Make Going For Walks With A Toddler Even Better
Sometimes life can be too busy. You’ll concentrate on the things you need to do and forget about the things that you want to do. You might not have the time to teach your toddler how to read because you have to cook dinner. Or, maybe you put off potty training because it’s hard to devote 3 full days in a row to it. Trust me, we’ve all been there. No matter how busy you are, try to make going for walks with your toddler a priority. It’s a great way to relieve stress while making sure that your toddler exercises. Why not accomplish two goals at once, am I right? Here are a few tips that I use to make my daily walk with a toddler even better.
#1 Plan On Where Your Going & For How Long
My daughters (Kenzie & Kayla) love going to the park. They would force me to walk to the park every day if they could. But, what if you reverse this. Instead of your toddler asking you to go to the park, what would happen if you ask your toddler if they want to go for a walk to the park? Of course, they will jump for joy. And, I bet that they will be extremely motivated to start walking.
Just keep in mind how long it takes to walk to the park and back. For us, that is about 10 minutes. So, if I only have about 30 minutes free, I would tell them that we can walk to the park, play for 10 minutes and then we have to walk back home. That way your toddler knows the plan beforehand.
#2 Have Your Toddler Use The Restroom Before You Go On Walks
If your toddler is anything like mine, they will swear that they don’t need to use the restroom. But, the second that using the restroom becomes inconvenient is precisely the time when they will have to go potty. Every parent reading this knows exactly what I’m talking about.
So, make sure that your toddler uses the restroom before going on any kind of walks. That way you won’t be stressed out trying to find a clean bathroom they can use at the last second. After all, the whole point of going for walks with your toddler is to reduce stress, not increase it.
#3 Remember To Bring Water & Snacks
Always remember to plan ahead and bring water and snacks along for the walk. It’s only natural that your toddler might get hungry or thirsty after walking for a while. This is especially true if you’re walking to the park and you let your child run around in the middle of the day.
So, just assume that your toddler will ask for water (or snacks) right after they finish playing. After all, it’s your job to provide anything they ask for the second they ask for it right? /sarcasm
#4 Bring Sidewalk Chalk Along For The Walks
I don’t know how they do it but toddlers are full of energy. You might only want to take a leisurely stroll to release some stress. But, your toddler will want to run ahead as fast as possible. Which pretty much takes a leisurely stroll out of the equation.
To get your stroll on while allowing your toddler to run till their heart’s content, bring some sidewalk chalk (Amazon Link). Then allow them to run ahead (to a certain distance) and have them draw pictures while you walk. It’s such a simple thing to do but it can make a world of difference.
#5 Bubbles Are Your Friend
If there is one universal truth, it has to be that toddlers love bubbles. It might even bring more joy to toddlers than playing at the park. OK, maybe I shouldn’t go that far. But, it’s true. Toddlers love bubbles.
So, take some bubbles along with you if you have them. You can let your toddler blow the bubbles themselves. But, what I found works even better is if you blow the bubbles for them. This will keep your toddlers from running ahead too far since they will want to be as close to the bubbles as possible. To pop them of course.
#6 Turn Your Walks Into Scavenger Hunts
You don’t always have to walk to the park. You can make the walks interesting by themselves. And, easy way to do this is to turn your walks into scavenger hunts.
Make a list of things that you know will be easy to find during your walk. This doesn’t have to be things that are super hard to find. In fact, this works better if all the items are easy to find. Some examples can be a leaf, a red car, a yellow flower. Then challenge your toddler to find these items during the walk. If your toddler can already read, you can just hand the list to them and have them cross each item off as they find them.
#7 Change It Up From Time To Time
I know that this article is about how to make going for walks with a toddler even better. But, sometimes you should consider changing it up. At least for your child.
For example, you can still walk. But, maybe your toddler just got a new bike that they have been itching to ride. Consider allowing your toddler to ride their bike while you walk beside them. Or, you can both run instead of walking. However you decide to change it up… the point is to actually change it up from time to time.
#8 Always Keep moving
I know that as parents, we expect our children to keep up with us. But, sometimes they need to take a break. For example, if you brought sidewalk chalk with you and your toddler runs forward, they sit down and start to draw a picture. Keep in mind that they may not be finished by the time you reach them. They might need some extra time. If they do, remember to always keep moving.
You can walk around them while they continue to draw. You might even do a few jumping jacks while you’re at it. The aim is to keep your heart pumping. You’ll get a lot more out of your walk when you do.
#9 Strollers And Baby Carriers We’re Made For A Reason
Sometimes your toddler will just be too tired to go for a walk. That doesn’t mean you have to skip it. Strollers we’re made for a reason. There is nothing wrong with pushing your child in a stroller while you exercise. In fact, there is a whole category of strollers made for this (jogging strollers).
In the same token, if your toddler can walk but you have a baby that can’t, you still don’t have to skip any walks. Baby carriers can make it very convenient to walk with your toddler while carrying your baby. They can even go places that a stroller can’t (like an outdoor trail).
#10 Make Going For Walks With A Toddler A Habit
However, you make going for walks with a toddler even better, just make sure you do it. Regular exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being. And, it can boost your feel-good endorphins and distract you from daily worries.1 And best of all, I guarantee you that your toddler will love it as much as you will.
By Grace – Child Development Associate Teacher in California
My husband Mark and I have been blessed with two beautiful, smart, positive (I can go on and on) girls… Kenzie & Kayla. And, we have learned many tips and tricks while raising them. Tips and tricks that we felt would be useful to other new parents out there. So, we started WAYISAVE as a website built by parents for parents to share the best baby deals, coupons, tips, tricks and the occasional piece of advice.
mayoclinic.org | exercise and stress: get moving to manage stress
