Giving your child the chance to walk when you’re going out, rather than going in a buggy or in the car, helps to build their strength and stamina, supports a healthy heart and creates good habits for the future.
It's also a chance to spot new and interesting things to look at and talk about, making it another opportunity to find little moments of joy among the ordinary things that need to be done.
Being outside and active can also help with children’s sleep, you can read more about recommendations for activity and sleep in this article.
If your baby usually goes in a pram or pushchair, you could try putting them in a sling to take them for a walk.
A sling gives them a whole new angle on the world and can be easier for you if you’re walking somewhere that’s busy.
Lots of areas have sling libraries, often with trained consultants who can help you work out what sling will be right for you and your baby.
When using a sling or carrier look at safety guidance, this is available on the Lullaby Trust and ROSPA websites.
You can use the acronym TICKS as a reminder of what to check:[1]
T – tight
I – in view at all times
C- close enough to kiss
K – keep chin off chest
S – supported back
If you’re going out with a baby and toddler, a sling can be a great way to make sure your hands are free so your toddler can walk too.
You might have seen the idea of a child-led walk shared by Montessori accounts online, the idea is simple: you let your child decide where to go and when to stop.
Your role is simply to keep them safe and chat about the things that interest them.
Talk to your child before you set off and remind them that when you’re crossing a road or somewhere busy, they will need to hold your hand so you can make sure they’re safe.
Then set off...
If you can find somewhere fairly quiet for your child-led walk, so your child can lead and you follow, that’s great, but if not make sure your child is deciding where to go and when to stop.
Remind yourself that you don’t need to get to anywhere in particular (adults often tend to focus on the destination not the journey!).
If we look out of the window and see rain, that often swings our decision about whether to walk or get in the car.
But with good waterproofs a walk in the rain can be a magical experience – if you can combine this with a child led walk even better, you can enjoy jumping in puddles!
Walking up (and down) a hill provides a whole new physical and sensory experience. Your child will use different muscles and be able to practise adjusting their balance as they walk up a hill.
Find a hill that’s just the right height and slope for you and your child (you might not be tackling a mountain together just yet) and walk up to the top.
Pause if you need to and talk to your child about how walking up feels – are they feeling a bit out of breath?
When you get to the top (even If your hill is just a little mound!) have a look back down and see how the view is different when you’re higher up.
Young children are wonderful for many reasons, if you try a child-led walk you’ll see how they spot things you’ve never noticed before even on a road you’ve walked hundreds of times.
They will also happily skip or sing if that’s how they feel, and you might find a walk with your little ones helps you remember the joy in simple things too.
So, if you can find somewhere quiet (or you don’t feel embarrassed with people around you) don’t just walk! Hum, skip, jump or even run with your child.
If you have a child who’s reluctant to walk another step it’s amazing how quickly they can find the energy to skip or run, so give it a go!
If you really want to embrace walking more, just because it’s great not necessarily to get from A to B, the book 52 ways to walk by Annabel Streets has a whole list of ideas to keep walking interesting all year round. Some of them you could do with your child, and others might be perfect for you to do on your own.
References:
[1] ROSPA (no date). Baby slings. Baby slings - RoSPA