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The key to success is preparation – from planning the trip itself and packing sensibly, to quality clothing and footwear, plenty of snacks and drinks, and entertainment for the journey.
The sun is peeking out for a little longer each day, and the temperature on the thermometer is slowly creeping up. That can only mean one thing: outing season is nearly here. “It was so easy to go on trips when we were young,” lots of people say as soon as they have children. But it doesn’t have to be as gloomy as it sounds. Yes, trips with children are different – but often even more fun, especially if you’re in the right mindset, prepared and properly equipped. So how do you do it? We’ll walk you through it in this article.
There’s no such thing as bad weather – only badly dressed hikers. And with children, that’s doubly true. Proper functional kit is the foundation. It’s a well-worn saying – and the fact it’s repeated so often just proves it’s true.
Shoes, that won’t let you down, keep water out, don’t slip and feel comfortable are a must. From spring to autumn, sandals are great for the outdoors; for hikes, go for hiking footwear; and in town, ballet flats and barefoot shoes work brilliantly too – and you don’t have to give up barefoot shoes even in winter. To truly rely on your shoes, you need to look after them regularly.
A lightweight backpack with support – because we’ve only got one back, and we usually end up carrying about three times more than we actually need. You can also give children a few bits to carry in their own little backpack. A small snack, a drink and a favourite cuddly toy weigh almost nothing, but their value is priceless.
Clothing. That’s a chapter all of its own. These days, functional clothing is everywhere – in leaflets and adverts from every high-street chain. It’s more accessible than ever. At the same time, it’s worth saying that when you’re choosing, it pays to think it through: consider how hard it will be worn, what it brings to your body, and how long you want it to last and serve you. For adults and children alike.
In short, it doesn’t pay to cut corners on functional clothing. For cooler weather, merino is ideal. A time-tested material made from sheep’s wool that somehow knows when to warm you up and when to cool you down. And a huge bonus: by some miracle of nature, it deals brilliantly with odours – saving the noses of you and your fellow travellers. If you’d rather go easy on the sheep, there’s versatile bamboo. Like merino, it wicks moisture well, can warm or cool when needed, is durable, and still feels very comfortable.
For outer layers – both jackets and trousers – the clear number one choice is softshell. It stands up to rain, wind, scuffs… it’s simply brilliant. As an alternative for little rascals who love rolling around in puddles and mud (so basically all children), waterproof trousers and a jacket can be a great shout – then at home you can just rinse them off in the shower, possibly with the little one still in them.
Parents of all little adventurers recommend kitting out your wardrobe with the proven Finnish brand Reima, which – just like us at naBOSo – stands by the philosophy that children should spend time outdoors in healthy fresh air in all weathers, so they can play and develop well.
From years of personal experience, we recommend packing – especially when you’re heading out with children – a cap or sun hat, which protects both from sunshine and from unexpected raindrops in the face. And of course a raincoat, because… you never know. Not just in summer, you’ll also appreciate stylish, unbreakable sunglasses for children.
“Food is important for the nerves and for the spirit,” said Charles Bukowski. How true. And especially on the road to adventure. We can all remember what an empty stomach can do to a situation. And an empty stomach in a child? That’s not something you want – and you can’t allow it. There’s a real risk your sweet little angel will suddenly turn into an unstoppable tyrannosaurus and destroy the world… or at least the day out.
As a small emergency snack for these crisis moments, protein bars, nuts and any kind of dried fruit work brilliantly. They’re great, healthier stand-ins for a classic Tatranka wafer bar. For those with a sweet tooth, pack a bar of quality dark chocolate that you can all share. For the very youngest children, one of the best recent inventions is fruit pouches – but it’s worth reading labels and choosing ones without additives and added sugar.
For a proper lunch on an all-day trip, a great alternative to bread and schnitzel is a ham-and-cheese toastie and some chopped veg. Pack it in a quality lunch box so you’re not chasing cherry tomatoes around your backpack later.
But let’s be honest: any true day-out enthusiast won’t hesitate to pack sausages for the campfire, bread, mustard, matches – and off you go to light a fire. For children, it’s the real adventure. They can help out, carry wood, choose a stick for toasting, watch Dad carefully whittle it down (or try it themselves with their own little pocket knife), help Mum slice the sausages, soak up how you light a fire outdoors, how you put it out… and really, it’s these shared moments that make a trip.
