Top Tips To Enjoy Safe Outdoor Adventures With Your Tots

The summer is a wonderful time with your young family, as you can help them discover the joys of the great outdoors. We are fortunate to have access to hundreds of miles of coastline and ten National Parks, so wherever you are in the UK, there’s a beautiful and exciting adventure waiting for you.

By introducing your mini-mes to outdoor adventures at an early age, you will set them up for a lifetime of enjoyment and better mental and physical health. Children absorb knowledge and experiences like a sponge, and familiarising them with the outdoors will instil them with confidence and the ability to manage risks when they are older. 

While you can’t wrap your kids up in cotton wool forever, when they are very young you are of course responsible for their safety. Aim to teach them that the outdoors is not to be feared, but there are risks to identify and manage. 

Taking your little ones on a big outing can occasionally be stressful, especially if the weather is hotting up and tempers are fraying. Here are some tips for keeping your cool and staying safe on your outdoor adventures this summer.  

Choose your destination

It’s possible to have an outdoor adventure in your backyard if travelling is out of the question. Small children love simple fun activities such as bubble blowing, hide and seek, or building dens. 

If you want to venture further afield, look at an OS map for parks, woodlands, rivers, reservoirs, or hiking trails near you. Even if you live in an urban area, there will generally be pockets of woodland or nature reserves not too far away, possibly within walking distance. 

If you are walking to your destination, use the opportunity to teach toddlers about road safety and to look left and right before crossing roads. Although hopefully they won’t be unsupervised in this situation for at least a few more years, instilling the importance of safe road practice from an early age will stand them in good steal for the future.

Pack well

The UK summer is an unpredictable beast, often bringing soaring temperatures one minute, and a torrential downpour the next. Therefore it pays to pack well and prepare for all weathers with waterproofs, a spare set of warm clothes, and removable layers if it does become hot.  

You will also need to bring plenty of fluids and snacks, or feeds if you are bringing your baby along. You will also need a changing bag with plenty of nappies, wipes, and disposal bags for longer outings with your bundle of joy, plus comforting toys or blankets so that they have something familiar with them in a new environment. 

Sun safety

If the sun does put in an appearance and the temperature climbs, protect your children’s skin with high factor sunscreen, and dress them in wide brimmed hats and lightweight breathable clothing. Do not leave babies in full direct sunlight, because they cannot regulate their temperature easily and will be at risk of overheating.

Try to stick to shaded areas if the sun is very strong, particularly in core hours of the day. Use a pram with a built-in sunshade, or attach a canopy or parasol. Offer your baby fluids but avoid giving them sugary juices or drinks, because they will make it more difficult for the body to absorb water. 

Set boundaries for outdoor play

If your children are slightly older and discovering the joys of independent play, do not stifle them or make them afraid to explore with constant warnings and threats. However, it is important to be vigilant about their safety, and of course you do not want them disappearing out of sight every five minutes. 

Make a risk assessment of the area yourself for hazards such as steep drops and hidden edges, uneven terrain, fast moving water and so on, and make a judgement call about how much freedom you can allow them to explore while remaining safe. 

A good compromise is to look for features such as rocks or trees that you can use to establish boundaries. Explain to your child why it is important that they do not wander off out of sight, rather than just tell them what to do. Point out your chosen feature and make sure they understand clearly that they are not to cross this invisible boundary.