I was on Badger Mountain the other day and was really bothered by the way one young family was treating their young boy.
How Not to Do It
The man and woman were hiking pretty fast. It appeared they forgot that their boy’s legs are about a third as long as theirs. The man had a baby in a carrier on his back, the woman was hiking a little ahead. The young boy (I’d guess about 4 years old at most) was dragging along. The dad had him by the hand and was tugging as they went. The mother was threatening the boy, telling him how he should have gone to sleep earlier the night before while the father’s stern words were just as sharp.
Hiking With Kids Can Be a Joy if Done Right
On the Other Hand
Contrast the first family with the man and three boys above. The man would stop frequently for water breaks (this is mandatory, don’t go hiking with kids thinking it will be a workout!). The man was talking with the boys and they looked like they were enjoying themselves. On my way back down the mountain, I passed them as they were still on the way up. We exchanged friendly greetings. As I passed the last boy (probably 6 years old), he spoke up to me and said “Good Job!” How awesome is that!