a squirrel, etc.

Shila said:  Who's that following you? Stop for a moment, stand still, and outline your child's shadow in chalk!

Shila said:  Pick a letter, then pick any category like "girl names" or "adjectives." Then go down the alphabet together A-Z and identify an associated word to that category. I.e., Girl Names: "Annie, Betty, Carol, Dana..." etc.; Adjectives: "Amazing, Brave, Courteous, Daring..." etc.

Shila said:  Bring a plastic bag in your back pocket. If you discover a piece of litter, try to safely grab and dispose of it. This hands-on lesson can help kids learn more about protecting our environment.

Shila said:  Come up with a few obstacle challenge course rules to follow for fun. For example, "step on a crack; break your mama's back!" It's an easy way to spice up a casual stroll around the neighborhood.

Shila said:  Think of something - anything! Your peers have 20 yes or no questions to guess what it could be.

Shila said:  Can you whistle? Play "name that tune" with catchy songs, and test if you're truly on-key or not!

Shila said:  Take turns with "I spy with my eye"... and encourage your kids to guess what it is.

Shila said:  What critters and animal footprints could those be? This game is especially fun after a fresh snowfall or if you have any muddy areas to cross over. Try it as a hiking game when you venture outside of your neighborhood, too, and see how much more variety you can find. If you aren't certain of the animal track, snap a photo then Google for "common animal tracks in North America."

Shila said:  Check with your local municipal to see if you (or the neighborhood) would like to host a Little Free Library. You can obtain official building kits online. Leave a book, take a book!

Shila said:  Speed up the pace with a friendly race. A little competition can be fun. Last one home is a rotten egg!

Shila said:  You've certainly played this popular road trip game with kids, right? The object is to discover items out your car window that each begin with a corresponding letter of the alphabet using billboards or license plates, etc. Well, it can also be played in your neighborhood or nearby trail on a walk! As you stroll around, try to find items that each start with letters of the alphabet. I.e., "Acorn, Bird, Car, Dirt..." etc.

Shila said:  Collect leaves for easy art or science projects at home. Can you challenge yourself to find all the colors of the rainbow?

Shila said:  Category-type naming games involve identifying as many items as you can within that category. How many types of desserts can you name? How many countries can you name? How many different characters in Harry Potter can you name?

Shila said:  Challenge yourselves to learning and repeating short tongue twisters. For example, "she sells sea shells by the seashore!"

Shila said:  Keeping in mind safety and property privacy, making it a point to enact on random acts of kindness can be a great activity for kids to do on a walk. For example, toss up your neighbor's newspaper from the bottom of the driveway closer to their front door, or remove fallen sticks from the sidewalk path, etc. Another act of kindness can include picking a nearby weed or two out from its roots - though you may want to bring gardening gloves for that one.

Alexandra F. said:  Hunt Pokémon around your neighborhood! Install the free app on your phone and use it to go on a virtual scavenger hunt for these characters in the real world. Though it’s part of the popular video game franchise, you don’t actually need to know anything about Pokémon to enjoy looking for them on your family walk! Available for iOS and Android.

Shila said:  This is a fun outdoor activity for kids that starts after dark. Go out for a walk waving glow sticks or flashlights in hand. It can be fun to shine a spotlight on nighttime discoveries.

Kelly R. said:  Bring along bingo cards with pictures of things you are likely to spot on a walk around your neighborhood, and see who can get a "bingo" the fastest!

Kristy Pepping said:  If your neighbors have a Facebook page or a group chat going, see if everyone will place a teddy bear in their window. Then, when you are on your walk, have your children look for the various bears around the neighborhood.

Shila said:  Ever pass by a big old tree with a knot hole? Decorate it with any miniature toy (i.e., fairy) that you'd be willing to donate. Add another mini toy or even a flower pedal here and there. See who else adds to it, too! On every day's walk, you'll connect to something imaginative.

Shila said:  With approval from kind neighbors, of course, pick a souvenir flower here and there on a walk. Or, create a special bouquet to brighten up your home. Kids easily enjoy plucking out dandelions, too!

Shila said:  Set up a daily or weekly step challenge. If your family hits their mark, maybe throw in a tiny reward too! Kids who own fitness trackers love to hit their goals and record their personal stats.

Shila said:  Bring a magnifying glass with you for your next walk. Kids can truly stop and discover things up close and personal.