Why it is more important than ever to get kids out walking this winter

I don’t know about you but this time of year would be just perfect for hibernation.  Given the choice, the first sign of a frosty morning would be enough to send me scuttling under a duvet with the heating on constant for a few months and I could quite happily while away a month or two.

Since we introduced Liberty the Labrador into our lives 18 months ago, we have been a lot better at forcing ourselves to go out for walks (partly because dogs definitely don’t hibernate during the winter) and we have been on lots of gorgeous walks with Liberty as a family.  And the thing is that we might think we can’t be bothered to go on a walk or we feel too tired, or its too cold (we have so many excuses for not doing exercise) but the truth is that once we have been out, had some exercise and fresh air, we all feel so much better.

During lockdowns one and two, we made up a series of local routes, creatively named routes 1, 2, 2b, 3 and 4.  We always take the dog with us as this is a great way to get my daughter to move herself.  In between lockdowns, we researched some nice local walks that we could drive to and then walk.  We are particularly lucky to live in a fairly rural area which is not far from the Cotswolds, so we discovered lots of new walks too, which were all amazing with spectacular countryside.

Having put all of this in place over the summer, we  got into a really good  routine of regular walks and already I can see that slipping away as  the darker, colder days come in.  But now more than ever, I know I need to get my daughter out, even if only at the weekends just to keep walking and these are the reasons why:

It’s exercise and it’s free

Two of the biggest reasons first. The wonderful thing about walking is that it is such good exercise.  It is a cardiovascular exercise and although running can be better if you want to lose weight, walking is just as good for you as it gets air into your lungs, gets your heart pumping and boosts your immune system.   The even better part is that it doesn’t even cost a single penny.  You can enjoy walks in the countryside or around your local area without spending any money, especially if you remember to take snacks and drinks with you.

You can, of course, invest in a pair of walking boots, we were sent these  Kid’s Edgepoint Waterproof Walking Boots from Regatta and they are absolutely perfect for muddy dog walks or hill walks as they are waterproof and they have lots of tread, so no more slipping and sliding everywhere.

It’s good for their mental health

I mentioned earlier that we often find that we don’t want to go for a walk but afterwards, we feel so much better for it and really glad that we made the effort. This in itself, shows the boost it gives to your mental wellbeing.  It makes you feel better, improves your mood and generally makes the world seem like a better place.  Particularly at the moment, that is something that we all need and for children, it is a great opportunity to chat, play games and explore new places.

It is a great way of exploring new places

We have our favourite walks which are perfect when we don’t want to drive anywhere, but there are so many amazing walks in the UK. Whether you are in a city, country or by the sea, there will be lots of amazing walks on your doorstep, just waiting to be explored.

We love finding new walks wherever we are.  Sometimes, we simply drive to a location and explore and other times we research our walks online so we know exactly where to go.  Either way, we have found some amazing routes and walked miles.  When we find a particlaury interesting routes we find that our daughter will walk for miles without even realising how far she has walked.  It also helps if we take a friends as they are so busy chatting as they walk, they don’t realise how far they are walking either.

It’s a good time to talk

I find that a nice relaxing dog walk is a great time to chat with my daughter.  It sometimes takes a while but eventually, she will start chatting about all sorts of things.  There is something about having some quality time together where there aren’t any other distractions that makes it a really good time to talk.

It is time away from a screen

The thing I love about walking is that we leave the screens behind.  So many kids spend a lot of time on screens, mine included.  It has sadly become part of life and it can be hard to drag them away.  I always insist that apart from one phone between us to take photos or in case of emergency, our walks are a screen free time which does us all some good.

In terms of equipment, walking again is perfect as you really don’t need to invest a lot of money.  Regatta have a great range of outdoor clothes for kids that are perfect for wintry walks.

With the Covid pandemic affecting our lives so much still and restricting our lives, it is a really tough time for our children.  But one thing we can still do is go out for some lovely walks and with so many benefits and not a huge cost involved, what are you waiting for?

Disclaimer – I was sent a selection of outdoor clothes for my daughter free of charge from Regatta.  All opinions are my own.