Don’t forget hydration. Two litres per adult, one litre per little one. In reality, it’ll be whatever you can carry on your back. Sugary drinks are also an option (a less healthy one), but be careful – check and tighten children’s drink bottles, because sticky mess in your backpack is the last thing you want to deal with. For cooler days and the mountains, don’t forget a thermos of tea. And did you know there are also food flasks? So you can absolutely bring Grandma’s svíčková with you, enjoy it ceremoniously at your destination – still warm.
A first-aid kit. A must for trips (not only) with children. It might seem over the top, but it isn’t. A properly stocked first-aid kit saves lives – sometimes quite literally. As a basic kit even for a day trip, we consider:
A simple travel first-aid checklist was prepared for you on Instagram by Dr Martina Holičková, aka Pediatrie s láskou.
Classic residents of travel backpacks also include tissues, wet wipes, hand sanitiser, a small knife, matches or a lighter, a head torch – and for the true connoisseurs, a roll of four-ply toilet paper.
Experienced parents will confirm that more than half the space then gets taken up by teddies, toy cars, dolls, sand toys and other “absolutely essential” toys that your child won’t even remember during the trip. One option is to leave them waiting in the car. Another is for your little one to carry them in their own little backpack. They might then reconsider whether they really need all seven favourite toy cars – or whether one beloved cuddly friend will do.
That’s the question. Of course, it depends on your child’s age. For the very smallest, it’s usually enough to give them attention, practise animal sounds, pop a pine cone in their hand, carry them on your shoulders now and then, and point out the beauty along the way. With older children, you’ll want a bit more preparation. On the way, you can come up with different little tasks and challenges to keep them engaged.
Some things have already been invented for you… like geocaching. Others are purely down to your imagination: finding the perfect walking stick from the forest’s gifts, who’ll be first round the next bend, can you hear that woodpecker? Have you spotted a squirrel yet? But ideas run out eventually, so we’ve put together a few tips on what to bring along on trips.
A compass. Children will love watching the needle spin by itself, and they’ll be curious to explore where they are, which direction they’re going, and where the sun is. At the same time, they’re learning navigation. Win-win.
Another equally interesting and equally small (so perfect for a backpack) gadget is a magnifying glass. With a magnifying glass, you can explore anything – because the world looks so different up close.
Which brings us to its opposite: binoculars, because the views will definitely be worth it. With a bit of luck, you might spot a herd of roe deer, a hare in a field, or even the destination you’re heading for. There’s only one risk – you’ll forget you brought binoculars at all, and remember them only once you’re back in the car.
A head torch should be a staple in every hiking backpack, because you never know what might happen and how much it could delay you. Children love head torches. They flash, they have different brightness levels – and what if you come across a cave? With a head torch to hand, you’ll be the heroes.
With older little rascals, you can allow a pocket knife. With a Swiss Army knife or the classic Czech “Rybička” in their pocket, they’ll feel like real adventurers. And besides – what if you stumble across a beautiful porcini mushroom on the way? You’re not going to leave it there.
If you’re not worried, you can also put a camera in children’s hands – these shared experiences are worth saving in the family album. And children have a brilliant instinct for photo composition; that’s a well-known fact.
A phone is a topic all of its own. But don’t be stubborn and insist children leave it at home at all costs. You can learn plenty in nature with a mobile too – for example, following the map and keeping an eye on the route, or looking up what that strange insect on a rock might be. Or you can download apps in advance that will make your trip more fun – like geocaching.
If you’re day-trippers through and through and you’re out exploring the beauty of the Czech Republic and Slovakia every weekend, get your children a travel hiking journal. These memories are worth having in black and white. And children can describe trips so perfectly and to the point. Our tip is Osobní cestovní Bedekr – Kreativ zážitkář Moje Česko.
Right. Now you know everything, and nothing will catch you out on a trip with children. If only it were that simple. Be brave, steel yourself, and take the little ones outside – on trips, into nature, even on a proper hike (with their abilities and your nerves in mind). You’ll pass on valuable experience, show them love for nature and for themselves (after all, these sporty efforts aren’t for everyone). And most importantly: you’ll soon find it’s really not rocket science.
Children are curious. They love exploring and discovering new things – they just need the right conditions and support. And besides – time spent together is the most valuable thing we can give our little ones, our cheeky monkeys and mischief-makers.
🔎 Spending time outdoors is an important part of mental wellbeing not only for adults, but for children too. Surveys show that half of Czech children spend less than an hour outside each day. You can read more in the article Today’s children don’t go outside much and don’t realise what they’re missing.
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