Organising mountain outings with children is anything but simple — especially with kids of different ages. What kind of hike should you propose so they don't get bored, without it being too demanding? How high can the youngest go? What's the right children's mountain equipment to guarantee safety and comfort? Answering these questions is the first step towards making sons, daughters, grandchildren and young friends appreciate and love the mountains and nature. Keep these tips in mind and walks at altitude, breathing clean, healthy air, won't feel like an obligation to children — they'll feel like fun. Fun that's good for mind and body, far from electronic devices!
How do you organise a trek with children?
Choose the right route
The mountains are the ideal place to spend wonderful days in company — with family, friends and, naturally, children, perhaps of different ages. To make the most of them, you need to know what each child can handle.
- For children up to 3 years old, a proper child-carrier backpack is indispensable. It should be comfortable and soft for the little ones — who may well fall asleep during the walk — but also for whoever is carrying it. Look for adjustable shoulder straps, a waist belt and, ideally, a few pockets for items you need within reach at all times.
- From age 4, plan the trek around the children's walking pace (a couple of kilometres per hour at most), choosing routes on the flat or with little elevation gain. In terms of difficulty, stick to "very easy" trails (usually a couple of hours with less than 300 m of elevation gain), or "easy" with 5–6-year-olds (climbing at most 600 m over 3–4 hours). Using the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) grading, opt for "T" (tourist) or "E" (hiking) routes.
- From 7–8 years old, you can propose proper treks, even of ten kilometres or so. Here the secret to avoiding the classic "how much further?" is to give them a goal — playful or educational, but above all fun. For example? A picnic at the destination, ideally with their favourite food. Or choose a route with points of interest: a wartime fort, a small lake where animals splash about, or trails that tell a story with ancient characters from local legends. Another highly effective technique is to give them responsibility: involve them in choosing the trail and recognising the waymarks along the route.
Choose the right trekking equipment for children
Heat, cold, rain, sun: in the mountains, even in summer, temperatures can be harsh and the weather can change quickly. One of the most important things for the little ones is how to dress them. Layering is the obvious answer, so they're ready for any conditions — and it's always wise to carry a rain shell and a spare change of clothes in the backpack. But one of the most important things of all is the right footwear: youngsters, especially in company, tend to run around without paying much attention to where they put their feet. At altitude, children should wear good-quality, well-structured children's trekking boots, able to guarantee solid grip on terrain that's often slippery with rocks and/or mud, protection for feet and ankles, and maximum comfort and safety.
Take breaks and respect their pace
Accounting for the physical abilities of the youngest is a fundamental rule of trekking with children. The pace to keep is theirs, not the adults' — though the adults must be good at enforcing it. Kids will tend to run around and burn through their energy — and, above all, their desire to walk — soon after. It's essential that the grown-ups set a calm, steady rhythm right from the start. Tiredness and distraction are among the main causes of the small accidents that can happen at altitude.
Watch the altitude change
"Mountain sickness" can be unpleasant for adults, but children are more sensitive to it, and it should never be underestimated. To avoid it, pay attention to changes in altitude and to reaching heights that are too great. In particular:
- From 0 to 2 years, it's preferable not to go above 2,000 metres. You can reach 2,500, but it's best not to stay there long. No problem, then, for easy treks with moderate elevation gains.
- From 2 to 5 years, you can go up to around 3,000 metres, but pay special attention: at this age children can't describe their symptoms. Avoid climbs at altitude with children suffering from respiratory illnesses, even trivial ones.
- From 5 to 10 years, kids usually tolerate hikes — and even stays — up to 3,000 metres very well; beyond that, be very cautious.
- After age 10, they're physically suited to handling altitude, and they can also recognise and describe their own discomfort. From this age there are no altitude restrictions. In any case, as with adults, never underestimate signs of nausea, dizziness and the like.
Rely on the experts
You don't take chances with the mountains — all the more so when planning a trek with children. And sometimes you have to know when to give up. When? First of all when the weather is particularly adverse, or when your own physical condition doesn't allow it. A hike at altitude can turn into a frustrating experience, and it's best to avoid any situation where the kids might end up complaining. Beyond the weather and your own health, you must also be sure the route is suitable and currently passable. The best way to check is to contact the local sections of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI).