OutGrown

Running with Your Toddler

  2. Share
OutGrown Community Member OutGrown Community Member
0 0
Some of the more gratifying moments as a parent are when our kids emulate our better tendencies and qualities.  One day I rounded the corner to find my daughter pushing her plastic shopping cart down the hall at high speed, crashing into the corners at every turn. I was instantly annoyed until she informed me that she was out for a run and was taking her stuffed animals out in their running stroller so they could have fun. She had them gently tucked in with blankets and had packed toys, snacks, and water for everyone. I softened instantly – who needs pristine walls when we had a little runner on our hands?

Running is different with a Toddlerlittle girl pushing a stroller on a paved path

Somewhere a little after a year, my daughter started walking and stopped napping in the stroller (or pretty much ever…) and my well-choreographed running plan fell apart a little. I pushed aside my stubborn adherence to ritual and we switched to a new time and changed a few of our habits and were back up to enjoying our runs again. Running with a baby has its challenges, but toddlers suddenly have an all new set of needs. Whining and snack demanding aside, they are way more fun running buddies. If your toddler has run in the stroller since they were a baby, then they will be used to the routine of running. It is harder to start from scratch, but most of these suggestions would work just as well if this is their first time heading out for the open road with you.

Make running fun for everyone

The most important factor is your attitude about running; how you approach running each time will impact how they feel about hopping into the stroller. You don’t have to go for a run; you get to go for a run. They are not just getting in the stroller ... they are going for an adventure or going to see the flowers, squirrels, or construction trucks. For toddlers, involving them in the process in whatever way you can makes it more fun and exciting for them. Before you leave the house, let your child pick what toys or books they want to bring with them in the stroller. At times, we have even had a stash of toys that were only for the stroller so she was excited to get to play with them on the run. Bring quadruple the amount of snacks you normally would. Snacks keep them entertained and not hungry and therefore happier. In most strollers, they sit comfortably so they can really eat anything except the messiest of snacks. Try and pick a spot to run that has a fun pit stop or destination for them. I love to try to start and end at a playground so she knows at the end she will get her chance to play also. Be willing to get some extra cardio in to sing, chat, and answer questions on your run. Point out fun sights on the route or give them ideas of things to look for (birds, airplanes, squirrels). Also, you can involve them in the workout by cheering you on or even holding a stop watch and keeping time for you once they are older. We sometimes play Motorboat at the end of the workout (motorboat, motorboat goes so slow – walk, goes so fast – jog, step on the gas – sprint). This is good for short intervals and lots of child giggles. Try to manage your expectations, but don’t make excuses. Your kiddo is going to have an off day and you are not going to get your workout in on some days. Just because they are whining or fussy, if you put a little bit of extra effort in, you can still get done what you wanted to and change their mood for the better. little girl in jogging stroller on paved path

Don't give up on your goals

Once you can find ways to keep your active little one happy, you can also start getting more creative with incorporating different workouts into your running. If you are doing more serious training, be sure to warm up, stretch and cool down. I always stretch in front of the stroller so she can see me. Sometimes, I even let her hop out and stretch with me. Don’t be afraid of incorporating intervals, sprinting or hills into your stroller running. You should be more conscious of your effort level and what feels safe, but you can still build strength, speed, and endurance while pushing the stroller. Plan what workout you intend to do ahead of time so you can be better prepared mentally and able to make the event go smoothly. Keep setting big goals for yourself. Your path to get there will be different, but you don’t have to shelve your dreams of running a half marathon, a full marathon, a triathlon…and beyond. It’s fun to keep track of small victories and PRs too – longest stroller run, stroller 5K fastest time, fastest time running a certain familiar loop. These milestones are sometimes harder fought than the ones on race day. I am often surprised how far and long my daughter will tolerate and even enjoy running if I explain what we are going to do and why I want to run that far to accomplish my goal of completing a race. It’s all about keeping it a positive experience. Mom and daughter on a beach after a race, mom wearing a finisher medal

Involve them in the process and achievement

A huge part of successful running with my daughter, that my husband was much more adamant about than I was at first, is if I am going to race, then she is going to come and see me race. He told me that she was putting in the hours in the stroller and she could tell how important running is to me. Therefore, she needed to see the culmination. She has seen me in the hot sun and the cold rain, sprinting by with a smile, and shuffling along trying to hide the pain. She has seen me run across the finish line and scoop her up in triumph. And she has seen me stumble across the finish line barely able to pick her off the ground. She watches Mom running, persevering, and accomplishing goals and she feels like she is part of that process and that achievement.

Community tags

This content has 0 tags that match your profile.

Hiking

Hiking Tips
Activities

Comments

To leave a comment, login or sign up.

Related Content

0
How to teach your kids to be kind in nature
"Random Acts of Kindness" is a phrase everyone knows. It's in our culture and our vocabulary. But how does it translate, practically, to what we are teaching our children? I'll let you in on a secret: pretty easily. Our children are already enamored with nature. They love it without bounds. They are curious about it, interested in it, and proud of it ... and it's not a far stretch to introduce being kind to it, intentionally. Intention is the linchpin behind Kindness. It is with intent that we are raising these wonderful, spirited, kind stewards of our planet. It is with intention that they will take our lessons and change the world. "But where do I start?" Have no fear. We start simply. Clean up a trail. clean up a favorite trail. Teaching children to love nature while on trail goes farther than encouraging them to see the trail with their senses. Taking time to can help instill an appreciation for keeping Earth clean not just on the trail but every day. Read books that highlight caring for nature. This list from We Are Teachers starts with the book Our Tree Named Steve, which made me cry the first, maybe 20 times following, I read it to my kids. I knew what was coming (I had read the end), yet it was so moving and beautiful that I still got choked up. Your local library will be a great resource for books of varying skill level. Go on a bug hunt. Not for collecting, but for observing. Take pictures and make a collage. Write down interesting things you see, look them up later, and learn more about each bug. Take it a step farther and visit an animal sanctuary to learn more about the animals that call the sanctuary home and how we are guests on their land. Eat outside. Host a Hike it Baby event that begins or ends in a shared meal. Pack lunches and eat at the park by the trailhead. Enjoying a meal in nature allows us time to observe, listen and enjoy everything around us without trying to get to the waterfall or viewpoint. Feeling more ambitious? Start a garden. If your home doesn't allow for space, maybe your community has a collective garden that you could contribute to. Boost your recycling efforts. Our daily choices can also have a profound effect on nature. Connecting the dots for kids will help them make better choices in the future. No matter what you choose, something from this small list or something of your own, passing down the importance of being kind, even to nature, will benefit you, your kids and our planet. What are you already doing to return kindness to our planet? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below. Read More: Taking Learning Outdoors: Preschool Gets a Makeover Ten Easy Outdoors Activities for Toddlers 10 Outdoors Activities for Preschoolers The Natural World: Using Time on the Trail as a Teaching Moment
0
The Natural World: Using Time on the Trail as a Teaching Moment
Engaging with the natural world regularly is essential for building and maintaining a connection with it — especially for young children. One recent study showed that Americans spend 93 percent of their lives indoors. As people become more disconnected from nature, the need to get children outdoors has never been more urgent. Most importantly, getting outdoors benefits children as well as nature. Spending time in nature has many benefits, from improving concentration and short-term memory to diminishing stress and enhancing creativity. Fostering kids' knowledge and understanding of wild flora and fauna and the interconnectedness of all living things is essential to connecting them in a meaningful way with the natural world. Time on the trail is a great opportunity to teach children about local wildlife as well as the importance of protecting it. Take advantage of their natural curiosity about their surroundings to weave together a story about the plants, animals and geological features you see along the trail. Take cues from the sights, sounds and smells of nature while guiding them in this fun learning experience. Look for these opportunities on the trail: Fauna Animal signs are often found on hiking trails as animals, like humans, prefer to take the path of least resistance. Although the types of fauna vary based on where you are, deer signs are commonplace — everything from their hoof prints, which look similar to quotation marks, to their poop resembling little pellets, to chunks of hair, to tree rubs where they’ve rubbed their antlers. Use what you find to share your knowledge of wildlife with kids. Bones tell the story of an animal that fell prey to a predator. Overturned logs, possibly the work of a black bear searching for insects to eat. Egg shells, the entry of a new baby bird — or turtle — into the world. Flora Plants provide an easy opportunity to educate children, as they are all around us. Like fauna, species of flora also vary from region to region, but some plants are native to most areas of the U.S., such as many varieties of wildflowers — the Black-eyed Susan, for instance. Use these and other flowers you see along the trail to talk about how these plants help sustain bee populations by providing them with essential nutrients. Other plants allow for a more sensory experience. In the heart of summer, you can introduce kids to the sweet and sometimes tart taste of ripe, wild blackberries. You could also use this time to teach them about plants that are not OK to eat, such as the bright red berries of the Holly plant, which are poisonous. Geology The terrain, as well as the geological features of the land, reveal many things. Whether you live in the grasslands or wetlands, mountainous or hilly terrain, near rivers or lakes or the ocean, these natural features tell stories of how the land was shaped and continues to be shaped. Trails — especially those that meander diverse landscapes — pave the way for many questions and explanations about the land’s natural resources and forms. Sinkholes and springs often indicate the presence of caves. Fossils in stones show ancient fish in what was once likely a freshwater sea. Canyons tell of rock carved by gushing rivers over millions of years. Awareness If you are quiet — this may be tough for those with small children — you’ll be able to take in the sights, sounds and smells of nature. Beyond the chance to witness birds, deer or other animals on the trail, hushed movement allows you to take in the sounds of water trickling through a creek, down a waterfall or telling of recent rain. Feel the wind whipping through the wood indicating an approaching storm. Listen to a woodpecker on a far-off tree, working to gather food, create a nesting site or attract a mate. The smells of the natural world are no less notable, particularly that of pine or cedar trees and their needles, which make a soft carpet of the forest floor. The musty aroma of rotting logs and leaves activates the senses, revealing one of nature’s most important processes — the cycle of decomposition and re-growth. As trees break down, they are recycled back into the soil, providing vital nutrients for other plants to use. These aspects of nature offer opportunities for not only engaging children but also teaching them about the natural world and its wild flora and fauna. Together, these elements help show the interconnectedness of all living things and how they need each other to prosper. Geological formations and plants provide habitat for animals and insects. The animals prey on plants and other animals, and the water continuously offers nourishment for all. So the next time you hit the trail with your kids, seize the moment for what it is: a learning opportunity. Whether you choose storytelling, a scavenger hunt or other means, plant the seed to help them grow a lifelong connection to the natural world. What are some ways you encourage and teach your kids to explore the natural world during hikes? Share your ideas in the comments below! Read more Nature babies: why having young kids in nature is so important for their health Intro to family hiking: plants & animals 10 Outdoor activities for preschoolers Photos by Ali Chandra. Alexandra Vollman is a native Missourian and editor with a passion for the outdoors. When she isn’t wielding her red pen, she’s exploring the wilderness with her husband and 9-month-old daughter or churning out articles for her website, ModernConservationist.com.
OutGrown
Powered by Cause Machine. All rights reserved.