Hiking games for kids – how to keep boredom at bay

Walking with children is brilliant — until it isn't. The moment little legs start dragging and the complaints begin, even the most scenic trail can feel like hard work. The good news? A bit of distraction goes a long way. These ten games require nothing more than what's already around you, and most of them will have your children asking to go further, not less.

1. Give the walk a mission

Children walk further when they have a reason to. It doesn't need to be complicated — a waterfall to find, a summit with a view, a stream to paddle in, or a nature trail with a theme (insects, birds, fungi). Having something to aim for changes everything.

2. Count and spot

Pick something to look for and keep score — bird's nests, animal tracks, the first spring flowers, snail shells, ant hills. Who spots the most? This one works particularly well with competitive siblings and can be adapted to any season.

3. I spy

An absolute classic, and genuinely better outdoors. The textures, colours and shapes of the natural world make for much richer clues than a car journey ever could.

4. Animal alphabet chain

One person names an animal, the next has to name one starting with the last letter of the previous answer. Ant — Tiger — Rabbit — Toucan... You can switch the theme to birds, trees, or anything nature-related to keep it fresh on longer walks.

5. Twenty questions — animal edition

One person thinks of an animal, everyone else asks yes/no questions to guess it. "Does it have four legs?" "Does it live in the forest?" Simple, endlessly replayable, and good for surprisingly long stretches of path.

6. Fewest steps

Pick a landmark — a tree, a bench, a gate — and everyone counts their steps to reach it. Who got there in the fewest? The most? You can vary it: who can hop there, who can gallop, who dares to walk backwards?

7. Hen or cockerel?

Run your fingers up a grass stem until the seeds fan out at the top. Hide it behind your back and ask: hen (short feathers) or cockerel (long ones)? It sounds too simple to be entertaining — it isn't. This one always gets a laugh, and children will spend ages hunting for the perfect grass stem.

8. Weave a crown

Daisies, long grasses, autumn leaves — all can be woven into crowns or garlands. No instructions needed, just time and a bit of patience. The results are almost always worn proudly for the rest of the walk.

9. Identify what you find

A simple nature app or a small field guide opens up a whole new layer of interest. Name the trees, identify the wildflowers, look up that unusual mushroom. Children who feel like experts walk further.

10. Collect natural treasures

Pine cones, conkers, interesting stones, seed pods, particularly shaped leaves — autumn especially offers an extraordinary amount to gather. Bring a small bag and let them fill it. Half the treasures become the basis for a craft project later at home.

The best games have no rules

Leave room for your children to invent their own variations. The games they make up themselves are often the ones they remember longest. Nature provides the raw material — all you need to do is get out there.

And one more thing: comfortable clothing makes a real difference on a family walk. Children explore more freely when nothing is rubbing, pinching or getting in the way. Our Babbily leggings and trousers are built for exactly this — robust enough for scrambling, comfortable enough to forget you're wearing them. As one of our customers put it: "Perfect for climbing."